When Is a Hybrid Migration to Office 365 Suitable for You?

• Introduction
• What is Office 365 Hybrid Migration?
• What are the Office 365 Hybrid Migration Prerequisites?
• How Does Office 365 Hybrid Setup Work?
• Benefits of Migrating from Exchange 2013 or 2016 to Office 365
• Hybrid Exchange Migration to Office 365: When to Consider It?
• When is a Hybrid Migration Not the Right Choice?
• Why You Should Choose Apps4Rent for Office 365 Hybrid Migration?

Most companies believe that ‘migrations are complex’ and fear migrations would cause drastic changes. They don’t want to rock a smooth sailing ship.

Change often poses challenges, especially when it involves intricate migration processes. Yet, in the ever-evolving world of modern business, one truth shines bright: cloud migration isn’t just a convenience—it’s a strategic necessity. A transformative solution awaits if your enterprise relies on on-premises Microsoft Exchange Servers.

This transformation revolves around the magic of cloud technology, rendering clunky physical hardware obsolete. Through collaboration with a trusted cloud solutions provider, you embark on a cost-effective journey, with a simple monthly fee per user granting you access to premium hosted Exchange services. This transition brings many benefits, from uninterrupted server uptime and fortified security to access to cutting-edge applications.

Now, let’s delve into the intricacies of Office 365 hybrid migration, where we’ll explore more about Office 365 Hybrid Migration, Office 365 hybrid migration prerequisites, and best practices that will pave the way for a seamless transition. So, get ready to elevate your business agility in the digital age.

What is Office 365 Hybrid Migration?

Office 365 hybrid migration is the bridge that allows both your on-premises servers and Office 365 to work together seamlessly. It’s like moving your mailboxes, calendars, tasks, contacts, and emails to Office 365 while keeping your Active Directory (AD) connected.

So, what’s the difference? In a standard migration to Office 365 (also known as O365 migration), all your data from the Exchange Server goes to the cloud through a migration endpoint, and you can decommission your on-premises servers. But in a hybrid migration, your AD data stays on the on-premises server, connected to the Office 365 cloud, and decommissioning isn’t an option.

It may sound complex, and it’s at times. However, there are situations where you have no other choice. To prepare for such scenarios, let’s understand Office 365 hybrid migration step by step.

What are the Office 365 Hybrid Migration Prerequisites?

Before embarking on your Office 365 hybrid migration journey, ensuring you’ve met the fundamental prerequisites is essential. This will help lay the foundation for a smooth and effective migration with minimal disruptions to your organization’s operations.

• Flexible Migration Timelines: Opt for the minimal hybrid migration approach if you need a patient timeline spanning a few weeks or less. It allows you to tailor the migration schedule to your specific needs.
• Server Compatibility: Ensure your organization uses Exchange 2010, 2013, or 2016 servers on-premises for minimal hybrid migration. Organizations with older Exchange servers may need an upgrade.
• Transition from Directory Sync: If you rely on directory synchronization for user management but plan to discontinue it, the minimal hybrid migration offers a seamless transition. Expect adjustments in user management practices during this transition.
• Prepare for Azure AD Tool: Have a server ready for the Azure Active Directory Synchronization tool installation. It’s crucial for synchronizing user accounts and attributes between your on-premises Active Directory and Office 365.

By addressing these prerequisites, you’ll be well on your way to a successful Office 365 hybrid migration.

How Does Office 365 Hybrid Setup Work?

Implementing a hybrid deployment can take various forms in different network setups. Let’s break down a typical scenario:

Imagine an organization with a single forest and domain, hosting email and calendars on an Exchange server. The network administrator opts for a hybrid deployment to make remote access easier for users through Outlook. They deploy and configure an Azure AD Connect server to sync user credentials for both on-premises and Microsoft 365.

As a part of the prerequisites, the admin will ensure that at least one Exchange Server will have Mailbox (and Client Access roles if needed). Once the organization has procured Microsoft 365/ Office 365 licenses, it must enable the Azure AD authentication system and Azure Active Directory synchronization. Once the prerequisites have been completed, the Hybrid Configuration wizard can be used to deploy the settings.

Here is a sample network topology implementation:

• Each user will use the same username and password for accessing on-premises and Exchange Online resources using Single Sign-On (SSO).
• Both Office 365 mailboxes, as well as the ones locally hosted on-premises, will use the same email domain address.
• Outbound emails are sent via the internet by the on-premises server.
• This infrastructure controls messaging transport and is the relay for Exchange Online, which is a part of Office 365/ Microsoft 365.
• With this implementation, both on-premises and Exchange Online users could share calendar information. Additionally, with this configuration, it’s possible to configure relationships for enabling message tracking across premises, MailTips, and the search feature for notifications.
• Lastly, Exchange Online and on-premises users would use the same URL to access their mailboxes using the Internet.

