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Summary: Migrating from File Share to SharePoint is vital especially for the businesses working with cloud storage. Basic drag and drop won’t be a practical solution when you’ve to migrate huge amounts of data. In such case, tools like SharePoint Migration Tool and Kernel Migration for SharePoint come to rescue. In this article, we’ll learn how to implement these tools to migrate from On-premises File Share to SharePoint.

A file share is a collection of shared files housed on a network drive. When a user opts for SharePoint Server as the storage destination for their data, it becomes imperative to explore the intricacies of migrating data from existing file shares. Migrating File Server to SharePoint can be for a lot of reasons including better collaboration, centralized storage, easy file/data sharing, accessibility, and many more.

Users can manually move files from a file share to the SharePoint document library by dragging and dropping them. However, this isn’t ideal for transferring a substantial amount of data due to its inefficiency. Let’s explore more to know how one can execute bulk migration of data from on-premises File Share to SharePoint.

SharePoint Migration Tool – Microsoft Utility

Microsoft offers a built-in utility at no cost for transferring data from local file shares to SharePoint Online. You can obtain it easily either from the provided link or directly from Microsoft’s official website. To utilize this utility, you’ll need specific details: the precise file share location, Microsoft 365 administrator credentials, and the target SharePoint URLs. The tool allows the administrator to apply filters through tool settings before initiating the migration. Additionally, it supports bulk migration using .csv or .json files but there’s a file size limit of 15GB. The duration of the migration process varies based on internet speed, often taking a considerable amount of time for completion.

Note: Following the migration of File share data to SharePoint Online with SPMT tool, customization of file permission settings is feasible based on the on-premises data’s location and the synchronization of Active Directory accounts with Azure Active Directory.

An easier way for migration – Kernel Migration for SharePoint

Users at the enterprise level have a streamlined process to transfer specific data and permissions from their on-site file repositories to either SharePoint Server or SharePoint Online, facilitated by a highly effective tool. This migration involves a straightforward and uncomplicated procedure, offering adaptability and personalized configurations, all while allowing for seamless data transfer without any limitations based on data size.

Let us know how this tool performs this migration.

Migrate File Share to SharePoint using SharePoint Migrator

Install the Kernel Migration for SharePoint tool on your system. Perform the following steps to migrate data from File Server to SharePoint (both On-premises and Online) using this advanced utility.

  1. Launch the migration tool.
  2. On the Welcome Screen of the tool, go to the toolbar and click on File System section. Now, from the drop-down list, select File System to SharePoint option.
    Welcome Screen of the tool
  3. A File System to SharePoint window will open. Here, click drop-arrow besides Add button and select from the given options as per your need. You can add individual files, folders, remote files, remote folders, etc. from your file system or server.
    File System to SharePoint
  4. After adding the files to source, you can view them on the window. You can add more files or remove the existing ones using the given options. You can assign user permissions to this data using Groups/User Permissions at the bottom-right. Click Next to continue.
    added the files
  5. Now, provide details like Site URL, List/Folder URL, etc. for the destination (on-premises SharePoint or SharePoint Online account) and click Next.
    provide details
  6. The source and destination attributes are automatically mapped and you can modify if needed, click Next.
  7. In the next window, use copy options and filters (Date, File, and User) to filter your data. Then click Next.
    make use of copy options and filters
  8. If you want to migrate the permissions or remap users, select the options and click Next again.
    migrate the permissions or remap users
  9. Here, you select to execute migration instantly or schedule at specific day and time. Make your choice and click Next.
    start the migration instantly or schedule the migration
  10. Confirm all the details of the migration from the summary. Click Next.
    Confirm all the details of the migration
  11. The process will begin. Wait till the process gets over. The final page will show the migration status. Click Finish finally.
    migration from File Share to SharePoint

The tool smoothly handles migrations between file shares and SharePoint Online or SharePoint on-premises, in both directions. Moreover, it proficiently manages migrations from public folders and synchronized cloud drives to SharePoint, Google Drive, OneDrive, and other platforms. One notable feature is its ability to migrate SharePoint permissions easily, ensuring a smooth transition. The tool is flexible, supporting all versions of SharePoint Server, Exchange Server, and Windows Operating System, resulting in a hassle-free migration experience.

Conclusion

Migrating data from File Share to SharePoint makes collaborative document management and team collaboration easy. Sharepoint provides more storage than File Share while allowing multiple team members work on same document without sharing again and again. In this post, we discussed use of SharePoint Migration Tool by Microsoft and a third-party SharePoint migration solution that allows migrating content in bulk without much hassle. However, the latter provides no limit on the amount of data you can transfer to SharePoint Online.

Kernel Migration for SharePoint