Technology due diligence and IT integration for mergers & acquisitions
From pre-LOI assessment through post-close integration — Fortis manages the full IT lifecycle of your deal so technology never becomes the reason a transaction fails or underperforms.
NDA
Signed on every engagement
45 days
Average integration time
100%
Deals delivered on schedule
Microsoft
CSP Partner
The Problem
Technology is the most overlooked risk in any acquisition
Most M&A deals focus on financials, legal, and operations during due diligence. IT gets a surface-level review — or none at all. Then the deal closes, and the acquirer discovers: legacy systems that can't integrate, security vulnerabilities inherited with the business, Microsoft 365 tenants that take months to merge, and IT infrastructure that adds cost instead of value.
Without IT Due Diligence
- IT due diligence was skipped or rushed — now we're inheriting unknown risks
- Our two companies' systems won't talk to each other
- The acquired company's Microsoft 365 is a security nightmare
- We have duplicate vendors, tools, and licenses costing us double
- Staff from both companies can't collaborate because IT isn't integrated
- The deal closed 6 months ago and IT still isn't unified
With Fortis
- Full IT risk picture before LOI
- Integration roadmap on Day 1
- Security posture unified in 30 days
- Staff onboarded seamlessly — no disruptions
- Duplicate vendors and licenses eliminated
- Deal value protected and realized faster
Fortis brings a structured, proven process to every deal — whether you engage us pre-LOI or post-close. We've seen what happens when IT is left to chance. We make sure it doesn't happen to your deal.
Our Process
The 4-phase Fortis M&A IT process
Our process covers the full M&A IT lifecycle. You can engage us at any phase — but clients who bring us in at Phase 1 get the best outcomes.
Pre-LOI IT Assessment
5–10 business days
A rapid, high-level review of the target company's IT environment before the Letter of Intent is signed.
What We Do
- Infrastructure overview and complexity assessment
- M365 / cloud footprint review
- Cybersecurity posture scan
- Vendor and licensing inventory
- IT headcount and capability review
- Red flag identification — end-of-life systems, compliance gaps, security incidents
Deliverable
IT Risk Summary Report — a clear picture of what you're buying from a technology standpoint, with flagged risks and estimated remediation costs.
This report gives your deal team negotiating leverage. IT risks discovered before LOI can adjust valuation, inform reps and warranties, or change the deal structure entirely.
Full IT Due Diligence
2–4 weeks depending on target company size
Deep-dive technical assessment conducted during the formal due diligence period.
What We Do
- Full infrastructure audit — servers, network, endpoints, cloud
- M365 tenant deep-dive — security score, admin config, license compliance
- Cybersecurity assessment — vulnerabilities, EDR coverage, patch status
- Data governance review — where data lives, how it's protected
- Compliance review — HIPAA, PCI, SOC2, state privacy laws
- IT contract and vendor review — terms, exit clauses, renewals
- Shadow IT discovery — unauthorized tools and services
- IT staffing assessment — who stays, who goes, capability gaps
Deliverable
Full IT Due Diligence Report with risk ratings (Critical / High / Medium / Low), remediation roadmap, estimated costs, and integration complexity score.
We sign your NDA on day one and operate within your deal team's confidentiality protocols.
Day 1 Readiness
Runs concurrently with late-stage due diligence and pre-close
Preparing both organizations' IT environments for a clean close — so employees can work from Day 1.
What We Do
- Integration architecture design
- Microsoft 365 tenant merger planning
- Network connectivity between entities
- Email and identity setup for combined organization
- Communication plan for staff IT changes
- Security hardening of acquired entity before close
- Critical risk remediation from due diligence findings
Deliverable
Day 1 IT Readiness Plan — a detailed runbook of exactly what happens on close day and the 30 days following.
Employees at both companies show up on Day 1 with working email, access to the systems they need, and no disruption to operations.
Post-Close IT Integration
30–90 days depending on complexity
Full execution of the integration plan after the deal closes.
What We Do
- Microsoft 365 tenant migration and consolidation
- Active Directory / Entra ID merger
- Network integration and consolidation
- Security stack unification — one EDR, one backup, one monitoring platform
- Vendor consolidation — eliminate duplicate contracts and licenses
- IT documentation for the combined entity
- Staff onboarding — new hire access, training on unified systems
- Transition to Fortis managed services for the combined entity
Deliverable
Unified IT environment — one M365 tenant, one security posture, one managed services provider.
Most clients transition to a Fortis managed services agreement for the combined entity after integration — giving them one partner who knows both environments inside and out.
Who We Work With
Built for deal teams, PE firms, and growing companies
Private Equity Firms
We serve as your technology due diligence partner across portfolio acquisitions. We integrate with your deal team, work under your NDA protocols, and deliver standardized IT risk reporting that your investment committee can act on. We can also provide managed services for portfolio companies post-close — giving you one IT partner across your portfolio.
Strategic Acquirers
Whether this is your first acquisition or your tenth, we bring a structured process that protects your deal and accelerates integration. We've seen the IT mistakes that cost acquirers months and millions — and we help you avoid every one of them.
M&A Advisors & Attorneys
We're the IT partner you refer your clients to. We work confidentially, we're responsive to deal timelines, and we make you look good by protecting your clients from IT surprises. Ask about our referral partner program.
The Complete IT Due Diligence Checklist for M&A Transactions
Used by PE associates and M&A advisors to evaluate technology risk before, during, and after a deal. Covers infrastructure, Microsoft 365, cybersecurity, compliance, staffing, and vendor contracts.
- Infrastructure checklist
- M365 and cloud checklist
- Cybersecurity checklist
- Compliance checklist
- IT staffing questions
- Vendor contract review items
- Red flag indicators
- Cost estimation framework
Download the checklist
Working on a deal?
Let's talk — confidentially.
We work under NDA, integrate with your deal team, and move at deal speed. Whether you need a rapid pre-LOI assessment or a full post-close integration — we're ready to engage.
We respond within 4 business hours. All inquiries are held in strict confidence.