Are you using SharePoint 2010 or its earlier versions for years, even though your business desperately needs a modern solution for SharePoint Online or on-premise SharePoint 2019 solution? Is your organisation using the cloud for all other corporate solutions and at the same time, relying on SharePoint on-premises? If you answered ‘yes’ to any of these questions, it’s time to migrate to the latest or most convenient version of SharePoint sooner rather than later. SharePoint migrations are crucial for improved collaboration and long-term business benefits.
In this article, we will understand what migration to SharePoint means, explore the different types of migrations and discuss the best practices you should follow.
Understanding Sharepoint Migrations
There is no denying that SharePoint has been a popular choice for businesses to store, manage, and collaborate on documents and information for more than a decade. However, with the increasing popularity of cloud computing and the release of SharePoint Online, many companies today prefer to migrate their SharePoint to a newer version or to the cloud.
But what does migration to SharePoint mean?
In simple terms, SharePoint migration moves data, documents, and other business-critical information from one SharePoint environment to another. This process is essential for businesses that want to upgrade to the latest version of SharePoint or migrate from an on-premises SharePoint environment to SharePoint Online, part of the Microsoft Office 365 suite of cloud-based services.
The migration process involves transferring the data from the source SharePoint environment to the target environment while ensuring security and maintaining the integrity of the data. SharePoint data migration requires careful planning, execution, and testing to ensure a successful transition.
Businesses choose to migrate to or between versions of SharePoint for various reasons. One of the main reasons is to take advantage of the latest features and collaboration and productivity tools that come with the new version. The choice to migrate your SharePoint entirely depends on your business needs, strategies, and goals.
Types of SharePoint Migrations
Migrations are tricky and often challenging. Organisations should therefore choose from different types of SharePoint migrations depending on their business-specific requirements. These include:
a) On-Premises to Cloud Migration
One of the most common types of SharePoint data migration is on-premises to cloud migration. This involves moving from an on-premises version of SharePoint to SharePoint Online – the cloud-based version of SharePoint. Businesses wishing to take full advantage of the benefits of cloud computing, such as scalability, flexibility and cost efficiency, should consider this type of migration. Moreover, by shifting their information to the cloud, businesses can also benefit from automatic updates and upgrades to the latest version of SharePoint, ensuring that they always use the latest features and security patches.
b) Cloud to On-Premises Migration
This migration to SharePoint involves moving from SharePoint Online to an on-premises version of SharePoint. Cloud to on-premises SharePoint migration is beneficial for companies that prefer more control over their data and content or have specific security or compliance requirements that cannot be met in the cloud. This type of SharePoint data migration can be challenging because the target environment may have different capabilities or features than the source environment. This makes careful planning and testing even more important to ensure a successful migration.
c) Version Upgrade Migration
This SharePoint migration involves upgrading the older version to a newer one. E.g. upgrading from SharePoint 2010 to SharePoint 2019. Upgrading to a newer version of SharePoint is crucial because older versions of the program may no longer receive support or have the necessary security patches and latest features required to comply with various industry or regulatory standards. Upgrading to a newer version of SharePoint can also help businesses to take advantage of the latest features, improve performance, and enhance security.
d) Hybrid migration
Hybrid migration means maintaining both an on-premises and a cloud-based SharePoint environment and syncing data and content between the two environments. This type of SharePoint data migration benefits businesses with specific security or compliance requirements that cannot be met in the cloud but still want to take advantage of the benefits of cloud computing.
Best Practices for SharePoint Migration
Migrating to SharePoint can be a complex process that requires careful planning and execution to ensure a successful outcome. Here are some best practices businesses should follow:
1) Plan and Prepare
SharePoint migration is a challenging process. A successful SharePoint data migration requires proper planning and preparation. First, businesses should identify all kinds of data, features and customisations that require migration to the latest version of SharePoint. It is also essential to ensure that the SharePoint environment is up to date and that all the prerequisites are installed. Create a detailed migration plan that includes timelines, milestones, and contingencies.
2) Communicate with Stakeholders
It is important to communicate with all stakeholders, including employees and partners, about the migration process, timelines, and expectations. Ensure to provide regular updates to keep everyone in the loop about the progress of the migration.
3) Backup your data
We simply cannot stress how important it is to back up your data before starting the migration process. This ensures that you can always go back to your old data if anything goes wrong during the migration process.
4) Test the migration
Before migrating the entire content, testing the migration process on a more minor data set is always a good idea to ensure it works correctly. This also helps identify any issues during the final migration process.
5) Phased migration
Migrating all the data and information at once can be risky. So it is always a good idea to migrate in phases, starting with the least critical content. This helps identify any issues and iron them out before migrating the critical content.
6) Train the end-users
SharePoint migration can change the user interface and program features. To ensure a smooth transition, it is necessary to ensure that the employees are familiar with all the changes and newly added features. Providing training to the employees can expedite the whole transition process.
To conclude
SharePoint migration is important for organisations to stay current with the latest features and technologies. However, it takes a lot of work, and migration to SharePoint requires skill and expertise. By following the best practices mentioned above or partnering with a reliable SharePoint migration service provider like us, organisations can ensure a smooth and hassle-free migration process.
At Neologix, we specialise in SharePoint data migration services. Over the years, our team of expert SharePoint developers have successfully helped numerous organisations to migrate to the latest version of SharePoint. We also ensure minimal downtime during the process, so your business operations remain unaffected.
So what are you waiting for? Contact us today at +971-521043226 or info@neologix.ae to migrate to SharePoint’s latest version and unlock the full potential of your business.
