Green Flags and Red Flags: Preparing for a Successful SharePoint Migration
Migration to SharePoint can transform the way your organization deals with information gathering and access. However, if not well-planned, it may also lead to retreats, missed opportunities, or even data loss. In order to have a smooth migration, you have to be familiar with good practices and avoid the pitfalls. Let’s dive deep into the do’s and don’ts of SharePoint migration to set your strategy up for success.
Green Flags: What to Aim For
1. Detailed Pre-Migration Analysis
A thorough assessment of your current system is mandatory as it ensures you understand your data structure, metadata, and permissions. This step helps avoid surprises during migration. For example, checking document ownership fields ensures that the correct user permissions are transferred with the documents.
2. Clearly Define Your Goals
What are your objectives from this migration? Is it simplifying collaboration, enforcing stronger security controls, or making mobile access easier? Knowing your “why” helps to formulate your approach and you can plan your goal accordingly.
3. Use Incremental Migrations
Avoid glutting your system by trying to transfer everything at once. You can plan your migration to sharePoint in various steps. For this, Delta Migration will help. It will only migrate the newly created and updated files or folders while leaving everything else as it was.
4. Test Before Executing
Even if you are sure you have followed every step that’s mentioned above, it is always a best idea to run a small test. Running small test migrations can catch problems such as links to nowhere and mismatched properties upfront.
5. Choose the Right Tools
Now the question of how to know what is the ideal tool for your sized business. You can click here and get a free demo on what tools and features you should opt for your business. Not all migration tools are created equal. You have to find a tool and invest in ones that streamline complex tasks like mapping metadata or syncing permissions just like Tzunami Deployer.
Red Flags: Avoid These Common Pitfalls
1. Migrating Without Cleaning
Migrating outdated or unnecessary files is a common mistake. You should thoroughly review your data first and get rid of duplicates or irrelevant content to streamline the migration process.
2. Ignoring Metadata Mapping
Metadata is crucial in SharePoint for categorizing and organizing content. Misaligned metadata (e.g., mapping a “Modified By” field incorrectly) can disrupt workflows and cause confusion for users. To avoid this, carefully map metadata fields between the source and SharePoint.
3. Neglecting Permissions Setup
In data migration, permissions ensure that each user or group retains appropriate access to files and folders post-migration. They keep sensitive data protected and accessible to the right people. For instance, only grant certain access to those who require it.
4. Skipping Post-Migration Optimization
Once the data is moved, rather than marking it as done, you should examine the post-migration result. Optimize SharePoint by setting up workflows, dashboards, and site layouts to get the most out of your system.
Preparing for SharePoint migration is about building a system that works for your team. By focusing on these dos and don’ts, you can create a smooth and efficient migration process.
Looking for a smart migration solution? Tools like Tzunami Deployer offer advanced features to help you simplify the process and avoid common pitfalls.
Book an appointment here to know more about efficient SharePoint migration strategies.
