How to Migrate from SBCGlobal.net to Office 365?

With so many email platforms available in the market, it is very easy to feel overwhelmed. SBCGlobal.net and Office 365 are both efficient email service providers.

Nonetheless, Office 365 is gaining popularity as the go-to solution for businesses. This is due to the fact that businesses are adapting to new and advanced technological standards. As a result, migrating from SBCGlobal.net to Office 365 emerges as a significant shift in how companies manage their emails.

So, in this article, we will guide you through the comprehensive step-by-step process of migrating from SBCGlobal.net to Office 365, highlighting key steps and strategies to ensure a smooth and successful migration process.

What Is SBCGlobal.net?

SBCGlobal.net is an email service provider. Earlier, it was offered by SBC Communications which was later acquired by AT&T. It supported both plain text and HTML formats that allowed users to easily compose, send, and receive emails. It also provided other email features such as inbox management, contact management, calendar integration, and online storage.

SBCGlobal.net has been discontinued following its acquisition by AT&T. The new signups are no longer available, however, the existing ones still work. Users can access and create new accounts from the AT&T homepage.

Why You Should Migrate From SBCGlobal.net to Microsoft 365/ Office 365?

Besides that you are not able to create new accounts on the SBCGlobal.net domain anymore, there are some other reasons why shifting to Office 365 is advantageous for you.

Some of the reasons are listed below:

• Improved Email Management And Integration: Office 365 is a more robust and feature-rich email platform in comparison to SBCGlobal.net. It offers a better user interface and experience with email management, calendar integration, and other services. Additionally, the integration with other Office 365 apps and services enhances overall productivity and collaboration.
• Increased Reliability And Support: SBCGlobal.net has been reported to have occasional service outages and delivery delays. On the other hand, Office 365 is a well-established and widely used email platform with a reputation for reliable email delivery and comprehensive customer support.
• Future-Proofing: As SBCGlobal.net is an older email service, migrating to Office 365 ensures that users have access to the latest email features and security updates. Moreover, Office 365 is a more future-proof solution that will continue to be supported and improved over time.
• Advanced Security Features: Office 365 offers multi-factor authentication that adds an extra layer to security. It also includes Advanced Threat Protection (ATP) which protects against cyber threats. Moreover, the data is encrypted using Transport Layer Security (TLS) during transmission, and BitLocker encryption for data storage protection.

Pre-Requisites of SBCGlobal.net to Office 365 Migration

Now, as you know it is beneficial to migrate to Office 365, let’s start the process. But, before you actually migrate, here are some necessary steps to take:

1. Obtain the IMAP server settings for your SBCGlobal.net account, which are:
   • IMAP Host: imap.mail.att.net
   • IMAP Port: 993 (for SSL-based mail services)
2. Keep your Office 365 account credentials ready.

Steps for Migrating Emails from SBCGlobal.net to Office 365

As you are ready, let us start the migration process. There are three ways to migrate from SBCGlobal.net to Office 365.

1. Importing SBCGlobal.net contacts, emails, calendar, etc to Office 365 using the tool – IMAP Backup Wizard.
   • Download and install IMAP Backup Wizard.
   • In IMAP Backup Wizard, enter the SBCGlobal.net credentials.
   • Now, you will see two checkboxes. If you want to backup multiple email accounts then choose the ‘Use Batch Mode’ option and if you want to backup data using a proxy server then choose the ‘Use Proxy’ option.
   • In the Batch mode option, click and check sample CSV files.
   • Then, click on the browse icon on the right side and select the CSV file which contains the email address and password. Then, click ‘Next’
   • If you selected the proxy option then enter the proxy details and click ‘next’.
   • But as we are doing it with the IMAP server, simply enter the IMAP details as given above.
   • Then click on ‘Login’.
   • Check the folders you want to Convert
   • Select the saving option as ‘Office 365’ and check the box that says ‘Save messages in default folders’.
   • Click on the ‘I am Admin’ option to map the Office 365 user account and then select the language.
   • After this, enter your Office 365 credentials and click on the ‘Backup’ Button.
   • The live conversion process will start.
   • After the process is complete, go to Office 365.
   • Under the ‘Hierarchy’ folder, click on ‘Inbox’ to see the converted emails.
2. Forward emails from SBCGlobal.net account to Office 365 account
3. Set up your SBCGlobal.net account in Outlook and then manually migrate the data to Office 365.If you want to go by this option, then the process is the same as above till you enter the IMAP server details. After this, follow the given steps:
   • Select the folders you want to convert.
   • Select the saving option as ‘PST’ and then select your preferred language.
   • Now select the destination path to save the output files.
   • Then click on the ‘Backup’ button.
   • Go to Outlook.
   • Go to file > Open & Export > Open Outlook Data file. Then select the PST file.
   • Under the IMAP BackupWizard tab, click on ‘Inbox’. Your converted emails will show.

Challenges And Considerations During SBCGlobal.net to Office 365 Migration

With the above-discussed step-by-step process, you will be able to migrate from SBCGlobal.net to Office 365. However, you might have to go through certain issues while migrating as reported by users on the web.

The possible challenges are as follows:

• Missing Contact Folders: After users have added their SBCGlobal.net account to Outlook, some of the contact folders were missing. For this, you may have to manually create a new contacts folder and import the contacts.
• Difficulty with Email Forwarding: Users have found that forwarding emails from SBCGlobal.net to Office 365 may not be the most effective migration method. It can only work for new incoming emails and not for existing emails in SBCGlobal.net.
• Complexity of Migration Tools: Migration tools, including IMAP, can be complex and difficult to use effectively. It is often better to seek professionals, like Apps4Rent, to ensure a smooth and successful migration process.

Apps4Rent: Your Trusted Partner for SBCGlobal.net to Office 365 Migration

Migrating from SBCGlobal.net to Office 365 works in favor of the enterprises. However, challenges during the Microsoft Office 365 migration process are inevitable. Addressing these issues is important for a successful migration.

To help you, Apps4Rent, a Microsoft Solutions Partner, is here to save your day. It provides assistance for seamless migration. The team ensures a smooth migration process by addressing issues and leveraging their experience to streamline the process. So, if you are planning to migrate to Office 365, don’t hesitate to contact Apps4Rent.