SharePoint Migration Manager: Uses, Benefits & Alternatives

SharePoint Migration Manager is designed by Microsoft. It provides the SharePoint Migration Tool to migrate SharePoint On-Premises documents to Microsoft 365 (SharePoint Online, OneDrive, or MS Teams). On the other hand, it also offers the facility to migrate data from the Box, Dropbox, and Google Drive to SharePoint Online.

It supports migration from SharePoint 2019, 2016, 2013, and 2010 and network file shares to the SharePoint Online account. If you are looking to explore Migration Manager & SPMT, their benefits, and their uses, stay tuned to this blog and learn about them in detail.

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What is SharePoint Migration Manager?

Migration Manager is an integral part of Microsoft 365 that offers migration from several sources, like Box, Dropbox, and Google Drive to SharePoint Online. It also provides the SharePoint Migration Tool to simplify the SharePoint On-premises to SharePoint Online migration.

Users can distribute the workload of large volumes of data and streamline the migration of unlimited data. Along with the SharePoint Migration, it also offers the facility to manage other migrations, like Drive, Box, and Dropbox.

Benefits of the Microsoft Migration Manager:

1 Centralized Transfer: Admins can easily manage their multiple source migrations (Box, Dropbox, and Google Drive) from a single interface. Also, admins can monitor the entire migration process in the SharePoint Admin Center, including checking for errors, configuring agents, and viewing log files.

2 Easy to Use: The Migration Manager is easy to use for all users. It is designed with a user-friendly interface and offers a complete step-by-step migration guide. Users can also migrate those who lack technical understanding.

3 Agent-based Migration: It allows users to create agents to divide large amounts of data and proceed with a smooth migration. The Migration Manager also eases the migration of even unlimited file & document sizes.

4 Migration Source: Users can select the SharePoint On-Premises 2019, 2016, 2013 & 2010 documents as the source. It allows users to migrate their On-Premises data to SharePoint Online, MS Teams, and OneDrive.

5 Monitor Migration: Users can effectively monitor the migration process on the Microsoft Manager’s dashboard. Also, users can handle errors that may affect the SharePoint files & documents in the Microsoft 365 migration process. It also allows users to re-run the specific migrations if required.

6 Supports Large Data: This solution has no limitations and allows users to migrate a large volume of files and documents from SharePoint On-Premises to Microsoft Team, OneDrive & SharePoint Online. Hence, this tool will work smoothly beyond size restrictions on the files and documents.

7 Keeps Permissions & Metadata: When migrating from On-Premises files to Microsoft 365, this tool keeps all the permissions and metadata intact. All the permissions, like who has access, who created, and who modified after files & documents migration.

8 Pricing: Users do not need to pay additional costs for the SharePoint Migration Manager to migrate On-Premises files. It includes the existing Microsoft 365 subscription and allows users to migrate SharePoint data.

When to Use SharePoint Migration Manager:

1 Large-Scale Migrations: As we know, the Microsoft 365 Manager perfectly handles large volumes of files. Therefore, if you are planning to move large-scale data to SharePoint Online, this solution will be a better and more affordable choice for Microsoft 365 subscription users.

2 Moving Entire SharePoint Sites: If your organization wants to move all site data from On-Premises to the cloud online. This software efficiently processes entire SharePoint sites, including lists, libraries, documents, and permissions from On-Premises to SharePoint Online.

3 Multiple Source Platforms: This Migration Manager is a must-chosen solution to migrate data from On-Premises platforms to SharePoint Online.

How to use Microsoft Manager Solution?

The steps below help you to understand how to migrate files from On-Premises to SharePoint using this solution:

First of all, keep your SharePoint Online ready and verify the source & destination.
After that, log in to the Microsoft 365 Admin Center and navigate to the SharePoint Admin Center.
Now, click the Migration option and select the Migration Manager option.
Choose the source (Box, Dropbox & Drive) and the target (SharePoint Online).
To migrate SharePoint On-Premises, install the SharePoint Migration Tool.
Set up migration settings, like enabling the configuration of metadata and permissions and handling errors.
Then, start the migration and monitor the ongoing process.

After migration, verify files and metadata in the target.

What is SharePoint Migration Tool (SPMT)?

