Migrating SharePoint to the Cloud: The Definitive Guide 

SharePoint is Microsoft’s hub for storing, organizing, file sharing, and accessing information across your organization. Launched in 2001, SharePoint has been a trusted product that millions of users depend on every day.  

Whether reviewing documents in real-time while video calling, or collaborating in group chats, users familiar with these common tools are reliant on SharePoint. As more companies embrace digital transformation via cloud computing, SharePoint Online has quickly become dominant over an on-premises environment.  

For those on-premises users who are unsure of their next steps, this blog will break down the benefits of moving to SharePoint in Microsoft 365 and why migrating SharePoint to the cloud is the true future-proof option.   

Why Should You Move to SharePoint Online? 

While every organization has different needs, it’s important to understand your options and how these options can make an impact. For transitioning to SharePoint Online, the benefits are clear: 

  • No More End-of-life Concerns:  

Your on-premises SharePoint environment will only be supported by Microsoft for so many years: 

Listing Start Date Mainstream End Date Extended End Date 
SharePoint Server 2013 January 9, 2013 April 10, 2018 April 11, 2023 
SharePoint Server 2016 May 1, 2016 July 13, 2021 July 14, 2026 
SharePoint Server 2019 October 22, 2018 January 9, 2024 July 14, 2026 

While existing on-premises users do have some time, there’s little value in updating to another on-premises environment when you’ll be facing end-of-life not so far down the road.  

By migrating to SharePoint Online, you won’t face these end-of-life deadlines and your investment in this technology will be extended much further, reducing your technical debt.  

  • No Hardware Requirements: 

SharePoint Online is hosted in the cloud so your organization will not need to own, administer, or maintain back-end servers. This will all be handled by Microsoft directly.  

The only requirement for a cloud-based SharePoint framework is your web browser.   

  • Improved Security:  

Security should be a top consideration for businesses when deciding where to host data and files. Cybercrime continues to rise with the average total cost of a cyber-attack reaching $4.35 million in 2022.  

With an Office 365 migration for SharePoint, your organization can leverage your existing security groups as far as your users/permissions. Whatever was previously established in O365 and Azure Active Directory can be implemented directly into SharePoint, making administrating permission and controls much more streamlined and efficient. 

  • Enhanced Functionality:  

One of the main functionality benefits of migrating SharePoint to the cloud is its ability to integrate with O365 and your third-party applications. This enhances collaboration efforts as SharePoint Online is accessible from any device, making group chats via Microsoft Teams, sharing files and folders, video calling, and collaboration in real-time easier than ever.  

SharePoint Online will natively interact with both Power Platform and Power Apps so it’s no longer necessary to deploy code/WSP packages. You simply create a Power App and link it up to your SharePoint site. Overall, there are more features available in SharePoint Online that may never be available in an on-premises environment.  

  • Cost Savings: 

On-premises environments require upfront installation costs. With a cloud SharePoint environment, a subscription model allows your business to easily scale up or down, depending on your current needs for added flexibility.  

Users no longer have to buy or maintain their own servers and all updates come from Microsoft directly, requiring no in-house efforts on your business’s part.  

Ultimately, the benefits of SharePoint Online significantly outweigh staying on-premises. For those who are unsure of when to make this transition, there’s no time like the present. As your on-premises SharePoint environment will only be supported for so many years, there’s no reason not to migrate directly to the cloud moving forward.  

Next Steps: Get Started with Arraya’s SharePoint Migration Services 

As a Microsoft Gold Partner, our migration services can handle the complexities of SharePoint migrations of any kind for a no-impact transition.  

We can assess your existing SharePoint environment to determine what’s needed and what’s not before making the transition. Think of this as spring cleaning. There’s no need to take those dusty old boxes with you if the contents aren’t necessary anymore.  

Using the latest SharePoint migration tools, we conduct extensive research to design and build a SharePoint home that is sound and user-friendly for your data so employees can easily find what they’re looking for.  

As we migrate content and all shared folders in the background, there will be little to no impact or disruptions for users. Once the migration process is complete, we go through your modern SharePoint Online environment with you to locate and correct any potential trouble spots.  

For more information on making the move to SharePoint Online, check out our Expert Q&A video: When Should You Move to SharePoint Online?  

To get started on your SharePoint migration journey, contact an Arraya expert today. 

Visit https://www.arrayasolutions.com//contact-us/ to connect with our team now. 

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