Ah, the lure of DIY projects. Whether it’s assembling flat-pack furniture or trying to cut your own hair (we’ve all been there), there’s something thrilling about getting it done yourself. But when it comes to migrating your Microsoft 365 tenant-to-tenant, this isn’t some weekend warrior task—it’s more like trying to defuse a digital bomb.
You might think, “We can save time, money, and be the office heroes!” Well, spoiler alert: Unless your IT team moonlights as professional Microsoft migration experts, the only thing you’ll be saving is a seat at the “Whoops, We Should Have Called an Expert” support group.
And if you’re still considering DIY, take a look at 7 hard truths about Microsoft 365 tenant migrations—backed by facts, metrics and enough pain points to keep you up at night.
- You’re Not a Migration Expert (And That’s Fine)
A Microsoft 365 tenant-to-tenant migration isn’t just a matter of dragging and dropping files. You’re dealing with everything—user identities, mailboxes, Teams, OneDrive, SharePoint, compliance settings and (let’s not forget) those pesky permissions. The reality is that 83% of migration projects either fail or exceed their budgets and schedules because businesses underestimate the complexity and time required.
Without the right expertise, you’ll be out of your depth, battling unexpected delays and missing deadlines. It’s like giving someone who’s only driven a go-kart the keys to an 18-wheeler—it’s not going to end well.
- Planning is Everything (And You Don’t Have Enough of It)
Planning a migration is like planning a wedding—you think you can handle it, but when the details pile up, it quickly becomes overwhelming. According to the Cloud Security Alliance, only 25% of organisations met their migration deadlines. The rest? They underestimated the resources, time, and coordination needed to pull off a seamless migration.
Skimping on planning is a fast track to chaos, endless delays and user disruptions. It’s one thing when your caterer forgets the hors d’oeuvres, but it’s a whole other issue when your users can’t access their emails for days on end.
- Data Loss: The Monster Under Your IT Bed
Data loss is the stuff of nightmares for IT leaders, and with good reason—65% of IT leaders say data loss is their biggest fear when performing a migration. Without a carefully executed migration strategy, files, emails and even entire SharePoint libraries can vanish into the void.
Worse still, you might not realise the full extent of the damage until it’s too late. Imagine being the person who has to explain to your boss why critical business data is missing. Suddenly, a small oversight can turn into a massive legal and financial disaster. Trust me, that’s not a story you want to be the main character in.
- This Will Take Forever (And You’ll Age in Dog Years)
So, you think the migration will take a few weeks? Think again. 90% of CIOs experienced failed or disrupted migration projects, largely because they misjudged how long it would take.
A tenant-to-tenant migration isn’t a quick fix—it’s a marathon. What seems straightforward on paper can stretch into months of frustration as unexpected roadblocks arise. Users get annoyed, business operations slow down, and suddenly, you’re six months in with no end in sight. Time is money, and you’ll burn through both quickly when your timelines go off the rails.
- DIY Doesn’t Mean Cost-Free
DIY sounds great until you realise how fast things can spiral out of control. 83% of migrations end up exceeding their initial budget, and for good reason. You may save on up-front costs, but when the unexpected happens—tool licenses, emergency fixes, extended IT hours—the expenses pile up fast.
What was supposed to be a cost-saving initiative quickly turns into a black hole for resources. If you think your budget is safe, just wait until you’re knee-deep in unforeseen problems, watching your savings go up in smoke.
- User Experience: The Forgotten Child
No one remembers the unsung heroes who keep things running smoothly—but they definitely remember when things go wrong. Companies lose up to $2.4 billion annually due to poor user experiences during migrations, according to Forrester.
If your migration disrupts workflows, delays access to critical files or causes applications to glitch, users will be quick to voice their frustrations. And trust me, it won’t be pretty. A seamless migration keeps users happy and productive, but a botched one? That’s a surefire way to tank morale and productivity, fast.
- Compliance Isn’t Just a Buzzword
Compliance may seem like a back-office concern, but during a migration, it becomes front and centre. One in five companies that suffered a data breach was infiltrated due to compromised credentials (IBM).
Migrating sensitive information without understanding your compliance requirements is a recipe for disaster. The last thing you want is to face fines for mishandling data or wake up to a GDPR violation. If you miss even a minor step in the migration process, you could be staring down a hefty fine, or worse—permanent damage to your company’s reputation.
Put Down the ‘Migration for Dummies’ Guide, and Call Insentra
Here’s the deal: You don’t need to be the hero attempting this alone. Microsoft 365 tenant-to-tenant migrations are complex and not something you can DIY your way through. But we can make it painless. At Insentra, we’ve handled countless migrations, from small companies to multi-national enterprises. Our team knows how to avoid the pitfalls, protect your data, ensure compliance, and keep your users happy.
With the right planning, expertise, and tools, we’ll help you sidestep all the common disasters and deliver a smooth, seamless migration. So why risk it? Give us a call today, and let’s get your migration done right, the first time.
