Smarter connectivity between international offices is the lifeblood of innovation and agility. Seamless communication enhances collaboration and allows corporate teams to work without technological friction and respond swiftly to shifting markets.
The following case study describes how MicroPro solved the connectivity issue for our international client BlackRock.
Client: BlackRock Expert Services Group
Industry: Legal (Construction Litigation)
Global footprint: London HQ, with offices in Dubai, Singapore, France, the US, and Spain
Project duration: ~3 months
As BlackRock Expert Services Group expanded across the world, its operations grew increasingly complex, though connection to all their offices was still vital to their work.
Remote offices, including high-growth locations such as Dubai and Singapore, struggled to connect to London’s core infrastructure. Staff relied on slow and frustrating workarounds, such as Remote Desktop Services (RDS) or manual VPN logins.
The original proposed fix was a dedicated internet line with a static IP address in Dubai, quoted at over £200,000 per year. That kind of spend simply wasn’t viable.
They needed a smarter and more cost-effective solution that would unify the business without adding significant complexity.
One Business, Disconnected
On paper, BlackRock was a single business. In practice, it was working like several disconnected ones.
- Inconsistent access between offices created bottlenecks and delayed work.
- VPN fatigue frustrated staff and made file access unreliable.
- Infrastructure constraints (like dynamic IPs and legacy hardware) meant site-to-site connectivity wasn’t even an option.
- Costs were spiralling, with global expansion increasingly tied to telecom negotiations.
BlackRock didn’t just need a fix, they needed a model for global connectivity that would scale with them securely, affordably, and fast.
Rethinking Global Connectivity
Micro Pro approached the problem with a clear goal: to enable secure communication between all of BlackRock’s locations, without overhauling everything or locking them into a rigid plan.
Their team led with:
- Real-world testing of proposed products, not vendor promises.
- Incremental rollout, beginning with the Singapore office, to ensure that everything was working before insisting that the whole business change their systems.
- A focus on repeatability, so every new site could be added without reinventing the solution.
They landed on a cloud-managed Cisco Meraki setup, a system powerful enough to support enterprise security and flexible enough to handle dynamic IPs.
What MicroPro Delivered
End-to-End Evaluation
Micro Pro researched several vendors and selected Cisco Meraki for its built-in dynamic hostname support, saving BlackRock time and complexity across every location.
Proof of Concept
They built a virtualised test environment to replicate BlackRock’s infrastructure, ensuring the solution was stable, secure, and fully aligned with real-world conditions before it ever went live.
Phased Rollout
Starting with Singapore, then Dubai, BlackRock’s most technically complex site, Micro Pro managed every step, including testing and on-site setup. There was no disruption to staff, and full confidence in the outcome from day one.
Standardised “Drop-In” Setup
Micro Pro created a pre-configured, repeatable model that could be deployed in minutes, not weeks, making future office expansion fast, seamless, and low-effort for the BlackRock team.
Remote Access Without the VPN Headaches
Senior leaders were given secure wireless access points, allowing them to log into systems from anywhere, giving them the freedom to work and lead without connectivity delays or IT roadblocks.
The Results: Connected Teams, Without the Compromise
The transformation wasn’t flashy, but its impact was felt immediately.
- Massive cost avoidance
BlackRock skipped the six-figure telecom costs of static IP lines, while gaining the same functionality. - Streamlined collaboration
Global teams could work from any office or from home without needing special logins or remote tools. - Faster onboarding for new locations
With the new approach, new sites could be brought online with minimal configuration or support. - Stronger executive mobility
Directors travelling for business were no longer offline from HQ systems. Whether they were in Spain, the US, or a hotel room in Dubai, they could log in and pick up where they left off. - Lighter load on IT
Centralised cloud-based management meant less support overhead and a cleaner, more resilient environment.
“The team in Dubai wanted the same experience they had in London. Before, that meant a costly internet line and some luck. Now, it just works—securely, reliably, and without anyone having to think twice.”
— Shaun, Technical Director, Micro Pro
Why the Partnership Worked
- Micro Pro designed the solution around real-world constraints, not assumptions.
- They validated the solution through testing before full deployment.
- They built a repeatable model for easy future expansion.
- They prioritised simplicity for both users and IT teams.
Connectivity Built for Global Teams
International growth brings pressure. More locations, more people, more moving parts, all needing to work together without friction.
Whether the goal is growth, acquisition readiness, or simply a better quality of life for the people running the business, Micro Pro delivered a solution that worked in every location and under every condition.
For firms looking to expand internationally without inheriting complexity or cost, this kind of IT foundation isn’t optional. It’s essential.