EC Financial Services migration project

At the end of last year, our long-term client, EC Financial Services, approached us with a request to completely separate its IT infrastructure from Natland Group, which had previously provided its technological backbone. At that time, both companies shared critical IT resources, including server infrastructure and racks, internet connectivity, all software licenses, Active Directory, firewall systems, and a cloud tenant. The objective of the project was to achieve full technological separation within a short timeframe and build an independent, modern, and secure IT environment for EC Financial Services.

Due to the extensive dependencies between the two entities, it was first necessary to conduct a detailed analysis of the existing environment and design a completely new architecture. Based on this analysis, a new infrastructure design was created, leading to the procurement of key technologies: an HPE server solution, a Palo Alto Networks firewall, and Cisco networking equipment. At the same time, Microsoft 365 licenses were acquired to modernize the workplace environment and provide users with tools such as Microsoft Teams, SharePoint, and cloud storage for data sharing and management.

The project also included securing new rack space and preparing complete connectivity and security policies to ensure that the new systems met requirements for performance, stability, and cybersecurity. The entire solution was designed with a strong emphasis on minimizing the impact on the company’s day-to-day operations, including activities outside standard business hours.

After the infrastructure had been delivered, the migration was divided into two main weekend phases. The first phase focused on end-user workstations. During a single weekend, our IT specialists and server consultants successfully migrated 75 laptops and workstations across four client branches located in Prague, Hradec Králové, Olomouc, and Brno. The devices were transferred to a new domain and Active Directory environment, while connectivity, access policies, and all required services were configured to ensure that all branches were fully operational by Monday morning.

The second phase of the migration focused on the server infrastructure. Several virtual servers were created within the new environment, onto which the company’s applications and data were subsequently migrated. This stage also included the physical relocation of servers and related hardware into the new rack infrastructure. All activities were carefully coordinated to ensure business continuity and minimize any potential downtime.

The project was completed within the required timeframe, without major complications, and to the client’s full satisfaction. Today, EC Financial Services operates a modern, fully separated, and secure IT infrastructure that provides the company with greater independence, improved opportunities for future growth, and a stable technological foundation.