Hall Morrice LLP – Full‑Scope IT Overhaul

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The Challenge

Hall Morrice LLP is one of Scotland’s leading independent accountancy and business advisory firms, with around ninety staff working across Aberdeen and Fraserburgh. As a firm that handles sensitive financial information and supports clients across a wide range of sectors, technology reliability, performance, and security are critical to their day‑to‑day operations.

By early 2024, Hall Morrice was operating with a legacy IT environment that was no longer fit for purpose. Core systems, including email, remained on‑premise and unsupported. Performance issues, outages, and unreliable access were causing increasing frustration among staff, particularly during time‑critical audit and advisory periods. Remote working was restrictive, collaboration tools were limited, and there was little visibility around system resilience or disaster recovery readiness.

With outdated infrastructure, limited flexibility, and no clear roadmap for improvement, Hall Morrice recognised the need for a managed services partner who could stabilise their environment, introduce modern tools, and guide them through a structured digital transformation.

The Starting Point

When KubeNet was appointed, the environment consisted of ageing servers, an on‑premise Exchange 2016 setup, and a Remote Desktop Services platform that struggled to deliver a consistent user experience. Documentation from the incumbent provider was limited, making troubleshooting difficult and future planning challenging.

The firm relied on a small number of individuals to keep systems operational, placing pressure on teams during busy periods. Backup processes, patching routines, and firewall resilience raised concerns with leadership, and there was no clear, centralised service management process in place.

Hall Morrice needed more than new technology. They needed a partner who understood how a professional services firm operates and could deliver change without disrupting the business.

Why Hall Morrice Chose KubeNet

KubeNet was selected for our ability to balance ambition with practicality. We presented a flexible, phased approach that could adapt as new information emerged and was guided by regular discovery and consultation with key stakeholders.

From the outset, we provided a clear and structured roadmap covering identity and access, email and collaboration, network and connectivity, applications and data, security, and the transition to a managed service. This approach delivered early improvements while protecting business continuity and supporting the firm’s legacy environment from day one.

The Transformation Journey

KubeNet began supporting Hall Morrice’s existing environment in September 2024, focusing immediately on reducing risk, stabilising systems, and improving consistency for staff. In parallel, we began building the foundation for a modern digital workplace.

A priority in the early stages was addressing the most visible frustrations. The on‑premise email server was experiencing regular outages, staff had no access to Microsoft Teams, and file collaboration was slow and restrictive. Resolving these issues early helped restore confidence and demonstrated immediate value.

The transformation ran through to May 2025 and was delivered through structured workstreams, allowing the firm to operate without disruption while improvements were introduced in a controlled and transparent way.

Key Areas of Delivery

Identity and Access: Active Directory was modernised and transitioned to Entra ID. Multi‑factor authentication and Conditional Access were implemented across the organisation, providing a more secure and consistent foundation across devices and locations.

Email, Communication and Collaboration: Hall Morrice was migrated from on‑premise Exchange to Exchange Online. Microsoft 365 applications were deployed, with Microsoft Teams introduced as the central hub for communication and collaboration. OneDrive modernised personal file storage, with the groundwork laid for future SharePoint migrations.

Network and Connectivity: Legacy switching and Wi-Fi infrastructure were replaced with a consistent, high‑performing network. A fully managed WAN connected both offices in a resilient, cloud‑ready design, supported by high‑availability firewalls and private connectivity into Azure. Staff experienced immediate improvements in speed and reliability.

Applications and Data: Core line‑of‑business applications remained on the existing RDS platform, but reliance on RDS was significantly reduced. Key applications were installed directly onto end‑user devices, allowing staff to work locally when in the office. This removed a major single point of failure, reducing downtime and improving productivity. A structured data review was also completed, archiving legacy data and introducing new data management processes aligned with GDPR best practice.

Endpoint Management and Security: Microsoft Endpoint Manager brought consistent device management, patching, and compliance. Defender for Business and modern email and web security controls strengthened protection across the firm.

Service Management: From June 2025, Hall Morrice transitioned to a fully managed service with KubeNet. An ITIL‑aligned service model provided clear ticket tracking, proactive issue management, and regular service reviews, shifting the relationship from reactive support to strategic partnership.

The Outcome

Hall Morrice now operates within a stable, modern, and secure IT environment. Staff benefit from faster access to systems, improved collaboration, and greater flexibility in how and where they work. Security has been strengthened across identity, devices, networks, and data, giving leadership confidence in the firm’s cyber posture.

With reliable systems and full visibility of IT performance, technology has become an enabler rather than a frustration. The firm is well positioned for future enhancements, including further cloud adoption, SharePoint development, and advanced security certification.