Nowadays, more and more enterprises are planning to move from an On-Premise messaging environment to Exchange Online (Microsoft 365). There are certain factors that are encouraging them to consider migration to Microsoft 365 such as to enhance management overhead, ensure easy manageability, and reduce capital costs for running the server edition. However, for Exchange administrators, one of the tedious and challenging job requirements is to migrate Exchange mailboxes to Microsoft 365.
There are several methods available to cater to the migration process. One of the efficient methods is Microsoft 365 Hybrid Migration. Let’s explore this method in detail.
Office 365 Hybrid Migration: An Overview
Office 365 Hybrid Migration is the migration process that enables on-premises mailboxes migration to on-site or an approach to ensure Exchange to Office 365 migration to be smooth and seamless to the users. With this approach, an individual can easily transfer the existing mailboxes between Exchange Server and Exchange Online. In this process, an individual does not need to create a new mailbox and import information.
What are the Benefits of Exchange-based Hybrid Deployment?
- Freedom to migrate either Exchange Online mailboxes to the Exchange organization or On-Premises Exchange mailboxes to the Exchange Online organization
- No need to create new user mailboxes and import information
- Less painful to users
- Seeding data before the migration
Hybrid Migration Office 365 Requirement
As said, the migration process is seamless to the users. But for the admins, there is a considerate amount of work to be done beforehand.
- Prior to migration, proper permissions are required
- Make sure that the Hybrid deployment between On-Premises and Exchange Online organizations is configured, and the local Exchange Server is healthy and working properly
- In On-Premises Exchange 2013 Client Access servers, ensure that the Mailbox Replication Proxy Service is enabled
Steps for Hybrid Migration Office 365
The process to migrate Exchange mailboxes from On-Premise to Office 365 or vice-versa is simple and easy. Follow the steps below for a successful migration:
- Create Endpoint for Migration
- Proxy Service Enabling
- Move Mailboxes by using EAC
- Batches Removal
- OWA Re-enabling for Offline Access
Now, let’s discuss these steps in detail
1. Create Endpoint for Migration
The first and foremost step, before executing remote move migrations – both On-Boarding and Off-Boarding, is to create Exchange migration endpoint. This endpoint includes connection setting for on-premises Exchange server, which runs the MRS proxy. This service helps in executing remote migrations to and from Exchange online.
2. Proxy Service Enabling
In case, the MRS Proxy is not enabled on the On-Premises Exchange 2013 Client Access servers, you need to enable it.
The steps to enable Proxy Service are as follows:
- Go to EAC and open it
- Now, navigate to the Servers
- Select Virtual Directories
- Choose Client Access Server
- Select the EWS virtual directory
- Click on the Edit option
- Now, check the MRS Proxy enabled checkbox
- Click on Save option
- Click OK
3. Move Mailboxes by Using EAC
In the Exchange Admin Center (EAC) on the Office 365 tab, there is a remote migration wizard. You can use this wizard to migrate Exchange Online mailboxes to the On-premises organization or to move the On-premises user mailboxes to the Exchange Online organization. You can select any of these procedures.
Migrate On-Premises Mailboxes to Office 365
Steps are as follows:
- Go to EAC and open it
- Now, navigate to Office 365
- Click on the Recipients
- Select the Migration option
- Click on the Add option
- Select Migrate to Exchange Online
- Now, from Select a Migration Type window, choose Remote Move Migration
- Click Next
- Under the Select the users’ window, click on the Add + option
- Choose the On-Premises User
- Click Add
- Click OK and Next
- Now, under Enter the Windows user account credential window, add credentials of on-premises administrator account
- Click Next
- Now, under Confirm the migration endpoint window, check whether the FQDN of desired on-premises Exchange server is listed
- Under Move Configuration window, in the New migration batch name text field, enter the migration batch name
- Next, choose the Target delivery domain for the mailboxes that you want to migrate to Office 365
- Next, ensure whether Move primary mailbox along with archive mailbox option is selected or not
- Go to Start the Batch option
- Choose one Recipient
- Make sure Automatically start the batch option is selected
- Click on the checkbox of Automatically complete the migration batch
- Click New
Migrate Office 365 Mailboxes to On-Premises
Steps are as follows:
- Open the EAC
- Navigate to Office 365
- Click on the Recipients
- Click on the Migration
- Click Add
- Choose, Migrate from Exchange Online
- Under the Select the user window, choose the Select the users that you want to move option
- Click Next
- Click on the Add + icon
- Choose Exchange Online users that you want to migrate to the on-premises organization
- Click Next
- Under the Confirm the migration endpoint window, check the listing to ensure FQDN of your on-premises Exchange server is listed
- Click Next
- Go to Move Configuration window
- Under the New migration batch name text field, enter migration batch name
- Under the Target delivery domain for the mailboxes, enter target delivery domain
- Now, go to Start the batch page
- Choose one recipient for receiving batch complete report
- Ensure Automatically start the batch option is selected
- Next, check the box for Automatically complete the migration batch
4. Batches Removal
Once the process to move the mailboxes has been completed, the next important step is batches removal. The reason for this removal is to reduce errors possibilities in scenarios where same users are moved again. Steps are as follows:
- Open the EAC
- Navigate to Office 365
- Select Recipients
- Select Migration and click on Completed Migration Batch
- Click on Delete option
- Confirm it by clicking on Yes
5. OWA Re-enabling for Offline Access
Offline access in Outlook on the Web allows you to access mailboxes easily, even in the scenarios when they are not connected to a network. In circumstances, when you are migrating Exchange mailboxes to Exchange Online, you must reset offline access setting in the browser to use Outlook on the web offline.
Limitations of the Office 365 Hybrid Migration Method
With this manual method, you can migrate mailboxes to Microsoft 365. But like other manual methods, there are some limitations, associated with Hybrid Migration method:
• Lengthy process
• Involves manual intervention and skilled admins to configure a healthy hybrid system
Manual method: https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/exchange/mailbox-migration/use-minimal-hybrid-to-quickly-migrate
Alternate Method
To overcome these limitations, the best solution is to use a reliable and secure third-party tool such as Stellar Migrator for Exchange. This tool is fully automated and is easy, fast, and efficient.
It is a powerful tool designed to simplify mailbox migration from on-premises Exchange and Office 365 to new Exchange servers or tenants. It supports seamless migration of mailboxes, public folders, and archive mailboxes with minimal downtime. The software ensures data integrity and provides detailed reports for complete transparency. Its intuitive interface makes it ideal for Exchange admins handling large-scale migrations.
The Way Forward
Office 365 Hybrid Migration is one of the well-known processes aimed at facilitating Exchange to Office 365 migration or vice-versa. However, it is bit lengthy, complicated, and, above all, requires technical knowledge. Therefore, all those who wish for an easy, simple, fast, and reliable solution for migration, Stellar Migrator for Exchange is an ideal choice.
Some other important resources:
Cutover Migration
Staged Migration
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