Guide to easing the migration to Office 365
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Article
How to avoid Office 365 migration pitfalls
The costs of an Office 365 migration go beyond hardware and licensing, but experts say preparation can help an organization avoid costly productivity disruptions. Read Now
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Article
Why an Office 365 hybrid deployment might be right for you
Considering a migration to Office 365, but afraid it might not be right for your organization? Find out why a hybrid deployment might be the answer. Read Now
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Podcast
Microsoft finds a cloud-first, mobile-first solution in O365
How well has Microsoft's cloud-first, mobile-first strategy for Office 365 worked out? We check in with an expert. Listen Now
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Article
Migration to Office 365 is easier than you think
Making the move to Office 365 is easier said than done. But a clear project plan can help address many migration challenges, says an expert. Read Now
Editor's note
Migrating an enterprise's content from on-premises Microsoft applications, such as Lync, Exchange or SharePoint, to Office 365 can be a complicated process. That's especially true for organizations with legacy SharePoint networks or critical content spread across multiple applications to far-flung corners of their networks.
The tough part isn't necessarily moving all that content and related data to the cloud as part of a migration to Office 365. Instead, it's maintaining the data connections and search functionality essential to keeping employees productive via Active Directory synchronization.
That is sometimes easier said than done: Some 44% of IT professionals experience the difficulty of a failed migration each year, and 43% of those experienced some system downtime as a result, according to a survey by Vision Solutions. If organizations don't plan their migrations well, this pain can translate into unwanted, unplanned costs for putting all the network pieces back together on the cloud side of the fence.
Another consideration is licensing, which has its own complexities. Microsoft has incentivized migration to Office 365 in this regard, making the subscription model easier to embrace. Yet, the economics of old per-device, perpetual licensing will make the calculus more difficult if you are a large enterprise on the Client Access License Bridge program.
In fact, as the experts in this guide point out, maybe it's not a complete cloud migration that will ultimately work for your organization, but a hybrid on-premises/cloud migration that keeps some data elements at home synced with the cloud side. This guide helps outline the best strategies to consider when migrating to Office 365.
1Getting caught up with Office 365 licensing
Understanding the nuances of licensing can be tricky. With migration to Office 365 becoming more popular, companies need to get caught up on Office 365 licensing quickly, which can come with many challenges. In this section, articles cover the gritty details of subscriptions, free trials and licensing for businesses.
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Article
Spot the difference: Office 365 vs. Office 2013
Find out how Office 365 and Office 2013 differ, with an expert look at licensing, update frequency and other considerations. Read Now
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Microsoft Azure boosts subscriptions for Office 365
As more companies turn to software as a service options, Microsoft Azure is helping to draw more organizations into purchasing Office 365 subscriptions. Read Now
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Article
Office 365 licensing decoded
Is your organization trying to decide on an Office 365 license? An expert looks at the options. Read Now
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Article
Office 365 licensing creates challenges for on-premises users
The challenges don't stop with the decision to migrate to Office. There are also licensing and adoption issues to consider. Read Now
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Article
The perks of an Office 365 free trial
Embarking on a free trial of Office 365 can give organizations that aren't quite ready to migrate a shot at testing the platform. We have some advice. Read Now
2Strategies for an Office 365 migration
Figuring out the best strategy to take during the migration to Office 365 can be the key to success. As companies take on this endeavor, it is important to consider what can benefit them, as well as what can hinder them. This section covers the best Office 365 strategies to help ease the transition from on-premises to the cloud.
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Article
Know the difference between SharePoint and Office 365
Expert Scott Robinson explores the redundancies between SharePoint and Office 365, and offers insights into which might be best for different use cases. Read Now
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The ins and outs of SharePoint Online migration
Expert Brien Posey explores the upsides -- and challenges -- involved with moving to SharePoint Online. Read Now
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Podcast
The strategy behind Office 365
Some have said the Office 365 strategy lacks direction. We checked in with expert Scott Robinson to get his opinion. Listen Now
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Office 365 analytics is O365's best frenemy
One of the advantages of taking on an Office 365 migration is the platform's analytics capabilities. However, find out how the tool could be a drawback. Listen Now
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Office 365 can benefit your organization's productivity
Get tips to help make your migration to Office 365 more efficient and productive. Read Now