Overview
The right migration plan for your organization will depend on the technical, business, and cultural factors at play. There are two primary approaches to data migration: cutover and staged. Understanding the benefits and trade-offs of each helps you make the best choice for your situation.
Cutover
Everyone moves at once, typically over a weekend
Staged
Users migrate in batches over weeks or months
Cutover Migration
A cutover migration involves moving all mailboxes simultaneously, typically over a weekend. This is the fastest, simplest form of migration.
How It Works
- Pre-stage data by running migration passes before cutover
- On cutover day, run final delta pass
- Switch DNS/MX records to target
- All users immediately access the new system
- New emails route to the target system right away
Benefits
No need for complex coexistence configurations
Fastest overall migration timeline
Everyone knows exactly when the transition happens
No split-brain scenarios or routing confusion
Best For
- Organizations with fewer than 500-1000 users
- Teams with weekend migration windows available
- Companies wanting minimal coexistence overhead
- Migrations with straightforward data volumes
Pre-staging Strategy
Staged Migration
A staged migration distributes mailbox migration across weeks or months, moving users in batches. This approach offers flexible migration strategies when using the Cloudiway platform.
How It Works
- Plan batches by department, location, or other criteria
- Set up coexistence (mail routing, GALSync, Free/Busy)
- Migrate batch 1, verify, communicate to users
- Repeat for subsequent batches
- Final batch completes, disable coexistence
Benefits
Reduces pressure with no single critical deadline
Migrate according to organizational needs and priorities
Choose what, who, and when to migrate
Issues affect smaller groups, easier to resolve
Best For
- Large organizations (1000+ users)
- Organizations unable to complete migration in one weekend
- Complex scenarios requiring minimal user disruption
- Companies with large data volumes
- Mergers where organizational integration is phased
Planning Required
Choosing Your Strategy
Consider these factors when deciding between cutover and staged migration:
| Factor | Cutover | Staged |
|---|---|---|
| Organization Size | < 1000 users | 1000+ users |
| Data Volume | Moderate | Large |
| Complexity | Simple | Higher |
| Planning Effort | Lower | Higher |
| Coexistence Needed | No | Yes |
| Risk Exposure | All at once | Distributed |