Contributed Article.  Author: Chad Lindley, Quest Software

 

 

As Microsoft released Office 365, one of the key concepts was “the power of choice.” Microsoft wanted customers to have options in deploying Office 365, which is essential to supporting the variety of compliance requirements, storage needs, privacy concerns, and other regulatory limitations facing organizations.
 

To that end, the Office 365 offering includes various options for hybrid deployment – some user mailboxes remain on-premises while others are moved to the cloud. In addition, various features are available to provide a more seamless user experience, including dirsync, single sign-on, and calendar and identity federation.

“The power of choice,” however, also means determining the configuration and options that best meet the specific needs of your organization. In addition, some of the choices made for the hybrid configuration (e.g., Microsoft Online Directory Synchronization Tool) impact the options available for the coexistence and migration environment.
 

For vendors providing solutions for Office 365 migration and coexistence with Office 365, the end result is variability, which translates into a need for flexible solutions.  
 

As organizations evaluate options for Office 365 coexistence, it is beneficial to consider the following questions to ensure optimal flexibility:
 

1.       Will the coexistence option support shared and disparate namespace scenarios? Which is required for your organization?

2.       Can the coexistence methodology support all of the email platforms currently in use? Some organizations have a mixed environment (e.g., Notes, GroupWise, legacy Exchange, etc.) and need to consider all platforms and users in the coexistence plan.

3.       Does the approach support hybrid environments and direct coexistence? Some organizations are uncertain whether they will implement a hybrid configuration or pure Office 365. The coexistence approach should support “the power of choice,” not limit it.

4.       Will the coexistence approach place any limitations on future decisions? For example, can the approach be used in conjunction with Microsoft’s Online Directory Synchronization Tool? What impact will this have on future migration plans?
 

When defining your Office 365 coexistence strategy, it is important to consider these and other factors to ensure future flexibility. Decisions often must be made with imperfect information, so your coexistence approach should be capable of adapting as new information and requirements become available. This flexibility will translate into a smoother transition and allow the organization to realize the benefits of the new environment quicker.  

 

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