Migrate to SharePoint Online using PowerShell

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SharePoint Online, a cloud-native platform, facilitates seamless collaboration within organizations by enabling employees from diverse geographical locations to collaborate effectively. Users can effortlessly access data across sites, lists/libraries, and documents from any internet-connected device. Let’s explore the key benefits of SharePoint Online.

• Universally available You can access the data of the SharePoint Online using any PC, smartphone, or tablet from anywhere.
• Share and collaborate You can allow other users to share your site by inviting them to your site. You only need to provide them the permission to access the site, and they can view or modify the data there.
• Web Analytics SharePoint Online consists of some useful pre-built Web Analytics feature which checks the data usage and presents various reports.
• Effortless Permission Management: SharePoint offers a user-friendly and versatile system for handling permissions. It incorporates features such as permission inheritance and SharePoint roles, which collaborate seamlessly to regulate user access to SharePoint data.
• Version Control: Automatically tracks and manages document versions that prevent confusion and ensure users access the latest information.
• Customization: Adapts to specific organizational needs and enhances user experience through easy customization of pages and sites.

System requirements for best performance

Follow the table below to know about the recommended requirements for best performance.

Migrating data from an on-premises platform to SharePoint Online can be a complex undertaking, requiring thorough planning and a deep understanding of both platforms. Fortunately, Microsoft has developed a valuable tool known as SPMT (SharePoint Migration Tool), which simplifies the process by seamlessly accessing data and lists/libraries from on-premises SharePoint and facilitating their smooth transition to SharePoint Online.

This tool is versatile, capable of handling migration tasks for both individual websites and large-scale enterprise data. It offers the flexibility to seamlessly migrate the on-premises data to Office 365, enhancing collaboration with users. Moreover, it supports data migration from various SharePoint versions, including:

• SharePoint Server 2019, 2016, & 2013.
• SharePoint Foundation 2013, & 2010.
• SharePoint Server 2010.
• Network and other local shared files.

The tool is present at the following URL –
https://spmtreleasescus.blob.core.windows.net/betainstall/default.htm

You can install the tool and run the migration.

Read Also: Quick Checklist for SharePoint Migration

Alternatively, you can use PowerShell cmdlets for creating a migration task and run it. Here is the process:

1. Create a migration session
   Define the SharePoint source
   $$Global:SourceSiteUrl = “on-premises site name”
   $Global:OnPremUserName = “<your login name>”
   $Global:OnPremPassword = ConvertTo-SecureString -String “<on-premieses password>” -AsPlainText -Force
   $Global:SPCredential = New-Object -TypeName System.Management.Automation.PSCredential -ArgumentList $Global:OnPremUserName, $Global:OnPremPassword
   $Global:SourceListName = “<Source List Name>”

   Define the SharePoint Online target

   $Global:SPOUrl = “<SP Online url>”
   $Global:UserName = “<SP Online admin user name>”
   $Global:PassWord = ConvertTo-SecureString -String “<SP Online Password>” -AsPlainText -Force
   $Global:SPOCredential = New-Object -TypeName System.Management.Automation.PSCredential -ArgumentList $Global:UserName, $Global:PassWord

   Import the SPMT Migration Module:

   Import-Module Microsoft.SharePoint.MigrationTool.PowerShell

   The cmdlet will register the SPMT session with the SPO credential:

   Register-SPMTMigration -SPOCredential $Global:SPOCredential -Force
2. Add a migration task with the newly registered migration session
   Add-SPMTTask -SharePointSourceCredential $Global:SPCredential -SharePointSourceSiteUrl $Global:SourceSiteUrl -TargetSiteUrl $Global:SPOUrl -MigrateAll

   The cmdlet will create migration task for the SharePoint.

3. Start the migration task
   Run the cmdlet Start-SPMTMigration to initiate the migration task.
4. Get the status of the migration
   Run this cmdlet to get the status of the migration.
   $session = Get-SPMTMigration

   It will show the count of scanned files, migrated files, and any potential error message.
   If you started the migration using the -NoShow parameter, then you can use the Show-SMTPMigration to get the migration status.
   Just run the command Show-SPMTMigration, and it will bring the migration status, task ID, source location, and target location.

5. Stop migration
   After the completion of migration, you need to stop the ongoing batch.
   Stop-SPMTMigration

   The command will stop the batch immediately.

6. Unregister the session
   When you have completed the migration of a single batch, you can either choose to run another batch or unregister the session to disable to connection with SharePoint Online.
   Unregister-SPMTMigration

   The command removes the SPMT session.

Conclusion

Leveraging PowerShell commands undoubtedly streamlines the transition to SharePoint Online. However, during the migration process, there is a possibility that errors may arise due to incorrect commands or the intricacy of the method. To ensure a smooth and error-free migration experience, it is recommended to employ Kernel Migrator for SharePoint. This SharePoint Migration tool guarantees data integrity and offers comprehensive features and services to ensure a meticulous migration process.

Throughout the complex process of migration, this utility is an integral part of your strategy to overcome challenges. The tool goes beyond the script-centric algorithms and offers a comprehensive solution. Choose this SharePoint Migration tool to elevate your migration journey beyond efficiency.