Moving from on-site legacy systems to the cloud can be daunting. Organisations want to ensure the migration runs smoothly and their data is backed-up and protected. With careful planning and expert guidance, the journey to Microsoft 365 can be successfully delivered with confidence.
Due to the ongoing impact of Covid-19, many organisations are using cloud solutions as they facilitate remote-working and move information away from on-premises storage systems. Countless organisations have undertaken this migration quickly in response to the pandemic, which can create long-term issues with their cloud content. Moving information to Microsoft 365 can seem like a simple process, but ensuring data is migrated securely and the platform is configured correctly requires careful planning.
What are the common challenges of migrating to Microsoft 365?
When embarking on a content migration there are some common challenges organisations must consider:
- What storage location should we be using: SharePoint Online, Teams or OneDrive?
- What content should be migrated into Microsoft 365?
- Do document locations already exist in Microsoft 365 or how do I create them?
- What tools can I use to migrate the content?
- How is my cloud data backed-up?
From our experience, if these questions are not addressed and a migration plan is not implemented, organisations are at risk of replicating old issues and inefficiencies into their new cloud-based systems.
What are the typical issues experienced when content is migrated to a new system?
- The file storage hierarchical structure is not fit for purpose and does not match the organisations new working patterns.
- Users are unable to find relevant content as all historic and legacy content has been migrated, even items that are no longer relevant.
- Permissions are not properly considered, meaning users do not have access to content they need.
Migrating content to the cloud is only part of the journey; organisations also need to consider backing up their data securely. This can involve assessing deleted item recovery and retention options that are available through Microsoft 365. It is also worth considering if additional protection is required. Many organisations assume that Microsoft 365 services data (Email, SharePoint, Teams, OneDrive) is backed-up and therefore it can always be restored. Unfortunately, this is not always the case, with some services having limited time for document recovery after deletion. For some organisations it is imperative that data is securely stored for many years and in some cases, that there is backup recovery for laptops and desktops to protect non-cloud based corporate information. These organisations should consider additional backup services when moving to the cloud.
Creating a Microsoft 365 migration and cloud backup strategy
The challenges of content migration and data backup need to be considered ahead of migration to minimise the impact on business users and the organisation.
To mitigate these challenges, Telefónica Tech have created two packaged offerings: Microsoft 365 Content Migration Assessment and Microsoft 365 Cloud Backup Service. These packages have been developed from our experiences working with customers who are migrating into Microsoft 365 and want to ensure their data is secure.
The Microsoft 365 Content Migration Assessment package is a detailed planning activity that enables you to define a migration strategy tailored to your organisation. By conducting this exercise your organisation will be left with a clear delivery plan on moving data to Microsoft 365.
Incremental’s Microsoft 365 Cloud Backup Service package is a cloud-based service that allows organisations to have complete peace of mind, knowing that their Microsoft 365 data is protected.
The benefits of combining content migration with cloud backup
Running a content migration project provides the opportunity to reassess your data storage and streamline efficiencies in this area. With a holistic strategy for content storage and backup, a secure place for your content is created that will deliver the best value from your new solution.
Incremental’s Microsoft 365 Content Migration Assessment and the Microsoft 365 Cloud Backup Service packages are ideally placed to:
- Ensure a smooth transition to Microsoft 365
- Create a structure in Microsoft 365 that facilitates efficient working
- Minimise the impact on users during the migration and promote user-adoption
- Ensure your Microsoft 365 cloud data is backed-up to your organisational retention requirements
- Ensure air gap backup protection of your Microsoft 365 data.
At Telefónica Tech, we are in a unique position to help organisations address the challenges of content migration and cloud data backup. As a gold Microsoft partner, we have capabilities across both Azure infrastructure and Microsoft 365 services. Our consultants can assist with adoption and utilisation of Microsoft 365 services and can ensure your Azure and Microsoft 365 platforms are optimally configured to deliver real value to your organisation.
For more information, get in touch.