Overview

Migrating to Google Apps is the only thing standing between your organization and the best in Enterprise collaboration and communication. Organizations using Microsoft Exchange and/or Microsoft Outlook have many migration options outlined below.

Before you begin, there are some important questions you must be able to answer:

• What is your reason for migrating?
• Which data do you need to migrate?
• Do you have the proper support from your organization to make the switch?

As a Microsoft Exchange user, you have many options for migrating nearly all types of data from most versions of Exchange and Outlook:

Google Apps Migration for Microsoft Exchange

Google provides a free tool for migrating to Google Apps from Microsoft Exchange servers that allows admins to install and configure the tool. It automatically migrates mail, contact, and calendar data directly to Google Apps. This tool is compatible with Microsoft Exchange 2000, Exchange 2003, Exchange 2007, and Exchange 2010. See the Google Apps Migration for Microsoft Exchange Guide!

Google Apps Migration for Microsoft Outlook

Google also provides a client-side migration tool for Outlook users to individually migrate data to Google Apps. This tool installs locally on a user’s machine, accesses email, calendars, and contacts in Outlook, and uploads them to a Google Apps account. This tool is useful for pilot programs or migrations with very few users. It is compatible with Microsoft Outlook 2003 SP3, Outlook 2007 SP2, and Outlook 2010. See the Google Apps Migration for Microsoft Outlook Guide!

Google Apps Sync for Microsoft Outlook

A third option, Google Apps Sync for Microsoft Outlook, allows users who are accustomed to the Outlook software to maintain their use of that software with Google Apps at the backend. Other users may use Gmail alongside these users. This tool is compatible with Microsoft Outlook 2003 SP3, Outlook 2007 SP1 (with a hotfix) & SP2, and Outlook 2010 (with a hotfix). See the Google Apps Sync for Microsoft Outlook Guide!

Other Options

For other options, check the Google Apps Marketplace. There are a few third-party products here that carry out a migration using Google’s Email Migration API. More importantly, the Marketplace has Cloud Service Providers who can perform a full-service migration, taking care of the technical and logistical issues when migrating to Google Apps.

Want more information about the top Cloud Office Systems? Learn more about Google Apps vs. Office 365