Legal Industry

Case Study: Out of the Shadows

How a Ransomware Attack Led to IT Empowerment

Where They Started

When this mid-sized law firm first approached Alliance InfoSystems, they were facing serious IT challenges. With headquarters in Towson and remote offices in Bel Air and Belcamp, they had recently experienced a ransomware event that exposed deep vulnerabilities in their infrastructure. Their systems were outdated, including a self-hosted Exchange server and Skype for Business phone system.

Where They Are Now

Today, the firm is operating with a modern, secure, and fully cloud-based IT infrastructure. They’ve grown in confidence and capability, with nearly all legacy systems retired and a scalable foundation in place for future growth. Their document management, communication, and collaboration tools are now cloud-native, and their network is faster, more reliable, and more cost-effective.

How Alliance InfoSystems Helped

Our engagement began with a full IT assessment, which uncovered critical security gaps and operational inefficiencies. The ransomware incident had been a wake-up call, and our assessment confirmed the need for immediate action.

Leadership Transition & Strategic Support

Following the assessment, this client made the decision to part ways with their IT director. Over time, the helpdesk staff also transitioned out, primarily for career growth opportunities. During this period, we stepped in to provide virtual CIO and CTO-level leadership, ensuring continuity and strategic oversight. As the firm’s needs grew, we placed two dedicated Alliance InfoSystems employees onsite to provide consistent, high-quality support.

Building the IT Roadmap​

We developed a comprehensive IT roadmap to modernize the firm’s infrastructure and improve security, performance, and scalability. Key initiatives included:

  • Email Migration: We migrated the firm from an on-premise Exchange server to Microsoft 365 Exchange Online, significantly improving reliability and security.
  • Phone System Upgrade: We transitioned the firm from Skype for Business to a modern, cloud-based phone system. This included vendor vetting, demo coordination, and full implementation support.
  • Server Reduction: We began retiring legacy on-premise servers by moving services to the cloud, reducing maintenance overhead and improving uptime.

Document Management Transformation

The firm’s document management system, iManage, was initially hosted on-premise and plagued by performance issues. We led the migration to iManage Cloud, which dramatically improved system reliability and reduced server dependency. This involved evaluating cloud options, conducting demos, and managing the full transition.

Network Modernization​

We upgraded network hardware across all office locations, replacing outdated equipment with Meraki solutions. We also improved internet connectivity by introducing multiple circuits and negotiating with new providers. For example, the Bel Air office saw an increase in internet speed from 10 Mbps to 150 Mbps. These changes not only enhanced performance but also resulted in nearly $12,000 in monthly cost savings.

Does This Sound Like You?

AIS understands the unique challenges and needs of the Legal Industry.

Learn More

Other Case Studies

See how Alliance InfoSystems has helped clients in other industries!