How to Migrate Exchange Server 2013 to Office 365

Microsoft Office 365 is one of the most complete Microsoft Office cloud services till date. This application is inundated with upgraded communication services like Exchange, SharePoint, Lync, Webapps and more. With cost savings amounting to more than 50% (Reference: https://books.google.co.in/ third generation also known as wave 15), organizations find it easier to move their Email services to Cloud. Following reasons have attributed to migration from exchange 2013 to office 365:

1. No need of server-maintenance and server and software upgrade
2. No time lag for roll-out of features
3. Services available on the move
4. Efficiency of IT services
5. Cost reduction due to reduced energy consumption and hardware update

However, Microsoft Office 365 cloud services are dependent on two major factors – number of users using the application and bandwidth capability:

• Microsoft has designed modules as per number of users say for 1 to 25 users; 25 – 75 users; and so on. Also the latest version allows users to install and use the application on 5 devices per user.
• Bandwidth capacity should be on the higher side for users to access the Cloud application efficiently.

Just like was the case for EDB to PST conversion, the migration path from Exchange to Office365 will differ based on the criteria such as size of the organization, number of users, knowledge about messaging environment i.e. Office 365 and Exchange, and the possible outcomes revolving around migration environment.

You have to choose between the four different migration approaches, based upon the above mentioned factors:

Exchange Cutover migration: Migration process involves moving all mailboxes at one-go. Since all mailboxes move at one time, it is difficult to execute the process with huge number of mailboxes hence the number of mailboxes should not exceed the figure of 2000 and organization should be using either of these – Exchange 2003, 2007, 2010, or 2013

Staged Exchange migrations: Mailboxes move in batches. When the number of mailboxes are >2000, deploy staged exchange migration. The only drawback is that this method works with Exchange 2003 or 2007 only. Alternately, if your organization is on Exchange 2003 or Exchange 2007, staged migration is the best option.

Hybrid Exchange Deployment-based migrations: Hybrid deployment is successful with large number of mailboxes say >2000. It allows an organization to maintain both on-premises and online mailboxes and progressively migrate users and emails to Office 365.  Though the process is smooth but it is complex, reason being migration is done in small batches and over time. In case you delete a step during one of batch-migration, your process remains incomplete. This technique should be used only if you’re using Exchange 2010 or 2013.

IMAP-based e-mail migrations: A slow and long process. With IMAP or Internet Message Access Protocol you have to first create mailboxes for each user on Office 365 and then migrate their emails. Still other components including contacts, calendar items, and tasks can’t be migrated with IMAP.

Alternate Recommended Solution: Though all four options also provide the desired results but it is always better to resort to Stellar Converter for EDB for Exchange 2013 mailbox to Office 365 migration. Reason being you can view and save EDB files, thus confirming to complete data export.

How to migrate Exchange 2013 to Office 365 using Stellar Converter for EDB:

Stellar Converter for EDB doesn’t configures or reconfigures user mailboxes, hence the structure and format of the mailboxes remain intact. This tool enables accessing mailbox data without connecting to the server. To execute the process: Download, install and run the software on your system

1. Select offline EDB option under select conversion mode option:

   

2. On the above screen, you can find an option of Browse. Click on that button to select your Offline EDB file. You can also find the EDB file with Find button. Then you need to know the file-location.

   

3. After selecting the EDB file, click on Next button to start the process.

   

4. You will get the display of all the contents of mailbox folder including Emails, Contacts, Calendars, journals and more.

   

5. Click on each item and the folder-contents are displayed in the centre.
6. Office 365 Details dialoge box pops-up with a message: ‘All selected folder of offline EDB will be merged with Office 365 profile’

   

7. Provide User credentials (User ID and valid password) and click on OK

   

Your Exchange mailboxes are migrated to Office 365. Click the Cloud application and start communicating.

Though the manual processes are simple these are tedious and especially when you are new to either Exchange or Office 365 application. Moreover, there is always a risk of data-loss in transit. In order to avoid crucial data-loss and continue working efficiently on migrated tools, it is always good to use EDB to PST Converter. This software is designed and developed to preview complete mailbox data and perform migration after complete verification.

The Final Words

Enterprise asset management is complex and time taking business. Be it under-maintenance or over-maintenance, both create complexities starting from IT-staff to the end-users. Under-maintenance causes productivity losses build avoidable security gaps and most often result in increased cost. And over-maintenance causes preventable downtimes as well as increased cost. It is always better to shift your paradigm to more useful, less-bothersome, cost-efficient Microsoft Office365 and work on to migrate exchange 2013 to office 365. You can achieve your goals with ease, using Stellar Converter for EDB software.