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Migrate your professional email to Microsoft 365

Migrating email from GoDaddy to Microsoft 365 (formerly known as Office 365) is a common process and can be relatively straightforward if you plan and execute it carefully. Here are the steps to prepare for an email migration from GoDaddy to Microsoft 365:

1. Backup Your Data:

Before you start the migration process, it's essential to create a backup of all your existing email data. This ensures that you won't lose any critical information during the migration process.

2. Choose a Migration Method:

Microsoft provides several methods for email migration. Depending on your needs, you can choose one of the following:

- **Cutover Migration**: Ideal for small organizations (up to 2,000 mailboxes).

- **Staged Migration**: Suitable for larger organizations (over 2,000 mailboxes).

- **IMAP Migration**: If GoDaddy provides IMAP access, you can use this method.

- **Hybrid Deployment**: Complex option for large organizations with on-premises Exchange servers.

3. Prepare Microsoft 365 Environment:

- Set up your Microsoft 365 account and ensure all your users have accounts.

- Verify your domain with Microsoft 365, which may involve changing DNS records.

4. Notify Users:

Inform your users about the upcoming migration and any changes they may need to make, like updating email client settings.

5.Create Migration Batches:

Depending on the chosen migration method, create migration batches or jobs in Microsoft 365. These will help you track the progress of the migration.

6. Update DNS Records:

Modify your DNS records to point to the Microsoft 365 servers. This is crucial for incoming and outgoing email routing.

7. Test the Migration:

Before starting the actual migration, it's a good idea to perform a test migration for a few mailboxes. This helps you identify and address any potential issues.

8. Perform the Migration:

After successful testing, initiate the actual migration process. Depending on your method, this might be a one-time cutover, a staged process, or ongoing IMAP synchronization.

9. **Verify Data Integrity:**

Once the migration is complete, verify that all data has been transferred accurately. Check for missing emails or other issues.

10. **Update Email Client Settings:

Update email client settings for all users to point to the new Microsoft 365 email servers.

11. Configure Mobile Devices:

Users with mobile devices will need to update their email settings to connect to Microsoft 365.

12. User Training and Support:

Offer training and support to your users for any new features or changes in the email environment.

13. Monitoring and Troubleshooting:

Continuously monitor the email environment for any issues and be prepared to troubleshoot them promptly.

14. Post-Migration Cleanup:

After a successful migration, clean up your old GoDaddy email environment, such as canceling any old email subscriptions.

15. Final Testing:

After some time has passed and users have settled into the new environment, conduct final testing to ensure all aspects are working as expected.

16. Documentation:

Document the migration process, including any issues encountered and their resolutions. This documentation will be valuable for future reference.

Remember that email migration can be a complex process, so it's a good practice to consult Microsoft's official documentation and consider seeking professional help if you're not comfortable with the technical aspects of the migration. Additionally, backup all data and make sure you have a rollback plan in case of unexpected issues during the migration.