At sunset, in Austin, Texas, millions of bats come flying, seemingly simultaneously and forever,  into the night sky just as our message migrations ascend into Google Cloud.  It's a sight to see, as I was blessed to enjoy from the Line Hotel's second floor for The Austin Business Journal's terrific Scale Up Event last week.

Most of the bats return by sunrise with a few trickling back just as other Austinites are either heading to or from their own work.  The bats migrated here, like many of us, to Austin for a number of reasons I suppose.   It's a nice city and a nice bridge after all - It's why I migrated here and started Coolhead Tech 10 years ago.

If you're thinking of moving out of your old cloud cave and into the new services and solutions offered by Coolhead Tech and Google then this article is for you.   Actually these tools can be used for most any migration to Google Cloud, especially when comparing migrations from Office 365 to G Suite as well as migrations from Hosted or on-premise Exchange servers to G Suite.

While the simplicity and flexibility of the Google Cloud make it easier than ever to embrace the value of G-Suite, you'll still need a plan in place to make sure that you can transfer all of your crucial data as safely and securely as possible.

As with many things in the world of digital transformation, the best thing you can do before jumping into action is your homework. You've probably already researched the potential benefits of the GCP, and what it can do for your business. You may even have compared the options of Office 365 with G-Suite. Now, you need to figure out which migration service is going to help you move from point A, to point B.

Google recommends using a G-Suite "Premier Technology" partner for the transition. This means choosing from a selection of experts who have been specially selected for their ability to support new Google customers. Here, we're going to look at the benefits of each of the top G-Suite premier partners, and what they can do for you.

#1 MigrationWiz

MigrationWiz by BitTitan is one of the few migration services approved and even recommended by Google. MigrationWiz is also a favorite of Coolhead Tech’s.

Primary features include:

• A versatile cloud-based platform for Migrations & Management
• 24/7 Worldwide Support for email, calendar, contacts and Drive transitions
• IT Managed execution
• EWS and IMAP supported email
• Programmatic management from web browsers, PowerShell, or API
• Enterprise-level audit logging/visibility

MigrationWiz is designed for those with a mid-level IT knowledge. The service is a fully-automated 100% SaaS system available to access anywhere, anytime. Set up and configure your mailbox, with all the public folders, cloud storage, and centralized user interfaces you could hope for.

The MigrationWiz service is popular in part because it's very easy to use. Its cloud-based architecture means that there's no software or hardware to install or maintain. Additionally, the BitTitan support team is available to answer any questions you might have along the way. MigrationWiz also promises minimal downtime so that you can migrate from any cloud environment to Google with ease.

The SaaS solution from MigrationWiz also comes with project sharing so that people can collaborate on migration projects across the enterprise. The secure service is compliant with a host of different regulations, including HIPAA, ISO 27002:2013, PCI DSS Level 1, and many more. Additionally, it's the only migration tool that provides advanced options from a robust library of services like impersonation or delegation, date range filtering, and more.

Here's a 4 minute walkthrough of a Migration from O365 (E3) to G Suite Business using MigrationWiz

#2 The CloudMigrator

Designed by Cloud Technology Solutions, CloudMigrator runs in the cloud and comes with IT managed execution, like many of the other services on this list. It's ideal for migrating information from your contacts list, calendar, email accounts, and drives. Features include:

• PST, MBOX, EML mailbox support
• EWS, IMAP support mail
• Detailed troubleshooting logs
• Multiple migration service support
• Programmatic management via CLI

With Cloud Migrator, you can quickly move your contacts, files, and calendars away from your existing enterprise sources or cloud environments into the Google G Suite. CloudMigrator and CloudMigrator G have helped 7.1 million users transition around the world. You'll have two options to choose from:

The CloudMigrator for Windows

The most common choice for CloudMigrator is the downloadable version, which is ideal for complicated or massive migrations. It's perfect for large migrations as you can download and set up the system using a browser-based or desktop interface to manage the conversion. CloudMigrator is extremely fast too; you can spin up various virtual machines to complete your migration within hours. The system is also highly secure, with zero downtime, and data integrity guaranteed.

The CloudMigrator GO

CloudMigrator GO is the SaaS version of the service, designed for those who want to keep their journey on the cloud. You can manage an entire migration efficiently, with around five steps to follow, and no environment setup necessary. Using scalable cloud infrastructure, migration takes moments, and once again, you get the security of CloudMigrator built in. CloudMigrator Go is fantastic for those who have smaller migrations in mind.

#3 AppBridge Transformation Suite (ATS)

The AppBridge Transformation Suite is a fantastic migration tool, designed to help you move your contacts, drive information, emails, and other data from one cloud to another. AppBridge is available as a managed IT service, and its features include:

• Detailed troubleshooting logs
• Support for multiple migration sessions
• EWS email support
• Office 365 and Exchange 2013+ support

AppBridge Transformation Suite requires mid-level IT expertise. As an all-in-one suite for data migration, it features most of the tools you'll need to enjoy a simple transition into Google Drive and G-Suite. Companies can even combine the transformation suite with the AppBridge Transformer and Surveyor solutions, to ensure that you have a complete overview of your migration experience.

One of the most attractive things about AppBridge is that you can choose the deployment that's best-suited to your business. For instance, if you're transitioning from Office 365 on-premise to G-Suite in the cloud, you can choose an on-premise option, or you can run everything entirely on the cloud. A simple dashboard makes it easier to manage all your teams, licenses, and products in a single location.

