What does migration really mean?​

Episodes in the Microsoft 365 Migrations Series

  1. What does migration really mean?​
  2. Migration: The Sympraxis Approach

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"Ask Sympraxis" is a bi-weekly webinar series, where we discuss an array of topics and answer your submitted questions. Join us by downloading our recurring calendar event. You can also join us directly in the meeting without downloading the event.

See a listing of Ask Sympraxis episodes by topic covered: Topic List, Series List, or a full listing Archive

Feeling overwhelmed by the prospect of migration? Don’t worry, this session of Ask Sympraxis is here to assist you! Our discussion covered various aspects, ranging from the definition of migration all the way to potential speed bumps. Here’s a comprehensive breakdown of the key takeaways:

Understanding migration

Migration, simply put, involves moving content from one place to another. This process takes different forms, such as organizational mergers, acquisitions, divestitures, reorganizations, and transitioning to the cloud. However, keep in mind migration is not merely about relocating files; it gives you an opportunity to enhance and improve existing structures.

Maturity Model approach

At the foundational level (level 100), a basic lift and shift occurs. As the migration progresses to level 200, there’s an emphasis on organizing content into separate teams, with level 300 introducing improved information architecture. At level 400, migrations become an opportunity to pilot new working models, while level 500 involves full automation of processes, often incorporating AI assistance.

Recipes for success

To increase the success of any migration you’ll want executive buy-in. Communication planning is also critical, as you need employees to be enthusiastic about the benefits of migration. Additionally, dedicated time from content owners, those intimately familiar with the material being migrated, is necessary. Overall, migrations are more about change management than technology.

Types of migrations

Each type of migration poses distinct challenges and opportunities. Listen in for more detailed information on migrations from on-prem to the cloud, tenant to tenant, internal reorganizations, and the shift from file shares to the cloud.

Migration approaches

The first migration approach we highly discourage, it’s the lift and shift. Meaning you essentially box everything up and move it to the new spot. The second approach, remodel/reorganization, focuses on improving information architecture and how teams work. Lastly, there’s the approach of separating collaboration and communication content, recognizing the distinct purposes of each piece of content.

Migration Tools

Two prominent migration tools we suggest are Sharegate and PnP.Powershell. Sharegate has comprehensive capabilities, aiding in inventories and providing robust reporting features. PnP.Powershell, on the other hand, allows for more complex scripting as part of the migration process.

Speed Bumps

The migration journey is not without its challenges. Branding, custom solutions, and third-party applications can be significant speed bumps, especially if moving from classic or on-prem to modern SharePoint. InfoPath Forms and workflows also need to be carefully looked at and thought through.

In the ever-evolving landscape of content migration, a nuanced understanding of the process, coupled with strategic planning and the right tools, is crucial for success. We hope these valuable insights have better equipped you and/or your organization with the knowledge to navigate the challenges and opportunities that arise during a migration journey.

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Do you have any questions for us? Continue the conversation on Twitter with the hashtag #AskSympraxis and mention @SympraxisC.