How to Migrate from SharePoint 2007 to SharePoint Online in 2025?

You’re still running on SharePoint 2007 in 2025? It turns out you’re not alone in this, but it’s definitely time to move.

Older systems like SP2007 become harder to maintain and increasingly out of sync with modern workflows. Migrating to SharePoint Online offers your organization more flexibility and better collaboration tools.

Here’s a realistic, experience-based approach to planning your SharePoint upgrade without getting buried in manual work, compatibility issues, or risky workarounds. We’ll show you a step-by-step path, how to manage risk, and where Tzunami Deployer will help you.

Step-by-Step Plan: What Actually Works in the Field

1. Take Inventory Before You Touch Anything

Don’t start migrating blindly. First, document what’s actually in your SP2007 environment:

• Sites, subsites, libraries, lists, custom pages
  
• Content types, metadata, and workflows
  
• Permissions and active user access
  

If you’ve got orphaned content or outdated templates, now’s the time to clean them up.

⚙️ Use Tzunami Deployer’s analysis  tool to scan your legacy SharePoint before lifting a single file.

2. Design What SharePoint Online Should Look Like

Think about where you’re going and not just what you’re moving:

• Do you need hub sites?
  
• Can site structure be flattened or reorganized?
  
  

3. Choose a Migration Tool 

There’s no native Microsoft path from SharePoint 2007 to Online. That’s why we built Tzunami Deployer to do it directly. You get:

• Direct 2007 → SharePoint Online migration
  
• Full metadata, version history, and permission retention
  
• Delta migration for minimal downtime
  
• Smart link resolution so nothing breaks

4. Run a Pilot With a Real Team

Pick a small but active department and migrate just their content. You’ll notice:

• Where things break
  
• How do permissions carry over
  
• Whether the structure actually works
  
  

5. Take a Phased Approach—Not All at Once

We always advise phased rollouts. Migrate by team, site collection, or project group. Communicate clearly and keep everyone in the loop.

And most importantly, schedule around business hours with Tzunami’s off-peak scheduling and delta syncs.

6. After the Migration, Don’t Just Walk Away

Post-migration, verify:

• Permissions still make sense
  
• Metadata is mapped as intended
  
• Workflows (if you had any) are either recreated or retired
  

Provide training even if your users/employees “know SharePoint.” Online is a different experience.

Typical Timeline (If You Do It Right)

🛑 Warning: If you’re tempted to “just export to Excel and reupload,” you’re underestimating metadata integrity, document versions, and permissions complexity.

Common Problems and Their Fixes

Feeling ready? Get your free demo today and see firsthand how Tzunami Deployer makes SharePoint migration easy and secure