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David Morley Architects Case Study

When an architecture firm relies on vast amounts of data, faultless collaboration, and fast access to files, a server failure is the stuff of nightmares. That’s precisely what happened to David Morley Architects.

Their IT infrastructure was due for a gradual and phased upgrade, but an unexpected failure forced an urgent migration to the cloud without disrupting their day-to-day operations.

Here’s how we helped them turn a crisis into an opportunity for transformation.

David Morley Architects is an established London-based architecture practice known for innovative and sustainable designs. With a portfolio that spans commercial, residential, and public sector projects, they handle large volumes of data, intricate project files, and legacy systems that need careful management.

The Challenge: An unplanned failed server migration without downtime

In almost all cases, we can sit down with our clients and long-term plan their IT infrastructure and change requests, but any IT company will know that critical issues can happen at any given moment, and that’s where the skills and procedures we have developed over a long period of time are tested to the maximum.

Every IT issue that causes business downtime is crucial. In this instance, the unexpected server failure presented multiple challenges for our team.

Ageing servers: Planned maintenance was on the cards, but the failure forced immediate action.

Massive amounts of data: Spread across a large storage device, archive servers, and a legacy accounting system.

Business continuity: Employees needed continued access to project files, and downtime was not an option.

Urgent backup solution: A temporary backup was essential before a complete cloud migration.

David Morley Architects needed a quick, reliable, and long-term solution to avoid future disruptions.

The Solution: Migration to the Cloud Data Platform

We had the right tools, plan, and expertise to get them out of a tough spot. Our proactive approach protected their data, and we had everything in place to handle the unexpected.

Thanks to a solid migration strategy, we successfully transitioned them to a cloud-based platform with virtually no downtime, something almost unheard of in an unplanned server failure.

We seamlessly moved their data to an online storage environment using advanced tools without disrupting daily operations. This transformation didn’t just keep their business running; it completely changed how they work. Now, they can securely share files externally, manage massive amounts of project data, and easily navigate complex folder structures.

Most importantly, they’re no longer tied to an on-premises server. They can work from anywhere with a more flexible, information-centric approach rather than being restricted by their technology.

In short, this was a perfect example of why continuous improvement is at the heart of everything we do. When things go wrong, we don’t panic-we follow a well-rehearsed, proven process that delivers fast, effective, and reliable results every time.

The Result: A smooth transition from internal to cloud services that secures their data for the future

  • Near-zero downtime, even after an unplanned server failure.
  • Successful migration, ensuring better collaboration and data security.
  • Eliminated reliance on physical servers, giving them the flexibility to work from anywhere.
  • High-risk situation handled efficiently, thanks to rigorous preparation and expert execution.

Sound like a project you're planning?

LETS TALK

Following the collapse of our existing server, an efficient migration was critical to ensuring the practice could continue to operate. With the tremendous guidance of Ingenious and assistance from their technicians, we were fully functional within 48 hours, with just 3 hours of practice-wide downtime. Following the migration to a cloud-based service, our efficiency has increased, our security has been significantly upgraded, and our workflows have been altered to suit a flexible work-life balance. Considering the daunting prospect of migrating, the full process was effective and has reinforced the practices infrastructure for future growth.

IT Coordinator

Joe Brotherton

Call us on 020 3745 6630
or email info@ingenious.co.uk

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