A Houston-based accounting firm struggled with outdated on-premise infrastructure, poor remote access through Citrix, and a lack of strategic IT guidance. Facing a choice between another costly infrastructure upgrade or a modern cloud solution, they partnered with Aldridge to future-proof their IT. Aldridge migrated them to the cloud, implemented Azure Virtual Desktop (AVD) for seamless remote work, and enhanced their security. This not only improved convenience but also ensured a higher level of protection for their data and systems. The firm now saves money on IT with a scalable solution that adjusts to their needs. During peak season, they can increase IT resources to handle higher demand, then scale back during the off-season, eliminating the cost of maintaining excess capacity year-round. The firm’s partnership with Aldridge has removed IT roadblocks, providing a flexible and scalable solution that supports long-term growth.
Client Profile
Industry: Accounting
Number of Employees: 80+
Location(s): Houston, Texas
The Firm’s Challenges
A Houston-based accounting firm found itself at a crossroads. The firm’s outdated on-premises infrastructure was becoming a major obstacle to productivity. Their aging servers struggled to keep up with daily operations, leading to slow performance and increasing downtime. Remote work was particularly frustrating, as employees relied on Remote Desktop and Citrix, both of which caused lagging connections and inefficiencies. During tax season, when access to financial applications was critical, these limitations forced many employees to work from the office instead of remotely, reducing overall flexibility. The leadership was faced with a decision: reinvest in a costly on-premise infrastructure upgrade or explore a modern, cloud-based alternative.
Adding to the challenge, the firm relied on a single in-house IT staff member to manage all technological needs. While capable, this one-person team lacked the bandwidth to provide strategic IT guidance, maintain system performance, and proactively address emerging issues. As the firm grew, their IT demands exceeded what a small internal team could handle, leaving leadership without the expertise needed to plan for long-term technology improvements.
Security was another growing concern. With outdated systems and limited cybersecurity measures in place, the firm was at increased risk of cyber threats. Handling sensitive financial data meant that even a minor breach could lead to significant compliance issues and reputational damage. The firm needed a modern IT solution that not only improved performance but also strengthened data security and regulatory compliance to protect both their business and their clients.
Knowing they needed a more efficient, scalable solution, they partnered with Aldridge—who understood the unique challenges of their accounting firm— to modernize their IT infrastructure and enhance remote work capabilities.
Aldridge’s Solution
Understanding the firm’s need for a future-proof IT strategy, Aldridge took a deep dive into their existing environment by assessing their server software and storage loads, reviewed how employees were using their tools, and mapped out a modern approach that aligned with the firm’s workflow. Since tax season was their busiest time of year, Aldridge strategically planned the migration to avoid disrupting critical deadlines. By focusing on their specific business needs, Aldridge built a solution that would eliminate their IT pain points without causing downtime during peak periods.
To address their challenges and support their long-term growth, Aldridge implemented a cloud-based solution:
- Replaced Aging On-premise With The Cloud: Upgraded from aging on-premises infrastructure to the Microsoft Azure Public Cloud, providing greater flexibility and scalability while enabling them to scale IT resources up and down based on tax season demands.
- SaaS App Migration: Moved critical accounting applications individually to cloud-hosted platforms to prevent workflow disruptions.
- Azure Virtual Desktop (AVD): Replaced Citrix, providing a seamless and secure virtual desktop experience optimized for accounting applications.
- Business Continuity & Disaster Recovery (BCP): Ensured protection of their existing infrastructure during the transition.
Where the Accounting Firm is Today
Since Aldridge transitioned the firm to the cloud, they no longer rely on on-premise infrastructure. Their new cloud-based environment scales effortlessly with tax season demands, allowing them to expand or reduce resources as needed. With seamless remote access, employees can work efficiently from anywhere, improving collaboration and meeting deadlines with ease. This increased efficiency enables the firm to take on more clients without overburdening staff. Last, leadership no longer worries about costly IT upgrades—they have a secure, scalable solution that supports long-term growth.
TAKE YOUR ACCOUNTING FIRM TO THE NEXT LEVEL
Struggling with outdated IT systems and remote work capability challenges? Aldridge can help modernize your operations with cloud solutions tailored for the accounting & CPA industry. Contact us today to learn how we can streamline your IT infrastructure and boost productivity.
