Modernising legacy VMware infrastructure at Killik & Co

Killik & Co, an independently owned UK wealth manager, delivers investment management and financial planning services to private clients globally. Its business-critical platforms including CRM, financial systems, market data processing, and client applications span two UK datacentres and demand consistently high performance and availability.

After more than 15 years on VMware-based infrastructure, Killik faced a combination of infrastructure and commercial pressures. Cisco HyperFlex was approaching end-of-life, while escalating VMware licensing costs and uncertainty following Broadcom’s acquisition introduced financial pressure and strategic risk.

To address these challenges, Killik partnered with Forfusion to design and deliver a migration to Nutanix Cloud Infrastructure (NCI), establishing a simplified, scalable, and future-ready platform aligned to long-term operational resilience.

Killik & Co needed to modernise its on-premises infrastructure across two datacentres without compromising availability, performance, or business continuity.

Its existing Cisco HyperFlex and VMware estate was approaching end-of-life, increasing operational risk and placing additional strain on a small internal IT team. At the same time, VMware licensing changes and cost increases following Broadcom’s acquisition accelerated the need for a strategic platform shift.

Key project requirements included:

• Maintaining always-on availability for business-critical financial systems.
• Supporting intensive overnight global market data processing workloads.
• Reducing operational complexity and administrative overhead.
• Minimising disruption during migration.
• Simplifying infrastructure support and vendor management.
• Reducing exposure to escalating VMware licensing costs.
• Creating a scalable platform for future disaster recovery expansion.

Core workloads included:

• Microsoft SQL Server.
• MongoDB.
• Microsoft Dynamics CRM.
• Internal financial and operational platforms.
• Windows and Linux virtual machines.

Killik & Co engaged Forfusion to architect and deliver a modern infrastructure platform built on Nutanix, designed to reduce complexity, consolidate support, and improve operational resilience.

Using Forfusion's ADIOlogy® methodology, the engagement covered end-to-end delivery: design, implementation, migration planning, workload transition, and ongoing managed services support.

The solution:

• Nutanix Cloud Infrastructure (NCI) deployed on Nutanix hardware.
• Migration from VMware ESXi to Nutanix AHV.
• Structured workload migration using Nutanix Move.
• Integration with Veeam for backup and recovery.
• Consolidated infrastructure and support model.
• Technical enablement and operational training for internal IT teams.
• Ongoing operational support via Forfusion's FusionCare® managed services.

Forfusion worked closely with Killik’s infrastructure team throughout the engagement, supporting platform design validation, data centre deployment, migration planning, and phased workload transition across both locations.

Migrations were completed using Nutanix Move, enabling controlled movement of Windows and Linux workloads with minimal service disruption and reduced operational risk

“We now have cleaner, simpler systems with better visibility. Everything is easier to manage and faster to work with.”

Anthony Wood, Infrastructure and Network Manager, Killik & Co

The migration delivered immediate operational improvements while creating a stronger long-term infrastructure foundation for the business.

Key outcomes included:

• 45-minute reduction in overnight market data processing cycles.
• Simplified infrastructure management with improved operational visibility.
• Reduced day-to-day administrative overhead.
• Removed exposure to VMware licensing cost increases.
• Successful migration with minimal end-user disruption.
• Improved scalability and readiness for future disaster recovery capability.
• Streamlined support through consolidated infrastructure tooling and vendor alignment.

The new Nutanix platform provides Killik & Co with a more responsive, easier-to-manage infrastructure environment that supports both current operational requirements and future growth.

With ongoing managed services support from Forfusion, Killik & Co now operates with greater confidence in platform stability, scalability, and long-term sustainability.

“Forfusion managed the project end-to-end. Having a trusted partner who understood our environment made the transition significantly easier.”

Anthony Wood, Infrastructure and Network Manager, Killik & Co

Rising licensing costs? End-of-life platforms? IT teams stretched thin? If this sounds familiar, it’s time to modernise with a clear, controlled approach.

We can help you move forward with confidence, designing, deploying, and managing secure, scalable infrastructure that reduces risk and removes operational burden.

From strategy and architecture through to migration and 24×7 managed services, we simplify the journey and deliver environments built for performance, resilience, and long-term value.

Talk to our team about modernising your infrastructure with confidence.