14Dec2017
16Nov2017
How to deal with Dynamic Distribution Groups in an Office 365 Hybrid Scenario
Dynamic Distribution Groups are not directly "migratable" to Office 365. (Yes, I just made that word up, but now it is a real word--that's how words are made). In a hybrid scenario, where you have Azure AD Connect synchronizing your Active Directory objects for single-sign on with Office 365, Dynamic...
24Aug2017
What is the difference between an Archive, a Journal and Litigation Hold?
As I've been helping organizations navigate the complexities of Exchange Online and compliance, this question has come up a few times. "What is the difference between an archive and a journal?" I also hear, "What is the difference between a journal and litigation hold?" And finally "What is the difference...
15Jun2017
How to migrate from Office 365 Essentials Dashboard Integration to Azure AD Connect
As we've previously discussed on this blog, Windows Server Essentials comes with the ability to integrate with Azure AD & Office 365, using the Essentials Dashboard plugin. It is important to know that this technology is very different from the more widely adopted Azure AD Connect. While there is nothing...
19Jan2017
FAQ: Office 365 Exchange Online Hybrid Migrations
I think I get more traffic and questions about this topic than just about any other. A lot of people send in comments or contact requests asking about things that I know I have already written about. But, apparently I haven't done a good job of capturing this information in...
12Jan2017
How to: Express Migration to Office 365 Exchange Online
For a long time, I have been advocating for hybrid style migrations from Exchange On-premises to Exchange Online with Office 365, regardless of whether you are a small, medium or larger-sized enterprise. The reason being, it is a much better end user experience, and does not require manual reconfiguration of...
05Jan2017
How to migrate mailboxes from Office 365 to… Office 365?
Mergers and acquisitions are probably the most common source of IT headaches in the world. Whenever you have to deal with the complexities of merging two disparate information systems, you know you're going to run into a number of obstacles. And when both organizations are already on Office 365, in...
15Dec2016
Office 365 Offboarding: Reverse Hybrid Migration to Exchange 2016 On-premises
Why would anyone want to off-board mailboxes from Office 365 to Exchange On-premises? Isn't that a bit like moving backwards? Well, I tend to think so, yes--at least in the SMB. But what happens when a mid or larger-sized enterprise organization eats a smaller-sized business through acquisition? In this scenario, it...
27Oct2016
Step-by-Step: How to upgrade a Legacy Hybrid Exchange Server to 2016
One of the most common frustrations I hear from readers and clients alike is the requirement for keeping a hybrid Exchange server around, even well after all of your mailboxes have been moved to the cloud. Microsoft's official stance regarding hybrid is this: If you remove the last legacy Exchange server...
09Jun2016