SharePoint is Microsoft’s premier collaborative platform, providing tools for storing and sharing documents and information. SharePoint was originally developed by Microsoft in 2001 as an umbrella term to include multiple products and services such as FrontPage, Office Server Extension and Team Pages. Today, however, the term SharePoint refers to the specific web-based environment that delivers sophisticated communication and teamwork applications.
Microsoft currently offers two variants of its team-centric collaboration platform: SharePoint Server, the locally hosted platform and SharePoint Online, the cloud-based service. SharePoint Online is bundled in some Office 365 subscription plans and can be also licensed as a standalone service.
SharePoint Online is often confused with Office 365 as both products share similar functionalities in terms of productivity applications and cloud-based file management. In fact, SharePoint Online is sometimes mistakenly referred to as Office 365 SharePoint, Microsoft 365 SharePoint and Microsoft SharePoint Office 365.
When you familiarize yourself with Microsoft’s cloud-based offerings, you realize that while both services are part of the same category of products, SharePoint Online and Office 365 can be different solutions for different audiences.
This blog post clarifies the difference between SharePoint Online and Office 365 as well as covers the unique collaborative features found in SharePoint Online.
Source: https://demotix.com/sharepoint-online-in-office-365/
The latest versions of SharePoint services and Office 365 solutions are exciting, with full of new features and this is a necessary platform of the future. But we know this migration from the older version to any new version is quite a daunting task for large enterprises. During migration, issues may arise even before the beginning of the technical process. Thus thinking from the root, we get to understand that, this is due to the lack of planning. Hence a careful analysis and planning done prior to migration can make the task easy and often reduce the migration cost. Each migration is different from the previous, so a definite plan of what you are getting into is required. The type of migration should be clear, be it from a file share or any other application to Office 365 or be migrating from SharePoint 2007, 2010, 2013 to a newer version or migrating to Online or to Office 365.
Analysis of existing SharePoint environment
Before building a migration strategy it is important to perform an analysis of the current environment. In this analysis, the focus should be on the workloads and contents that you plan to move. After this analysis, a clear understanding of the contents and customizations you have in your current environment is made. Then create a roadmap that covers the contents and customizations that are to be moved and then validate the customizations.
Scope of Migration
Defining the scope migration by having an idea of what is to be migrated is important because by this we will know how long it will take to migrate and estimate the cost of migration. Your migration scope might include files from a shared file drive, contents from an existing SharePoint environment, site collection and subsites, workflows or forms etc.
Type of Migration Scenario
You have 3 options of how you are going to migrate to Office 365/SharePoint Online and those are:
- Manual: For doing a manual migration you can use Explorer view to move files to a newly designed location, but the problem is you will lose the metadata. Although this problem can be avoided by using templates this is the least practical and least desirable solution of all.
- Hybrid: This is the idea of running the existing SharePoint version with Office 365. This helps users to navigate through both the environments with active directory without considering the transition. This helps in keeping the heavily customized server infrastructure that will not be otherwise supported in Office 365. However, going hybrid will not relocate your site.
- 3rd party tool: This is the best and the most logical way of migrating without damaging the data and moving the files into the cloud. But after purchasing this tools you may face some difficulties.
1. Directory Health
This becomes perhaps the most encountered technical issue that you might face during your migration. The migration itself involves identities federation and directory syncing, and some AD (active directory) health issue that might slow down or disturb the synchronization of directories. Using free tools from Microsoft like IdFix (as the name implies) can help avoid this by locating any potential problem with AD health.
2. Effect on Bandwidth
Organizations with limited bandwidth and a lot of data to migrate often become a frustrating task. In the midst of the process, a noticeable slowing down of the entire environment can adversely affect the corporate workflow. Careful execution of migration, constant streamlining, proper automation of the process etc. make sure that the effect on bandwidth is minimized.
3. Difficulty Shift in Some Areas
Some aspects of the company are easy to migrate while some others are complex. Exchange data, when migrated correctly, leads to an unnoticeable change for the end-user. For a more complex system such as SharePoint Online, migrating to Office 365 might bring changes that are quite challenging to the users. For example, a linked Excel spreadsheet can pose issues when migrated to Office 365. Links which are directed to legacy environments other than SharePoint will not be updated automatically.
4. Relief From Security Fear
Another worry for some employees is regarding moving their data from on-premises to the cloud. However, this kind of fear is quite unwanted because Microsoft has a huge number of safeguards to ensure the safety of your data during the migration. Microsoft takes security considerations seriously and finds the most cost-effective long-term solution.
Undoubtedly migration is a time-consuming task. However, we can get more features only with the newer versions. With upgraded versions, you can create internet/intranet portals, project management systems, and document management system by collaborating fully with all the devices supported. Thus it is becoming a must for every organization to move to a newer version to improve collaboration to sustenance.
But when it comes to SharePoint online migrations, performance and throttling issues are always primary concerns no matter which tool we use.
Saketa Migrator allows you to migrate either with the usual speed or go for turbo speed if the client has an azure storage account.
The user needs to be a Site Collection Administrator of every personal site that is to be migrated.
So, it is quite complex and not at all a feasible solution to migrate manually when thousands of users and files are concerned.
If you are looking for migrating not just files but a whole lot more, choose Saketa SharePoint Migrator as it migrates the entire Site Collection.
SharePoint’s popularity and vast usability are undeniable but with the whole corporate world being reduced to a single virtually connected Digital workplace, new embellishing tools such as Microsoft Teams, planners, etc have emerged as new workplace essentials.
The home office trend is the current driver because cloud-based collaboration applications such as Microsoft Teams are used extensively.Engage Executives to Convey the Goals & Business Benefits of MigrationIn the case of a planned migration from SharePoint On-Premises to Office 365, a thorough assessment of the initial situation with subsequent planning usually takes place at the start.
By providing users with comprehensive information about the project at an early stage, acceptance is achieved right from the start and potential resistance is taken out of the sails.
Finally, with a governance plan for SharePoint, goals can be clearly defined and their implementation stipulated and fulfilled on a permanent basis.Specialized Migration Tools Can Do More Than Microsoft AppsCode Creators Inc. is the leading provider of professional SharePoint migration solutions.
The company specializes in modern workplace solutions such as Office 365 and is certified as an Azure Architect, Azure Administrator, and Team Administrator.The most important question of migration is how to transfer the data easily and without errors from the on-premises infrastructure to Office 365.
The range of functions varies greatly depending on the manufacturer.It should be noted that in such projects there is usually more than just sites and documents to move.
For this reason, migration tools that support the full range of SharePoint workloads are recommended.SaaS Solutions Make Extra Infrastructure UnnecessaryWith SharePoint migrations, more than just sites and documents have to be moved, often mailboxes and workflows as well.Another decision criterion is the delivery platform.
Know the unique features of SharePoint Solutions in the age of Cloud and Office 365.
Also, review comparing the idea of SharePoint on Premise with SharePoint Online.For more - https://bit.ly/2qlSjrS