The AppBridge migration methodology is supported by plenty of detailed documentation, 24/7 team support, and world-class training, to ensure you get the most out of your cloud journey. Additionally, since data is the most valuable thing in the world today, AppBridge ensures that you can handle your transitions with the utmost care. All migrating information is encrypted both in motion and at rest. AppBridge also supports SSL.

Currently, AppBridge has earned the trust of some of the largest organizations in the world, making it an excellent option for Office 365 users making their way into G-Suite.

#4 G-Suite Migration for Microsoft Exchange

Another Migration option delivered explicitly by Google, G-Suite Migration for Microsoft Exchange also runs in the cloud, and it comes with IT managed execution so that you can simplify your migration path as much as possible. Features include:

• PST mailbox only
• IMAP supported email
• Email, calendar, and contact support
• Programmatic management via CLI
• Detailed troubleshooting logs

Otherwise known as GSMME, G-Suite Migration for Microsoft Exchange is ideal for companies who want to make the move from a Microsoft-based solution like Office 365 to the Google Cloud. You can easily transfer mail, contact, and calendar data from your Exchange server into your G-Suite account, and you can run multiple migrations at once.

Although the G-Suite Migration for Microsoft Exchange strategy requires a higher level of IT knowledge than some of the other migration tools on this list, it's still simple enough to use in the right circumstances. For instance, to start, you'll need to make sure that you meet the correct system requirements to use GSMME, then create a list of the accounts you want to migrate.

Remember, the format of the CSV files you'll need for migration will depend on the system you're using to migrate. Additionally, if you're migrating calendar resources, you'll need to create a CSV file for those too. Once you're ready, you can authorize GSMME for your domain, download the service and follow the instructions in the GSMME tool.

#5 Data Migration Service by Google

If you're planning on moving into the Google cloud, then it makes sense to choose a service offered by Google for the journey. The Data Migration Service supports migration for email, contact, and calendar data, and it runs entirely in the cloud for complete flexibility. It's free to use, and also features:

• EWS and IMAP supported email
• IT managed execution
• Programmatic management via CLI
• Detailed troubleshooting logs
• Multiple migration session support

The Migration Service is also incredibly easy to use, so there's no need to invest in a lot of training for your IT team.

When the data migration service was first announced in 2014, it was little more than an essential tool, with just a few services like email migration. Today, it's one of the better options on the market for migrating calendar, email, and contact information from a host of legacy environments. The DMS tool lets you bring over all your schedule, email, and contact information from any email service you're using. If you have a large number of users to migrate, Google offers a simple setup and a great admin console for control too!

If you want a migration tool that doesn't require a high level of IT skills or complex programming, then you should find the data migration service to be perfect for your needs. You'll be able to migrate everything from email messages to folders and labels, and even email from Gmail accounts.

Top 5 Tips for a Successful Data Migration to G Suite

We've covered some of the best migration tools to help you transition into the Google Cloud. However, before you go, why not check out a few quick tips to enhance your chances of a successful and secure migration?

1. Consider your Data Migration Options

2. Prepare Your New Cloud Environment

3. Know the Difference Between your Cloud Infrastructures

4. Decide Whether to Move or Recreate Apps

5. Test Your Environment Thoroughly

Moving data out of one environment and into another doesn't have to be as complicated as it seems - particularly with the support of the Google-approved tools above. You need to make sure that the service you choose supports the transition of all your data and has the security measures in place to keep your information safe as you move it into G-Suite.

Remember, a crucial step in any successful data migration process is to make sure that your new cloud provider is prepared to safely receive all of your migrated data and applications. This means that you'll need to take steps like preparing any disaster recovery options, establishing load balancer policies, and creating IP subnets. There's plenty of documentation available from Google online to help guide you through the process of setting up a migration.

Moving from one cloud environment to another can be a challenging experience. Although many cloud solutions offer some similar features today, the underlying designs of each platform can be very different. It's important to think carefully about the changes you might encounter when you're implementing a migration project. The good news is that a transition between Office 365 and G Suite can be easier because there are various tools specifically designed to support this journey.

Once you understand the new cloud environment you'll be moving into, and you've set the system up for success, you can begin to think about whether you need to move specific applications, or just recreate them. In some cases, moving an application might be faster. However, you might find that you run into licensing issues and incompatibilities that are problematic down the line. If you want to change how your applications run on the cloud or set them up for long-term success, now's the time to do it.

Finally, when you're finished migrating from one cloud environment to another, it's essential to test the platform carefully and make sure that it can handle the loads and apps crucial to your business. During this time, it's also worth training your IT admins on how they can use the new administration and maintenance tools in your updated cloud environment.

Cloud migration can seem like a daunting concept, but with the right tools, the right plan, and a little consulting help from Coolhead Tech, you'll be enjoying your new environment in no time. Reach out to us today for bespoke advice and support.

Finally, if you're worried about the complexity of Migrations on the cloud, then you can ask our Apps Admins to give you a hand. They are migration experts and do the hard work for you, so you can just enjoy the benefits of G Suite. The service involves a tried-and-tested process for smooth and seamless transitions. Your Google Certified Administrator begins by asking you for the details of your migration and assigning you an G Suite Service Delivery Manager. Once your details are confirmed, you can book a migration schedule for your project. The experts available remain on-hand to answer your questions throughout the entire migration.

 Cool Austin Bat photo courtesy of Kenneth Hagemeyer