Benefits of Migrating from Exchange 2013 or 2016 to Office 365

Exchange 2013 or 2016 hybrid migration to Office 365 is a strategic move driven by various factors prioritizing operational efficiency, cost-effectiveness, and the demand for a secure and adaptable workspace.

• Scalability at Your Fingertips: Office 365 is a highly scalable solution catering to businesses of all sizes. It allows you to adjust user licenses based on evolving business requirements. This adaptability is a game-changer, setting it apart from the rigid structures of traditional on-premises Exchange Server setups.
• Cost-Effective Transformation: Shifting to Office 365 transforms your financial Outlook. It transitions your cost model from capital expenditure to operational expenditure. No longer will you be burdened with substantial upfront costs for server hardware or the ongoing expenses of maintenance and upgrades that on-premises systems demand.
• Anywhere, Anytime Access: The cloud-based architecture of Office 365 grants users access to emails, calendars, and applications from anywhere with an internet connection. This level of accessibility is a boon, especially for businesses with remote work policies or frequent travelers among their ranks.
• Assured Security and Compliance: Office 365 doesn’t compromise on security. It comes fortified with robust built-in security features and comprehensive compliance capabilities, ensuring that your organization can confidently handle sensitive data.

Hybrid Exchange Migration to Office 365: When to Consider It

Migrating your email system from on-premises to the cloud can be daunting. Still, it’s one that many businesses are undertaking to take advantage of the benefits of cloud computing. If you’re running Microsoft Exchange Server on your on-premises infrastructure, you can move it to the cloud by performing an Office 365 hybrid migration.

A hybrid migration allows you to gradually move your mailboxes to Office 365 while keeping your on-premises Exchange environment running. This can be a good option if you need more time to decommission your on-premises infrastructure entirely or need to maintain a hybrid environment for compliance reasons.

Hybrid Exchange migration to Office 365 can be a good option if:

• You have several mailboxes to migrate and want to maintain your users’ productivity.
• You need to maintain a hybrid environment for compliance reasons.
• You have some applications tightly integrated with your on-premises Exchange environment, and you still need to be ready to move them to the cloud.
• You need to check if your on-premises infrastructure can migrate to the cloud.

Another way to understand if you need a hybrid exchange migration to Office 365 is to answer the following questions:

1. Do some mailboxes need to be on the physical server for legal and compliance reasons?
2. Do you need to scale up your system capacity? If yes, would increasing your on-premises server capacity be too expensive?
3. Are you sure you want to maintain on-premises and cloud servers running parallel forever?

If you answered ‘yes’ to any of those questions, then a hybrid migration is the need of the hour.

When is a Hybrid Migration Not the Right Choice?

Hybrid migration is often a necessity for companies unable to decommission physical servers. Not all businesses require a hybrid cloud environment; it depends on specific needs. If at any point before the hybrid migration you decide to go with a cloud-based or a physical server only, do that instead and do NOT go with a hybrid migration.

Let’s explore the circumstances in which a hybrid migration might not be your best choice and when you should consider other alternatives.

• Clear Server Preference: If you’ve already chosen between fully cloud-based or on-premises servers, stick with that choice. Hybrid migration is best for a blend of both. If you lean heavily toward one side, skip the hybrid approach.
• Management Complexity: Hybrid setups bring added complexities. Troubleshooting in hybrid cloud Exchange environments can be tricky due to dual configurations. If your team can face difficulties handling the added complexity, rethink hybrid migration.
• Coordination Challenges: Successful hybrid setups require flawless coordination. Maintaining data consistency and updated records on both servers can be challenging. Any discrepancies impact productivity. If coordination is an issue, consider alternative migration.
• Testing the Waves: If you need more certainty about a complete migration, start with small Office 365 components. Assess feasibility and benefits while keeping hybrid flexibility.

While hybrid migration of Office 365 offers remarkable advantages, evaluating your organization’s specific needs and capabilities is essential.

Apps4Rent Can Help with Office 365 Hybrid Migration

This article helped you understand the suitability of a hybrid migration for your business. If you have more questions, you can always approach our experts! We at Apps4Rent have been offering Office 365 migration services for over a decade. So, whether you want to migrate mailboxes or need further assistance deciding on the type of migration, contact us, and we will help you!