SharePoint Migration Tool is a specialized tool offered by Microsoft to migrate SharePoint Server and local file shares to SharePoint Online. Users can select the sites from SharePoint 2019, 2016, 2013 and 2010 to migrate to SharePoint Online. It is free software available for all users to download and can be used to migrate only sites to SharePoint Online.

This software can effectively handle small and mid-scale migrations from On-Premises to SharePoint Online. It is designed to be easy to use, so no additional technical knowledge is necessary to use this solution.

Benefits of the SharePoint Migration Tool:

1 Migration from SharePoint On-Premises to Online: SharePoint Migration Tool supports direct migration from SharePoint On-Premises to SharePoint Online. Users can easily migrate from local file shares and SharePoint 2019, 2016, 2013, and 2010.

2 Straightforward Interface: Microsoft developed this to ensure that all users can migrate from SharePoint On-Premises and local file shares to SharePoint Online. Technical knowledge is optional for users when handling this migration solution.

3 Monitor Migration: SPMT doesn’t offer a centralized dashboard like the SharePoint Migration Manager. So, users need to set up migration and monitor the migration process manually.

4 Small & Mid-Scale Migration: This software handles small & mid-scale migration tasks. It effortlessly migrates SharePoint On-Premises sites to SharePoint Online, Microsoft Teams and OneDrive.

5 Supports Multiple Platforms: Microsoft SharePoint Migration Tool supports all editions of the SharePoint Server, including SharePoint 2019, 2016, 2013, and 2010. Moreover, it allows users to migrate data from local file shares to OneDrive & SharePoint Online.

6 License & Cost: SharePoint Migration Tool (SPMT) is a free tool that is available for all Microsoft 365 users who want to migrate data to SharePoint Online.

How to use the SharePoint Migration Tool?

Download and install the SharePoint Migration Tool (SPMT). Then, follow the upcoming steps to migrate to SharePoint, OneDrive & MS Teams.

After installing, launch the software on your system.
Sign in with your Microsoft 365 admin account.
Then, select the source (SharePoint Servers & File Shares).
After that, add the destination (SharePoint Online or OneDrive).
Begin the migration and monitor the entire task.
Lastly, verify the data has been successfully migrated to the selected target.

Limitations of the SharePoint Migration Tool or Manager:

Users can face a lot of limitations when using the Migration Manager and SPMT to migrate. Let us discuss a few of them.

It only allows users to migrate data up to 250 GB of size to SharePoint Online, OneDrive and MS Teams.
Moreover, it doesn’t support the File version migration from On-Premises to SharePoint Online.
This tool can handle basic errors but fails to tackle advanced errors.
It lacks automation, and users need to set up and monitor migration tasks manually.

These limitations cause the migration of SharePoint server sites to SharePoint Online. Therefore, users must explore an alternative way to proceed with the migration in a better way.

An Alternative Way for SharePoint Server Site Migration

Users can use the Shoviv SharePoint Migration Tool to simplify the SharePoint migration. This software is easy to use and provides the facility to migrate from SharePoint Servers, including SharePoint 2019, 2016, 2013 and 2010, to SharePoint Online & OneDrive. Users can migrate all types of data from the SharePoint Server, such as libraries, subsites, MS Teams Sites, Web Apps, Office 365 Group Sites, etc.

Users can also use this software to migrate from SharePoint Online to SharePoint Online account. It also offers multiple filters to sort SharePoint On-Premises data, such as file type, file size, date range and subsite.

Quick Steps for SharePoint Migration:

Install and launch the Shoviv SharePoint Migration Tool.
Then, connect the source and the target (SharePoint Online).
Create a migration job, set filters and choose the action for already existing files.
After that, make changes on the Migration Settings page.
Schedule migration if needed and click Next.
Review Migration settings and hit the Finish button.

The Crux of the Blog!

This blog has elaborated on the SharePoint Migration Manager and SharePoint Migration Tool (SPMT). Additionally, we have also shared the benefits and uses of the Migration Manager and SharePoint Migration Tool. However, it comes with a few limitations that can complicate the entire migration task. Therefore, an alternative method, the Shoviv SharePoint Migration Tool, is also discussed in this blog. It is a reliable and secure way to migrate SharePoint sites easily.