Introduction
Perrett Laver is a global executive search firm working across education, research, healthcare, non-profit, and cultural sectors. With offices worldwide and a focus on high-impact leadership appointments, the organisation depends on secure, scalable IT infrastructure to support its mission.
Before partnering with ROCK, Perrett Laver was operating legacy Distributed File System (DFS) servers in Azure. The setup had become expensive to maintain, inflexible to scale, and resource heavy. Large volumes of archived data were consuming high-cost storage without automation or lifecycle management, system no longer aligned to the needs of a growing, cloud-first business.
The Challenge
Perrett Laver had a clear objective: reduce their cloud storage costs and simplify their file system architecture without compromising access or security. Their current DFS setup was no longer fit for purpose. Key challenges included: Perrett Laver had a clear objective: reduce their cloud storage costs and simplify their file system architecture without compromising access or security. Their current DFS setup was no longer fit for purpose. Key challenges included:
- Escalating costs, with large volumes of archived data stored on premium Azure hot-tier storage.
- Complex infrastructure, requiring manual management and regular maintenance of multiple virtual machines.
- Lack of intelligent tiering, causing rarely accessed files to incur high storage costs.
- Limited flexibility, restricting the ability to distinguish between critical and low-priority workloads.
As ROCK assessed the environment, it became evident there was also an opportunity to modernise identity services and create a foundation for future cloud transformation.
The Solution
ROCK re-architected Perrett Laver’s cloud environment to create a modern, cost-efficient, and scalable platform that supports long-term business growth.
The engagement focused on designing a robust AWS Landing Zone that provides a secure and automated foundation for cloud operations, while simplifying the management of existing workloads.
- Cloud architecture redesign: Establishment of a structured AWS Landing Zone with centralised governance, identity integration, and environment segregation to support future scalability and compliance.
- Resilient infrastructure: A cloud–hybrid architecture was introduced, with reliable backups and tested disaster recovery protocols.
- Seamless hybrid connectivity: Deployment of a secure site-to-site VPN between Perrett Laver’s private cloud and AWS, ensuring continuous access and zero disruption during transition.
- Unified identity management: Implementation of a Windows Domain Controller in AWS to consolidate user authentication across AWS, Azure, and on-premise systems, enabling secure, single-source identity control.
This architectural transformation not only reduced costs but also established a modern, flexible environment ready to support future workloads and innovation.
The Benefit
The project delivered a leaner, more cost-efficient environment aligned with Perrett Laver’s growth objectives.
- Cost efficiency: Archive storage costs reduced by up to 90% through automated lifecycle management and migration to low-cost AWS storage tiers.
- Operational simplicity: Decommissioning of legacy DFS servers eliminated manual maintenance and reduced IT management overheads.
- Scalability: A re-architected cloud environment now supports future workload expansion and integration with new services.
- Business continuity: Hybrid connectivity ensured zero downtime during transition and consistent access across regions.
- Future-ready identity: Consolidated identity services in AWS provide a secure, centralised platform for authentication across all environments.
This project went beyond cost optimisation, it delivered a sustainable, cloud-first architecture that empowers Perrett Laver to innovate and scale with confidence.
Why work with ROCK?
As Perrett Laver’s ongoing Managed Service Provider (MSP), ROCK continues to support and evolve their IT environment, ensuring security, scalability, and performance remain aligned with business goals. ROCK enables the organisation to focus on innovation and global growth with complete confidence in their technology foundation.
From discovery to deployment, ROCK provided a consultative approach, combining deep technical insight with an understanding of business priorities. Every stage of the project was guided by clear objectives: to simplify infrastructure, reduce costs, and create a foundation for long-term agility.
ROCK delivered a seamless transition with zero downtime, ensuring continuity for users across multiple regions. Continuous communication, transparent reporting, and structured governance gave Perrett Laver complete visibility throughout the project.
