Pre-Migration (Week 1–2)
Inventory and Assessment
- Audit all Google Workspace users and licences
- Identify shared drives and their permissions
- List all Google Groups and mailing lists
- Document third-party integrations using Google OAuth
- Export current SPF/DKIM/DMARC records
Microsoft 365 Tenant Setup
- Create Microsoft 365 tenant with correct domain
- Configure Entra ID (Azure AD) user accounts
- Set up Microsoft 365 admin roles
- Enable Multi-Factor Authentication for all admin accounts
- Configure Conditional Access policies
Email Migration (Week 3)
MX Record Preparation
Keep MX records pointing to Google during migration. Switch only after all mailboxes are migrated.
# Verify current MX
dig MX yourdomain.com
Exchange Online Configuration
- Create all mailboxes in Exchange Online
- Configure Exchange Online Protection (EOP)
- Set up email routing rules
- Import contacts and distribution lists
Migration Tooling
We use the Microsoft 365 Migration Manager for most migrations, with IMAP migration as a fallback for complex scenarios.
Drive to SharePoint (Week 3–4)
Google Drive → SharePoint Online migration requires careful planning:
- Personal files → OneDrive for Business
- Shared drives → SharePoint document libraries
- Use SharePoint Migration Tool (SPMT) for large volumes
Cutover Day
- Switch MX records to Exchange Online
- Remove Google Workspace SPF from DNS
- Add Microsoft 365 DKIM selectors
- Update DMARC rua address
- Communicate to users
Common Pitfalls
- Emoji in file names - SharePoint doesn't support all characters Google Drive does
- Nested folder depth - SharePoint has a 400-character path limit
- Large attachments - Exchange Online has a 150MB limit vs. Google's 25MB email / unlimited Drive
Our Migration Service
We handle Google Workspace to M365 migrations end-to-end, including user training, DNS cutover, and 30-day post-migration support.