Future-proofing financial services infrastructure beyond VMware

Killik & Co is an independently owned UK wealth manager providing investment management and financial planning services to private clients globally. Its business-critical applications, including CRM, financial systems, market data processing, and client-facing services, operate across two UK datacentres and support day-to-day operations throughout the business.

After more than 15 years running VMware-based infrastructure, the organisation faced a growing need to refresh its virtualisation platform. Cisco HyperFlex was approaching end of life, while VMware licensing changes following Broadcom's acquisition introduced additional cost pressures and uncertainty around future investment.

To address these challenges, Killik partnered with Forfusion to migrate to Nutanix Cloud Infrastructure (NCI), creating a modern platform that supports long-term operational and commercial objectives.

Killik & Co needed to replace its existing virtualisation platform without disrupting business-critical services or impacting user experience.

The project required a carefully managed approach to maintain service availability, support demanding overnight market data processing workloads, and reduce the operational burden on internal IT teams.

Key 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.

Working alongside Killik's infrastructure team, Forfusion designed and delivered a Nutanix-based platform to replace the existing VMware environment across both data centres.

Using our ADIOlogy® methodology, we managed the project from architecture and deployment through to migration and operational handover.

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.

Leveraging Nutanix Move, workloads were migrated in a controlled manner with minimal disruption to users and and ensuring business continuity throughout the migration.

“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 benefits while removing the commercial uncertainty associated with VMware licensing changes.

Key outcomes included:

• 45-minute reduction in overnight market data processing cycles.
• Improved visibility across the infrastructure environment.
• Reduced day-to-day administrative overhead.
• Removed exposure to VMware licensing cost increases.
• Successful migration with minimal end-user disruption.
• Improved readiness for future disaster recovery capability.
• Simplified support through consolidated 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 support from Forfusion's managed services (FusionCare), Killik & Co can remain focused on business priorities while benefiting from a stable, resilient, and proactively managed infrastructure platform.

“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

Whether you're replacing legacy platforms, reducing licensing costs, or building for future growth, we'll help you modernise with confidence.

Using an advisory-led approach, we design, implement, and support secure, resilient infrastructure that reduces operational complexity and maximises existing investments.

Talk to our team about modernising your infrastructure.