Fort Forwarding: Modernizing Logistics IT

Fort Forwarding, a prominent logistics company based on Wall Street in Manhattan, faced operational constraints from aging on-premises servers and physical PCs. High capital expenditures, scalability limits, and security concerns drove the need for modernization. Xperteks led a comprehensive IT transformation, migrating their infrastructure to Microsoft Azure and deploying Azure Virtual Desktop to enable secure, flexible remote work while shifting the financial model from CapEx to OpEx.

About the Client

Fort Forwarding is a prominent logistics company based on Wall Street in Manhattan. To support their complex operations and growing workforce, they require a scalable, secure, and cost-effective IT foundation.

The Challenge: Aging Infrastructure and High CapEx

Before engaging Xperteks, Fort Forwarding's operations were hindered by outdated on-premises servers and aging physical PCs. These legacy systems were costly to maintain and increasingly prone to failures. The traditional hardware lifecycle required significant upfront investments, leading to high capital expenditures.

Additionally, the existing infrastructure struggled to scale efficiently with the company's growth. Ensuring the security of data and devices across the workforce was a constant challenge amid increasing cyberattack threats.

The Solution: Azure Migration and Virtual Desktops

Xperteks designed and implemented a modernization strategy centered around Microsoft Azure and Azure Virtual Desktop (AVD).

The first step was migrating the on-premises servers to Microsoft Azure, reducing reliance on physical hardware and creating a more flexible foundation. Next, Xperteks replaced the aging fleets of physical PCs with Azure Virtual Desktop, providing a secure, virtualized environment that employees can access from anywhere.

Together, these changes enabled a strategic shift from high upfront capital expenditures (CapEx) to a more manageable, pay-per-use operational expenditure (OpEx) model.

The Benefits: Efficiency, Security, and Scalability

The transition to Azure and AVD modernized Fort Forwarding's IT operations, delivering immediate cost savings and operational improvements.

• Operational Efficiency: Automation of device setup through AVD reduced manual work, freeing IT staff for strategic tasks. Updates are deployed quickly, ensuring all virtual desktops stay current with the latest software and security patches.
• Cost Savings: Eliminating legacy on-premises servers lowered maintenance costs. The shift to a pay-per-use cloud model optimized resource allocation and facilitated the CapEx to OpEx transition, improving financial flexibility.
• Scalability and Flexibility: Azure allows the company to scale resources up or down based on demand without unnecessary cost. The AVD infrastructure seamlessly supports remote work, enabling employees to access data and applications securely from anywhere.
• Enhanced Security and Compliance: Automated security measures and consistent policy application across all virtual devices reduced vulnerabilities. These processes help Fort Forwarding comply with industry regulations by keeping data secure and properly configured.
• Improved Onboarding Experience: New employees receive standardized, pre-configured virtual environments. This automated deployment minimizes downtime, allowing staff to start working immediately.