In March 2020, Microsoft renamed Office 365, making the entire suite of Office apps, cloud services, and world-class security part of a new offering called Microsoft 365; however, the terms are often used interchangeably in business. Microsoft made this decision to reflect its single, complete productivity platform for businesses and consumers, and one of the main changes was making Teams part of the greater offering.1 As a result, nearly 93% of IT professionals said COVID-19 pushed prior modernization plans ahead of schedule, with almost half naming Microsoft Teams deployment as the top motivator.2

If you’re still utilizing an on-premises email server and experiencing downtime, overspending on maintenance, running out of storage constantly, or struggling to bounce back after the pandemic sent your workforce home, it’s no longer an option to make the move to the cloud but rather an absolute must if you don’t want to fall behind. The Exchange to Office 365 migration has never been more important to commercial businesses, government agencies, and nonprofits.

As if you needed another reason to migrate to Office 365 from Exchange 2013 or previous versions, Microsoft’s product lifecycle is typically ten years, which means Microsoft’s support for Exchange 2013 will end on April 11, 2023. And if you have Exchange 2010, support for that version ended on October 13, 2020. Exchange will continue to function for your organization, but Microsoft no longer provides technical support, bug fixes, security adjustments, or time zone updates. Migrating to Office 365 from Exchange 2010 or 2013 is critical to keeping up with today’s ever-changing modern world—and you can get started today.

What End of Support Means for Your Company’s Cybersecurity

During support, a dedicated Microsoft team constantly searches for cracks in security, identifies new threats and vulnerabilities, and updates the platform to address them. When support ends, so does this service; Microsoft no longer dedicates time to regulating or updating Exchange 2010, and Exchange 2013 will soon follow. Cyber-criminals and hackers are aware of this product lifecycle and target companies that are no longer protected, putting your vital data at risk.

Migrating from Exchange 2010 or Exchange 2013 to Office 365 secures safety on a new level, enabling automatic security fixes and updates which not only decommission costly onsite IT maintenance and expenses but also give businesses the confidence needed to combat hijacking, data theft, malware deployment, and more. With Office 365, you get the same world-class security as some of the world’s most prominent organizations, leveraging the most comprehensive cloud service provider to protect your business-critical data.

With Exchange, the responsibility for security and data protection falls to the businesses, which can benefit companies that want complete control of their data protection. However, for most companies that want a hands-off approach to data protection and IT, Office 365 is a constant. From automatic updates to built-in protection against data loss and compliance for security standards such as ISO 27001, Office 365 is the leading choice for organizations of all sizes.

Cost-Effectiveness of Migrating to Office 365 from Exchange 2010 or 2013

In completing your Exchange migration to Office 365, you’ll no longer need to worry about cumbersome physical equipment like servers and switches, which saves on hardware upkeep costs and office space. In case of a natural disaster or unprecedented external force, your work is saved in the cloud and can be accessed anywhere with an Internet connection and browser, so work never has to stop. Microsoft also supports licenses, compliance requirements, and software upgrades, freeing you and your team for value-add activities and focused workdays.

Migrating to Office 365 from Exchange 2010 or 2013 provides organizations with access to SharePoint, OneDrive, and the entire Office suite, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and all your team’s favorite tools. Office 365 comes in various subscription models, from basic to premium, so you can choose the services you want according to your company size and needs, and no investment is ever wasted.

Make Your Office 365 Migration Fast & Easy with the Right IT Partner

There’s no one-size-fits-all solution for cloud migration, but you can secure the right people to help. At ITDATA, our people are our pride. We have extensive experience in helping organizations with value-add discovery and implementation through best-in-class Exchange to Office 365 migration tools that support Exchange 2010 through to Exchange 2019, including cutover, staged, and hybrid migrations. Your company’s needs and timeline are unique, and ITDATA is ready to become your migration partner from beginning to end so we can ensure success and remain laser focused on critical business objectives and missions. For additional information, download a free eBook from ITDATA all about making the most out of your Office 365 investment, and browse our services to see how we can help your organization thrive through technology.

Sources

  1. https://www.techrepublic.com/article/office-365-is-now-microsoft-365-what-you-need-to-know/
  2. https://sharegate.com/resource/microsoft365-cloud-trends-white-paper-2021