If you have an outdated email infrastructure, or your IT department is spending too much time maintaining slow, poorly-performing legacy applications, it may be time to move to a cloud-based solution such as Office 365.
But the process of migrating to the cloud can be complex and intimidating. Where should you start? Find out with this article!
1. Identify Your Needs
The first thing you need to do is think about the unique needs of your business. Do you only need email and basic intranet from Outlook and SharePoint, or a more complex Office 365 suite? What’s your budget? Do your employees need mobile, on-the-go access to data?
Think through exactly what you require from your IT infrastructure – before you go any further!
2. Set Your Objectives
Do you want to cut costs? Speed up data management? Emphasize online collaboration tools? Increase productivity for remote workers? No matter what your objectives may be, make sure you define them before you start your project – this will help you understand your ROI.
3. Choose The Right Product
You’ll need to choose the right suite of Office 365 products based on your business needs, the size of your enterprise, and other details.
4. Think About Business Requirements
Make sure that you choose the right product that will adhere to all requirements for data safety, backups, and other compliance requirements – particularly if you are working with credit card numbers, or PHI (Personal Health Information) that may be protected by HIPAA and other government regulations.
5. Think About The Timeframe For Your Migration
One mistake some companies make is not providing enough time for their migration, or underestimating how long it will take. Be ready to spend 72 hours or longer on your migration, with on-site IT staff and Microsoft support staff on the phone to ensure a smooth transition. Consider migrating on a holiday weekend when you’ll have ample time to resolve any issues before the official lau
6. Choose The Right Partner
The process of setting up Office 365 is much easier if you choose the right IT partner. You can be sure that your cloud migration will go smoothly if you choose a company with expertise in Office 365 and the cloud.
7. Execute Your Vision And Measure Results
Once your plan has been developed and tested, it’s time to deploy Office 365 – and measure the outcome of the project based on the objectives that you developed.
8. Create A Change Management Plan
You’ll need a change management plan to train employees, administrators, and other stakeholders on how to use the new software suite, and ensure business continuity.
Need Help With Office 365? Contact Us Now!
At K3 Technology, we are experts in cloud computing and Office 365. If you’re running legacy applications and interested in the benefits of the cloud, get in touch with us right away – and see the benefits of an Office 365 migration. To inquire, call us directly at 303-770-8050.
