Exchange to Office 365 Migration

Q: What versions of Exchange can be migrated to Microsoft 365?

Cloudiway supports migration from Exchange 2010, 2013, 2016, and 2019 to Microsoft 365. Older versions like Exchange 2007 may require an intermediate upgrade or specialized migration approach.

Q: How long does an Exchange to Microsoft 365 migration take?

Migration time depends on mailbox sizes and count. Cloudiway's parallel processing can migrate 500+ GB per day. A typical 1,000 mailbox migration with 2GB average size takes about 2-4 days for initial sync.

Q: Is there downtime during the migration?

Cloudiway performs incremental synchronization, so users continue working during migration. Final cutover requires only DNS propagation time (usually 15-60 minutes) with no mailbox downtime.

Q: Are public folders migrated?

Yes, Cloudiway migrates Exchange public folders to Microsoft 365 public folders or SharePoint Online, depending on your preference. Folder hierarchy and permissions are preserved.

Q: What about calendar and contacts?

All calendar items, contacts, tasks, and notes are migrated with full fidelity. Recurring meetings, attachments, and all properties are preserved.

Q: Do we need to change MX records?

Yes, MX records are changed during cutover to direct mail flow to Microsoft 365. Cloudiway provides guidance on DNS changes and can assist with coexistence during transition.

Migrating from Exchange on-premises to Microsoft 365 is one of the most common cloud migration projects. Whether you're running Exchange 2010, 2013, 2016, or 2019, Cloudiway provides a seamless migration path with minimal disruption.

Enterprise Email Migration

Cloudiway has migrated millions of mailboxes from Exchange to Microsoft 365 with zero data loss and 500GB+ daily throughput.

Migration Options

There are several approaches to migrating from Exchange to Microsoft 365. For detailed information, visit our Exchange Migration Solution Page or the Exchange Migration Product Page:

Cloudiway Migration

SaaS-based with parallel processing and full automation. Recommended.

Hybrid Migration

Microsoft's native approach requiring Exchange Hybrid configuration.

Cutover Migration

Built-in for small organizations (<150 mailboxes).

Prerequisites

Before You Start

Microsoft 365 Tenant: Active tenant with appropriate licenses
Domain Verification: Domains verified in Microsoft 365
Exchange Connectivity: EWS or MAPI access to source Exchange
Admin Credentials: Exchange admin and M365 global admin access

What Gets Migrated

Mailbox Data

Emails & attachments
Calendar events
Contacts
Tasks & notes

Folders

Folder structure
Custom folders
Search folders
Archive mailbox

Public Folders

Folder hierarchy
Mail-enabled folders
Permissions
Content

Metadata

Read/unread status
Categories & flags
Retention policies
Timestamps

Migration Process

Assessment & Planning: Evaluate your Exchange environment, identify dependencies, and plan the migration strategy.
Prepare Microsoft 365: Set up Microsoft 365 tenant, configure domains, and provision user licenses.
Configure Hybrid (Optional): Set up Exchange Hybrid for coexistence during migration if needed.
Initial Synchronization: Perform bulk migration of mailbox content while users continue working.
Delta Sync: Synchronize changes made during initial migration to ensure data consistency.
Cutover: Switch MX records to Microsoft 365 and complete final synchronization.

Best Practices

Start Early

Begin planning 3-6 months before target migration date to address dependencies.

Clean Up First

Remove inactive mailboxes and reduce mailbox sizes to speed up migration.

Pilot Test

Migrate a pilot group first to validate process and identify issues.

Communicate Clearly

Keep users informed about timeline and any changes they'll experience.

Monitor Progress

Track migration progress daily and address issues promptly.

Plan Rollback

Have a rollback plan ready in case of unexpected issues.

For IMAP-based migrations, Cloudiway also offers an IMAP migration tool. See our IMAP to Microsoft 365 Migration guide for detailed instructions.

Ready to Migrate to Microsoft 365?

Start your Exchange migration with Cloudiway's proven platform.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What versions of Exchange can be migrated to Microsoft 365?

Cloudiway supports migration from Exchange 2010, 2013, 2016, and 2019 to Microsoft 365. Older versions like Exchange 2007 may require an intermediate upgrade or specialized migration approach.

How long does an Exchange to Microsoft 365 migration take?

Migration time depends on mailbox sizes and count. Cloudiway's parallel processing can migrate 500+ GB per day. A typical 1,000 mailbox migration with 2GB average size takes about 2-4 days for initial sync.

Is there downtime during the migration?

Cloudiway performs incremental synchronization, so users continue working during migration. Final cutover requires only DNS propagation time (usually 15-60 minutes) with no mailbox downtime.

Are public folders migrated?

Yes, Cloudiway migrates Exchange public folders to Microsoft 365 public folders or SharePoint Online, depending on your preference. Folder hierarchy and permissions are preserved.

What about calendar and contacts?

All calendar items, contacts, tasks, and notes are migrated with full fidelity. Recurring meetings, attachments, and all properties are preserved.

Do we need to change MX records?

Yes, MX records are changed during cutover to direct mail flow to Microsoft 365. Cloudiway provides guidance on DNS changes and can assist with coexistence during transition.