SBS 2011 to Office 365 Migration started with the end of The Windows Small Business Server rule ended a while back, marking the conclusion of Microsoft’s one of the best cost-effective server technologies of the early 2000s. But Small business servers got replaced with something better in the form of Microsoft Office 365 and SharePoint Online, which has naturally made the lives of small and medium businesses much more straightforward in this age of remote-location enterprises and fast decision-making.
So, suppose you are one of those businesses that have finally decided to migrate from the small business server 2011 to Office 365 or from the earliest version of the Small business server, including the small business server 2008. In that case, you must set aside enough time to plan and finish essential tasks before the migration, and only then should you make further migration decisions.
Planning SBS 2011 to Office 365 Migration
As Small Business Server (SBS) 2011 ended in January 2020, organisations using this platform must consider migrating to a more modern and secure solution, such as Microsoft Office 365. Here are four crucial steps to undertake before initiating the SBS 2011 to Office 365 Migration migration process:
Assess Your Current Infrastructure
Conduct a thorough inventory of your existing SBS 2011 infrastructure, including servers, applications, and services. This evaluation provides a clear understanding of your current environment. It helps you determine the scope of the SBS 2011 to Office 365 Migration, ensuring a more streamlined process.
Identify Essential Applications and Services
SBS 2011 comprises various components like Exchange Server, SharePoint, and Remote Web Workplace. Identify the critical applications and services your company relies on and verify if Office 365 provides suitable replacements or alternatives. For instance, Exchange Server can be migrated to Exchange Online, while SharePoint can be moved to SharePoint Online.
Plan for Email Migration
SBS 2011 typically hosts an organisation’s email through Exchange Server. Plan a comprehensive strategy for migrating mailboxes, contacts, and calendar items to Exchange Online. Ensure that the new email system is configured correctly to avoid disruptions in communication during the transition.
Review Security and Compliance
Office 365 offers advanced security and compliance features. Review your security policies and procedures to align them with the new cloud-based platform. This may involve updating access controls, encryption standards, and data protection practices to meet the requirements of your industry’s regulations. SBS 2011 to Office 365 Migration can be a significant enhancement to your security and compliance requirement
Backup everything to external storage
Before initiating SBS 2011 to Office 365 Migration, You must save every file and email you created in your Small Business Server in case things go south. If you already use third-party backup software, visit its necessary panels to confirm your backup. In addition to this, and just for additional safety, you can also use the “Backup & Server Storage” feature of your SBS system to create an extra copy and solidify your insurance. You can use Server backup to create an image to restore in a disaster.
Speak to Microsoft Partner and decide on a suitable Office 365 Plan you need to buy
Before starting the SBS 2011 to Office 365 Migration process, you will want to decide. Microsoft has designed various options for you, where the price ranges naturally vary with the features available. The popular choice doing rounds is Office 365’s “full-boat” plan, where Exchange Online for Email, Microsoft Teams and SharePoint Online come included along with a host of other Microsoft applications. If possible, integrate these with Exchange Online ATP. Based on your requirement, Office 365 licenses cost can vary. Microsoft Business Premium seems to be one of the most popular choices among businesses migrating from small business servers to Office 365. Subscription includes almost everything you use in the standard small business server edition.
Tidy up your Email Database & File Storage
It is not unnatural to assume that your email data size has expanded without limits through all these years of running your business. Now, you must note that if your email data size is more than 50 GB, migrating from small business server 2011 to Office 365 exchange online can take longer. Hence, it is wise to eliminate unwanted emails, critically segregate your archive and run the descending-order-of-size command to stop all space-consuming data quickly. Only migrate what you need and get rid of everything you don’t. Microsoft Office 365 licensing is user based, so don’t migrate disabled users or their emails or files. Tidy up files and archive everything unwanted.
Conclusion
Preparing for an SBS 2011 to Office 365 migration involves several crucial steps, including assessing your current infrastructure, identifying essential applications and services, planning for email migration, and reviewing security and compliance requirements. By carefully addressing each of these aspects, organisations can ensure a successful transition to a modern and secure cloud-based solution.
SBS 2011 to Office 365 migration can become complicated if you want things to be right the first time. Server Consultancy has experts who can make the process seamless for you by making the migration in a minimum timespan and getting your business running on Office 365 in no time. So, take the expertise, accept the help and embrace the available technology for better business efficiency.
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