Office 365 Brisbane SupportIf your company has decided it is finally time for all the benefits that will come with Office 365 data migration (ex. Mailbox, Calendar, Contact, Task, Company Files, Security, User Access Permission), as with other major projects and procedures, nothing will serve you better than a thorough preparation. The best type of such homework prepares your company’s system and staff for a best-case scenario in which the Office 365 migration proceeds smoothly and without any major hitches, a wort-case scenario in which there are major issues and you will have to spend a lot of valuable time troubleshooting, and all the variations in between. The time spent troubleshooting, however, can be greatly reduced if you foresee any possible trouble and do your best to avoid it but are nevertheless ready when it arises.

You and those in charge of Office 365 data migration should focus on the following areas to assure a smooth transition and to be fully prepared for issues should they arise.

  1. The Cloud –  Because Office 365 is a cloud-based system, you should ensure that your staff is fully familiar with the workings of such a system, specifically in how it may differ from your current system. Issues that arise in cloud-based systems, particularly when it comes to email, file storage, client connectivity, and staff access are likely to be handled differently than when dealing with a local network and on-premises IT.For example,
    • users management
    • share contact and calendar
    • spam filtering
    • 1 folder library can only contain no more than 5000 files, security integration.
    • Some File Type cannot be uploaded, such as .exe, .com, dll

    So if you and your staff are not fully conversant in cloud “language,” or at least fluent  in it, it will be like being lost in a foreign country without speaking the mother tongue.

  2. Record, List, and Document (and Discard). As with any other major transition within a company, one of the surest ways to avoid problems and to be ready to handle them smoothly and effectively is to keep detailed records of any actions undertaken so that there is a way to discover any missteps. In addition, depending on how long you have been running on your old system, it is important to clearly document what parts of your system will need to be included in the Office 365 data migration and what parts are detritus that are no longer useful and can be discarded.  Without full knowledge of this, issues can arise with system requirements and compatibility, or you simply will be lugging baggage you no longer need.
  3. Research and Practice. As with the old adage in which a passerby asks: “How do I get to Carnegie Hall?”–your Office 365 data migration will work best if once the system has been fully installed and you and your staff will be fully prepared for any future issues if you are committed to researching all of the new system’s functions and capabilities and “practice, practice, practice” on all of them, even those that will only be used or implemented rarely. This is the surest way to develop internal expertise and avoid the need of having to hire outside help when issues arise.
  4. Bring out the A Team. You are taking a major step with your company that will enhance your creativity and effectiveness, so this is not the time to think about shortcuts or allow the best players on your team to go on vacation to the Caribbean. Make sure that your “A team” IT personnel is fully available during the entire period of the Office 365 data migration and for the first few months after the transition.

Making sure you take all these steps does not guarantee that there won’t be any problems during your Office 365 migration, but it does ensure that you will be ready when such problems arise.

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