SharePoint to Office 365 Migration: Complete Guide for Businesses

Why Migrate SharePoint Online to Office 365

• Access your SharePoint files from anywhere with an internet connection.
• Make it easier for teams to work together on the same documents.
• Get more storage for business data as your needs grow.
• Reduce the work of managing on-premises SharePoint servers.
• Receive regular updates and new features from Microsoft.
• Keep your files better protected with Microsoft 365 security features.
• Connect easily with apps like Teams, OneDrive, and Outlook.

Manual Way to Migrate SharePoint to Office 365

The SharePoint Migration Tool (SPMT) is a free resource from Microsoft that helps users to move data. It is best for the small migration. This software copies your files and document libraries while keeping the original structure in many cases. This allows the user to monitor the migration process. Before you begin the migration, make sure your Microsoft 365 tenant is ready & you have the required permissions to access both sites.

1. Download the SharePoint Migration Tool (SPMT) on your Windows computer.
2. Open the tool & sign in with your Microsoft 365 administrator account.
3. Choose SharePoint Server as the source >> enter your SharePoint site details.
4. Select the document libraries or folders you want to migrate.
5. Enter the destination SharePoint Online site URL.
6. Review the migration settings >> map the source to the destination.
7. Click Migrate to start moving your SharePoint data.
8. After completion, check the migration report >> verify that all files are available in SharePoint Online.

Drawbacks of the Manual Method

• It does not fully support all SharePoint customizations.
• Some permissions may need to be set again after migration.
• For the large migrations, it can take a long time to finish.
• Errors may occur if file names or paths exceed Microsoft limits.
• It requires a stable internet connection throughout the migration.
• You need technical knowledge to migrate SharePoint site to Office 365.
• Complex SharePoint environments may require additional planning or another migration solution.

Professional Way to Migrate SharePoint to Office 365

If the manual method feels slow or does not fit your needs, you can use the Aryson Tenant-to-Tenant Migration Tool. It helps move SharePoint data to Microsoft 365 in a few simple steps. The tool is made for both small and large migrations. It keeps the folder structure during the process and lets you move selected data. You also get options to track the migration and check the results after it finishes.

• This can easily move SharePoint sites, files, folders, and document libraries.
• It lets users migrate one or many SharePoint sites at the same time.
• You can migrate shared mailbox to Office 365 in a simplified way.
• Make sure to keep the original folder structure during migration.
• Allows you to choose only the data you want to move.
• Shows a migration report after the process is complete.
• Works with different Microsoft 365 and SharePoint versions.

Steps to Move SharePoint to Office 365

1. Download the software an choose the Copy SharePoint.
   

 

2. Connect to Source Tenant using Modern Auth or Admin Access.
   

 

3. Select sites that you want to move to the destination >> Continue.
   

 

4. Connect to Destination Tenant using Modern Auth or Admin Access.
   

 

5. Select the sites where you want your data after migration >> Continue.
   

 

6. Map the source to the destination and click on Next.
   

 

7. Apply the filters for selective migration of data from SharePoint >> Start Migration.
   

Common Migration Challenges 

• Long file paths may cause some files to fail.
• Files with invalid names may not be copied.
• Permissions may not transfer correctly every time.
• Some metadata can be missed during migration.
• Unsupported SharePoint customizations cannot be moved.
• Duplicate files may create confusion after migration.
• It can be hard to check that every file was migrated successfully.

Comparison Between the Methods

Conclusion

In short, migrating SharePoint to Office 365 is a good way to keep you business data secure and easy to access. If you have a small SharePoint environment, then use a manual method. However, it may not work well for the complex migrations. If you want to perform the bulk migration then use the professional method that can make the process easier to migrate SharePoint to Office 365.

Frequently Asked Questions:

About The Author:

Loic Traves

Loic Traves is a seasoned technical expert who has helped thousands of clients with Microsoft Outlook and various cloud-based email platforms. He enjoys writing about email client backups and migration processes. Passionate about supporting users in need, he strives to provide the latest insights, clear explanations, and practical, user-friendly solutions.

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