Migrating Mailboxes Between Office 365 Tenants: A Step-By-Step Guide For Cloud Architects
The cloud has opened up new opportunities for businesses to work more efficiently and cost-effectively. One of the most popular cloud services is Office 365, which offers a range of productivity tools and services including Exchange Online, SharePoint Online, and Skype for Business.For cloud architects, Office 365 tenant-to-tenant migrations can be a tricky task. It involves a complex set of steps that must be completed in the correct order, and any mistakes can have serious consequences. In this blog post, we’ll provide a step-by-step guide for cloud architects to ensure that their Office 365 tenant-to-tenant migrations are successful.
Step 1: Prepare Your Source and Target Tenants
The first step for a cloud architect is to prepare both the source and target tenants for the migration. This includes verifying that all the necessary prerequisites have been met. For example, you must ensure that the same Office 365 plans are being used in both tenants, and that the user accounts in both tenants have the same usernames.You should also make sure that your source tenant has the latest version of Exchange Online, and that the target tenant has an up-to-date version of Exchange Server. Additionally, you should check that the maximum mailbox size limit is the same in both tenants.
Step 2: Configure Directory Synchronization
The next step is to configure directory synchronization between the source and target tenants. This will ensure that user accounts and other objects are synchronized between both tenants. This can be done using the Microsoft Azure Active Directory Connect tool. Once the synchronization is complete, all user accounts will be visible in both tenants.Step 3: Create a Migration Batch
After directory synchronization is complete, you must create a migration batch in the target tenant. This will be used to move mailboxes from the source tenant to the target tenant. You can do this using the Exchange Admin Center or PowerShell.When creating the migration batch, you must specify the source and target tenants, the type of migration (e.g. cutover or staged), and the migration batch name. You should also specify the mailbox size limit, and select the users you want to migrate.
Step 4: Start the Migration
Once the migration batch is created, you can start the migration process. This can be done using the Exchange Admin Center or PowerShell. The migration process may take several hours, depending on the number of mailboxes being moved.Step 5: Monitor the Migration Process
It is important to monitor the migration process to ensure that it is running smoothly. You can do this using the Migration Reports in the Exchange Admin Center, or by using the Get-MigrationBatch PowerShell cmdlet.Step 6: Validate the Migration
Finally, you should validate the migration to ensure that all mailboxes have been moved successfully. You can do this by checking the migration reports in the Exchange Admin Center, or by using the Test-MigrationServerAvailability PowerShell cmdlet.Conclusion
Migrating mailboxes between Office 365 tenants can be a complex task. However, with the right preparation and tools, cloud architects can ensure that the process is successful. By following the steps outlined in this blog post, cloud architects can create a successful migration plan for their Office 365 tenant-to-tenant migrations.
References:
How to migrate mailboxes between Office 365 tenants
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1. Migrate Email Between Office 365 Tenants
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