In late September 2017, Microsoft announced the release of SharePoint 2019 sometime in the latter half of 2018. A new SharePoint instance brings with it a host of opportunities—and challenges. We’ve all got some time to prepare for the migration, so our SharePoint migration experts put together our top 10 SharePoint 2019 Migration Best Practices. Many of these you can do right now, and when the migration occurs, you’ll be that farther ahead of the game.
1. Perform a Hardware Audit
First and foremost, check in on your servers. Are they due for a refresh? Perhaps your company is growing and it’s time to increase their capacity. For some larger companies, the procurement process can take some time. It’s worth it to start pulling together prices before the move is upon you.
2. Perform a Software Audit
Next, what version of SharePoint are you using? This will inform your SharePoint migration strategy. For those who went through the 2013-2016 migration, you know that SharePoint has become a lot easier to move from version to version. But many companies are still on 2010, and should start looking into migration strategies (we’ve got more in Tip #6).
3. Perform a Content Audit
Now it’s time to look at your data. You’ve probably got more than you know what to do with. Performing a content audit will help you gain clarity. It can be as simple as defining your current site structure, identifying site owners, and marking last used and total size. It’s also a good idea to check your security groups at this stage, too.
4. Keep, Archive, Toss
Once you’ve got your as-is, it’s time to start marking things for deletion or archival. Depending on your business type, it might be prudent to check with a legal advisor on how long items need to be held for. For most businesses, the day-to-day minutia from three years ago can go.
5. Design Your Information Architecture
So now you’ve figured out what you have and what’s gonna go. Now, it’s time to define the to-be state. Look at your business as it is today. How are your departments structured? Is everything project-based, or are you more in a hierarchy? Now’s the time to design your ideal situation for your site structure.
6. Pick a Migration Strategy
Now that you know where you’re going, how are you going to get there? As we said above, it’s a lot easier than it used to be to get from one version to another. If you’re in 2010, you may have to employ a third party migration tool, or do the old drag-and-drop method. Either way, with a cleaner environment, you’ll be further along.
7. Build or Update Governance
Every SharePoint site needs written governance—the rules and policies that govern the site. Don’t have one? Look at how your site is being used and start writing down the processes for site creation, establishing security, and more.
8. Design Look and Feel
A new SharePoint means new a new user interface. Are you going to create new branding or stick with your existing? Make sure a SharePoint migration won’t break anything on your site.
9. Communicate with Stakeholders
Most projects fail because of a lack of communication. Engage with your stakeholders—that is, the folks who use and manage SharePoint sub-sites—now. They’ll be able to help you avoid any pitfalls and roadblocks with custom solutions.
10. Find a Partner
Sometimes, it’s best to have a partner to help you along the way. Here at eSoftware Associates, Inc, we’ve got a roster of SharePoint migration experts that can help you with each step of the process, from identifying security to migrating your custom solutions, to even helping your users make the most out of the new system.
If you would like to learn more SharePoint 2019 Migration Best Practices, send us a message and we will gladly talk anytime. We’d love to chat! 1-800-682-0882 or submit an inquiry here