Every version of SharePoint has a lifecycle, and once it has been reached, support and assistance are no longer available for that version. This makes it necessary to shift to the enhanced version rather than getting access to improved features. Shifting to the latest version can be done by two different methods: SharePoint upgrade, or migration. Users find it confusing to choose between an upgrade method or using the migration solution. Understanding the difference between SharePoint upgrade vs migration is very important to make the right decision that will make the transition smooth and hassle-free. Understanding the differences between these two can help users make informed decisions.
What is SharePoint Upgrade?
A SharePoint Upgrade refers to the process where one transitions from an earlier version of SharePoint to a later version on the same platform. This requires updating the software but keeping the infrastructure, data, and other customizations intact. Meanwhile, these updates may either be done in place or through database-attached means.
In-place upgrades entail upgrading SharePoint with existing hardware directly. Thus upgrade involves upgrading all configurations and customisation at once within that environment.
However, a different form of upgrade known as database-Attach may involve creating a new SharePoint Farm before attaching content databases from an earlier Farm to this new one. It is possible to manually reapply all other configurations and customizations.
What are the benefits of Upgrading?
- Cost-effective — This is often more cost-effective than migrating. This is true especially when the current environment is stable and does not need any changes in the architecture.
- Familiarity — Users find an upgraded system more familiar, which reduces the learning curve that is associated with new platforms.
- Minimal disruptions — By using the upgrade method, the downtime can be minimized, and the business process can continue without any interruption.
- The customizations are preserved — The existing workflows and customizations are preserved which reduces the need to redevelop the entire environment.
Challenges of SharePoint Upgrade
- Issues with compatibility — Some third-party solutions and other customizations cannot be compatible with newer versions of SharePoint.
- Flexibility challenges — Using the upgrade method does not provide users with the opportunity to move to a new platform or re-architect the environment.
- Long-term challenges — Upgrading continuously without sorting out the underlying issues can lead to long-term challenges.
When Should Users Consider SharePoint Upgrade?
- Consider upgrading if your current infrastructure can accommodate the latest version because it is more suitable for you.
- If you want an upgrade to remain well-suited to your current organization's structure while introducing minimum changes and inconveniences to users this will be a good decision.
- The default site templates such as Team Site, and Document Center have been established.
- If budget is an issue, then upgrading requires less financial input than total migration.
- An organization’s content is fragmented across many folder structures.
What is the SharePoint Migration Method
The transfer of information or content from one place to a different location is known as SharePoint migration. This could involve moving from an on-premises SharePoint environment to SharePoint Online or entirely migrating from an older version to a newer version. The process usually entails remodeling as well as re-architecting your data for it to be compatible with the demands of the new environment.
Advantages of Migration
- Modernization — Migration employs contemporary features and functions to organizations that need new SharePoint platforms, including SharePoint Online.
- Scalability — SharePoint Online is an example of a cloud-based solution that provides scalability, flexibility, and better collaboration features.
- Enhanced Performance — Migrating can enhance performance through redesigning solutions and environmental optimization.
- Fewer Maintenance Requirements — Moving to the cloud means less reliance on infrastructure maintenance and management.
Migration Challenges
- Confusion — In the case of heavily customized environments or having a lot of data in place, migrations can be complex.
- Expense — Because migration may involve data transfer, tool licensing, and possible redeveloping of custom solutions, it is often associated with more initial costs.
- Interruption — The migration process may need extra time during which there is no business going on.
- Use of New Tools by Users — Users might need to undergo training before they get used to new features and adopt new settings easily.
When to Execute SharePoint Migration
- If your current SharePoint system is outdated or almost at the end of its life, it is imperative to migrate to a newer version.
- To take advantage of the advanced features, businesses will migrate to SharePoint Online thus utilizing strong collaboration and security features.
- Migrating to a newer version of SharePoint provides flexibility, improved scalability, and reduced reliance on physical infrastructure.
- If site template customizations have resulted in excessive complicating factors.
- Migration is the best option if one desires change in the organization’s content structure and wants to set up new customizations.
Best Practices for SharePoint Upgrade vs Migration
- Thorough Planning and Communication — Users should prepare a detailed plan and communicate this plan with everyone in the organization to make them aware of the moving process. The plan should include all the important timelines such as the time of the move, the services that will be affected, and much more. You should be aware of your environment be aware of the size of the file that they want to choose to migrate first. Users can plan their migration to occur during the off-peak hours to avoid any other disruption in the business operations.
- Choosing the Right Tool for Migration — There are several tools that are available to perform the migration process. You can select a tool that fits your needs and make the migration process hassle-free. We are going to recommend one such tool in the upcoming section of this article.
- Running Test Migration — You should take a small set of data and test the migration process by running a pilot migration to identify any issues that may come up during the migration process. This will help users ensure that the migration process is working properly, and also give them time to resolve all of the issues.
SharePoint Migration Using an Automated Tool
As for SharePoint upgrade vs migration, we detailed what it entails. Furthermore, we discussed the various points to note during upgrading as well as migration. One should understand that migration is a challenging endeavor. Rather, you must plan it well in advance and execute the plan with precision. Selecting appropriate tools also plays a significant role in achieving safe transfers of information. Hence, in order to achieve stress-free and safe transfers, consider using the company's own Automated Tools for migrating SharePoint data. You can use the SysTools SharePoint Migration Tool for migrating smoothly and securely. Steps to perform the migration are given below:
- Download and run the tool.
- Choose the source and the destination as Office 365.
- Check the “Sites” checkbox from the workload. Use the date filter option to migrate selected data.
- Enter the credentials for the source and destination, and validate them.
- Now fetch the users for the source and the destination. Validate the required permissions.
- After validation is complete, you can click on the start button to begin the migration process.
Conclusion
In this article, we discuss why users need to know the difference between SharePoint Upgrade vs Migration and their benefits. You need to consider what your business as well as future goals are to make the best decision fro your organization. By following this article, and the best practices included, you can choose the best option for your business requirements.
FAQ
Q1. What is the difference between SharePoint Upgrade and Migration?
SharePoint Upgrade involves upgrading from an older version to a newer version of SharePoint in the same environment. Businesses can retain all of their content and its structures from the previous version.
SharePoint Migration on the other hand includes moving all of your data to a new SharePoint environment. This can be a newer on-premise or SharePoint Online. This method helps users create a new content structure that fits the requirements of the organization.
Q2. How much time does the SharePoint migration take?
There are several factors such as the customizations, speed of the internet, tools that are used, and the size and complexity of the data. Migrating small sets of data can take up to several hours, or even days while large data migrations can take months to complete.
Q3. Can I directly migrate from older SharePoint such as 2010 to SharePoint Online?
Some tools can perform the migration directly, but it depends on the environment's complexity. You may need to upgrade to a version that is supported before migrating.
Comments