How to Move Email Hosting to Microsoft 365? Effortlessly

Most of the organizations are looking for a way to move email hosting to Microsoft 365. If you are also one of them, then you have landed at the right place. Here you will find the complete process of transferring email hosting to Microsoft 365.

Microsoft 365 is the complete suite that can fulfill all the requirements of organizations. Due to this, organizations have started moving towards Microsoft 365. However, due to a lack of knowledge, organizations failed to transfer their email hosting to Microsoft 365. So, let’s discuss what are the distinct email clients that can easily be transferred to Microsoft 365 and how.

Some Popular Email Clients That Can Be Migrated Using IMAP Server

Here is a list of some famous email clients that can be easily migrated using the IMAP server.

1. Zimbra
2. BlueHost
3. Greatmail
4. GoDaddy
5. Hostilica
6. Google Workspace
7. IBM Notes
8. Wix, and so on.

To transfer email hosting to Microsoft 365, You can use the Microsoft provided option or an automated tool. Let’s discuss each one in a detailed manner.

How to Move Email Hosting to Microsoft 365 Using Microsoft Admin Center?

There are several stages in the migration process using the Microsoft Admin Center.

Stage 1. Preparation Before Initiate Migration

1. Create the mailbox at Microsoft 365 before starting the migration process. Because each mailbox requires a destination IMAP mailbox at Office 365.
2. If you want to keep the domain unchanged then you need to add the domain in Microsoft 365. You should add a domain before creating users.

Stage 2. Identify Source Email Server Name

1. Launch your mailbox in the Outlook web.
2. Select the option of Settings.
3. Search for POP and now in the POP and IMAP settings, identify your IMAP email server name.

Stage 3. Prepare the List of Mailboxes to Migrate

The list of all the users to migrate is required. To do this go to the Users. And then move to the Active Users. Then enter the details of each user in a CSV file such as Email Address, Username, and Password.

Stage 4. Setup the Connection Between Microsoft 365 with the Email System

Now connect the source email system with Microsoft 365. Here you can use the Migration endpoint. Follow the below steps to do so.

1. In the EAC, move to Migration.
2. Click Endpoints from the top of the window.
3. Hit on Add(+) to create a new migration endpoint.
4. From the Add Endpoint, select the migration type as the IMAP.
5. Provide the required details such as Name of Migration Endpoint and IMAP server. And finally click on Create.

Stage 5. Start Migration to Move Email Hosting to Microsoft 365

Now create the migration batch and start the migration process by using the below steps:-

1. Go to EAC and then Migration.
2. Hit on Add Migration batch option.
3. From the Migration Batch page, provide the name of the migration batch. Choose Migrate to Exchange Online as the mailbox migration path.
4. In the Migration type choose IMAP Migration. Review the prerequisites and hit Next.
5. Select migration endpoint and upload users list CSV file.
6. Apply the configuration settings and schedule the migration. Finally Save and Done to transfer email hosting to Microsoft 365.
7. Delete the migration batch after the completion of migration.

Transferring email hosting to Microsoft 365 by using the EAC is a complicated process. It involves different complex steps that are error prone if not executed in a right manner. Because of its length and complex steps even the non-tech users avoid this method.

How to Migrate Email Hosting to Microsoft 365 Using the Automated Tool?

There are several shortcomings of the manual method. Due to this, it was not used widely. Office 365 administrators recommend the Most Secure Migrator Wizard IMAP Migration Tool to move email hosting to Microsoft 365. It is composed of several advanced features that make the process of migration simpler even for non-tech users.

You can add the users into the tool by using its different options such as Import Users and Download template. It keeps the data private until the process is completed. You do not need to worry about the data hierarchy as well. Because it preserves the folder hierarchy during the migration.

Steps of the Automated Tool

Step 1. Install the tool on your system. Select Source as IMAP and Destination as Office 365.

Step 2. Choose the option of Email and apply the Date filter to filter the required emails only.

Step 3. Complete the Source IMAP server credentials, validate, and move to Next.

Step 4. Provide the credentials of the destination Office 365 account. Validate them and then hit on Next.

Step 5. Add the users to the tool and then click on the Start Migration button.

Conclusion

In this write-up, we have explained the different approaches to moving email hosting to Microsoft 365. However, there are some restrictions of the manual method, due to which it is not recommended to use. On the other hand, as we have explained, an automated tool that is the perfect choice for migrating email hosting to Office 365.