This Guide will definitely help you to execute data transfer operations in Office 365 premises. As, a complete pre and post Microsoft migration project plan and checklist is discussed here.
No matter which on-premise platform we use for your business communication, at the end of the day we all prefer the cloud-based Microsoft 365. With its slew of advanced features and SaaS-based services, Microsoft has already made its mark in the software industry. These are some of the reasons why users wish to migrate to Microsoft 365.
However, before moving forward with the migration process, the user should have a blueprint of how he would perform the migration process.
“Proper planning and preparation prevent poor performance.” Stephen Keague.
Having a proper plan will help the users in forming a checklist of the steps it needs to take to move forward and reach its desired destination.
So, in this article, we will discuss with you the steps you need to follow to migrate to Microsoft 365 smoothly.
What Should Be The Plans & Checklists For Microsoft 365 Migration?
Since we now understand the need of having a well-thought-out plan for migrating to Microsoft 365. Let’s look at the various pre-and post-migration strategies we’ll need to take the process ahead.
Pre-Migration Plan & Checklist
1. Prepare End Users Ahead of Time
- The first stage in planning and preparing is effective communication among organization members.
- Each user should have a full grasp of the migration approach before beginning the process.
- They should be aware of the implementation process, its implications, and the company’s modifications.
- On the migration day, carry out the various tests and inspections. Another important aspect of pre-migration inspections is resource management.
- Following the brainstorming, distribute the strategy widely among the members.
- This will aid in eliciting feedback from a broad variety of brains. In addition, the administrator should create a solid project strategy for the migration that is devoid of inconsistencies.
- To plan a successful transfer, you can utilize Microsoft’s checklist. You can add to or modify this checklist to meet your specific needs.
2. Work On An On-Site Inventory.
The next pre-migration action is to prepare the inventory for the on-premises Exchange.
Before moving, you need to have the following information:
- Obtain the names and sizes of user mailboxes (shared resources) as well as email addresses prior to the transfer.
- There are options for client settings, storage locations, and client versions.
- Setup of the network.
- Virtual meetings, instant messaging, connected application systems, DNS records, and other similar services are available.
3. Analyze the Present Situation
Perform tests and inspections on the current Exchange on-premises environment.
- Methods for creating and synchronizing accounts
- Obtain the necessary licenses for user accounts.
- Backups and backup methods, as well as network capacity and transfer appropriateness, are critical.
- End-users must get basic training.
- Account authentication is now complete.
- Upgrade your antivirus, firewall, and router.
4. Get The Data Ready For Migration
Get the Data Ready for Migration Keep a lookout for the following:
- Active Directory is up to date.
- Delete any accounts that have not been used in a long time.
- The UPNs for the source and destination environments are the same.
- Utilize the Email addresses property within the proxy addresses attribute.
- In the future, archiving facilities (offline or online) will be necessary.
- Prerequisites Fulfillment
5. Create a Microsoft Office 365 account.
This is the last stage of Office 365 migration planning. Set up your Office 365 accounts while keeping the following points in mind.
- Purchase both an Office 365 subscription and a license.
- Domain names must be validated.
- Set up – security permissions, a program to be used, optional Office 365 directory synchronization, and single sign-on (optional).
- Meeting Requirements
After completing all of the stages on the pre-migration plan, the user can begin the migration process.
Use an expert-recommended tool for this, such as the Office 365 to Office 365 Migration tool.
The utility is a complete program that allows you to simultaneously transfer data from one Office 365 account to another. This program enables you to export data in bulk while suffering no losses. To migrate freshly received data from the source account, use the Delta migration function.
After the migration technique has been successfully finished, you may now concentrate on the post-migration requirements.
Plan & Checklist for Post-Migration in Office 365
1. Email Cache And Redirection
Email cache and redirection Examine the Outlook profile folders again, and make sure the status for each folder is “This Folder Is Up To Date.”
2. Mailboxes That Have Been Migrated Should Have Licenses Assigned To Them.
Assign licenses to migrated Office 365 accounts; otherwise, they will be canceled after 30 days.
As a result, it is best to issue mailbox licenses as soon as feasible for long-term use.
3. Autodiscovery Requires The Creation Of DNS Records.
Automatic Discovery of DNS Records Users will be able to link their user mailboxes to Outlook email clients as well as other mobile clients as a result.
4. Remove the Source Environment
Check to verify if your mailboxes were successfully transferred to your Office 365 account.
Licenses have also been issued, and everything is up and running.
The prior on-premises Exchange Server can now be decommissioned.
However, it is recommended that you decommission it only when no further synchronization with the source is planned and permanent migration to the target is complete.
Wrapping Up
Nothing is achievable without a well-thought-out strategy. This is why, to make your job easier, we have discussed the detailed Microsoft 365 migration plan & checklist. The reliable approach to execute the whole migration is also explained here. Users are advised to use the mentioned utility to accomplish this task safely without having any complications.