Data migration for businesses
We move information between servers, repositories and cloud platforms. We assess the volume, structure and permissions to organise the transfer and check the data in the destination, with the scope and validation requirements defined before the work starts.
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Specialist services
We analyse data volumes, permissions and information structure before transferring anything. The plan covers the destination, platform limitations and checks with the responsible users, so that the information and access arrangements can be reviewed against the requirements agreed for the new environment.
Which data can be migrated?
Data migration scope depends on the source platform, destination platform and available tools. In some cases, folders, permissions and certain metadata can be retained. In others, rebuilding the structure is a better way to improve security and organisation. We assess these options before defining the transfer and the work required in the destination.
We migrate business files including documents, spreadsheets, presentations, PDFs, images, departmental folders, historical data, project files and shared repositories. We also review owners, inherited permissions, external access, shared links, long paths and data that could cause conflicts during transfer. This establishes which content can move directly and which items need attention first.
Where the destination is Microsoft 365, we help determine which information belongs in OneDrive, which data should be organised in SharePoint and which files should be associated with Microsoft Teams. Where the destination is Google Workspace, we review Google Drive, shared drives, ownership and permissions. For Dropbox and other cloud environments, we assess team folders, shared spaces and each platform’s limitations, taking account of how the information will be accessed and administered after the migration.
Source and destination platforms
Each platform organises data differently. A file server typically uses shared folders, network paths and NTFS permissions. SharePoint uses sites, document libraries, groups and its own permissions. OneDrive provides each user’s personal working space. Google Drive and shared drives have their own ownership and access models. Dropbox uses team folders, shared spaces and permissions managed through its platform. These differences influence both transfer and destination design.
We therefore assess compatibility, permissions, data volume, file count, problematic names, long paths, duplicates, inactive users and retention requirements before carrying out the transfer. The assessment helps define the migration method and identify the information or configuration that requires separate handling rather than assuming every platform will reproduce the source environment exactly.
We also assess migration to cloud storage such as Google Cloud Storage or other repositories where the information is needed for storage, archiving, processing or integration with business systems rather than everyday collaborative editing. The intended use of the data helps determine whether a document collaboration platform or a storage service is the appropriate destination.
Key considerations
The first critical point is the document structure. Many businesses accumulate years of duplicate folders, obsolete files, very long paths, inconsistent names and documents spread across several systems. Migrating without reviewing that structure can carry the same problems into the new environment, leaving users with information that remains difficult to find and administer.
The second critical point is permissions. Before moving data, it is important to know who can access each folder, which information is shared externally, which permissions are inherited, which users should no longer have access and which groups need to be recreated in the destination. These decisions should form part of the migration plan.
The third critical point is validation. A migration tool reporting completion is only one part of the checks. Files need to be in the correct location, users need to be able to access them, permissions need to be consistent and critical information needs to have arrived correctly in the destination environment.
The migration process
Implementation is organised into the following phases. The activities, dependencies and checks for each stage are defined within the scope agreed for the project and the environment involved.
Before and after migration
Before a data migration starts, the organisation should decide which information needs to move, which data can be archived, which folders are no longer needed, which users will validate the result, which permissions should be retained and what structure the destination should use. These decisions establish the scope and make the validation work more useful.
Internal communication also needs preparation. Users should know when migration will happen, when they should avoid making changes, where they will find their files afterwards and whom to contact if a document is missing or a permission does not work. The agreed plan should make these arrangements clear before the final transfer.
After migration, we validate files, folders, permissions, access by user or group, items not transferred, errors, conflicts and general operation. We can also help document the structure, establish good practice and define policies to keep the new environment organised. The follow-up work is defined around the result and the responsibilities agreed with the organisation.
Security and organisation
Migration provides an opportunity to review how information is shared across the business. Many organisations retain outdated permissions, external access that is no longer appropriate, folders without owners, inactive users and duplicated data. Identifying these issues before transfer helps define the access and ownership arrangements needed in the destination.
At Kloudeal, we review users, groups, owners, inherited permissions, external access, shared folders and document structure before migration. Where appropriate, we recommend rebuilding permissions in the destination rather than copying old configurations that may create risks. The decision is based on how the information should be used and protected in the new environment.
We also plan the transfer to reduce errors, limit changes during the final window and validate that critical information is available to authorised users. These checks consider both the content transferred and the permissions that determine whether the right people can work with it after the change.
Service follow-up
We agree the scope, responsibilities and priorities with your team. We document the work and the checks carried out. Any additional requirement is assessed before it is incorporated into the project or the support service, so that the implications for the agreed work are understood.
Frequently asked questions
We answer common questions about moving business data, files and folders to Microsoft 365, Google Workspace, Dropbox or other platforms. We also include links to official documentation for further technical detail, so that the available methods and platform limitations can be reviewed before planning the migration.
It is the process of transferring files, folders, documents, permissions and information structures from a source platform to a new destination, such as SharePoint, OneDrive, Google Drive, Dropbox, a file server or a cloud platform. The scope depends on the information involved and the way the destination organises and controls access to it.
A professional migration should include analysis, planning, a pilot, execution, validation and subsequent support. Microsoft documents preparation, migration and adoption phases in its guide to migrating file shares to SharePoint and OneDrive.
Yes. We can migrate shared folders, documents, departmental structures and data from on-premises servers to SharePoint, OneDrive or Microsoft Teams. The destination needs to be planned around the way people will use and share the information, taking account of the differences between file shares and collaboration platforms.
Before doing so, we review paths, file sizes, permissions, users, groups, older data and the destination structure. Microsoft provides official documentation on how to migrate file shares to OneDrive and SharePoint and on the SharePoint Migration Tool.
Yes. We can help migrate files, documents and folder structures to Google Drive, shared drives and Google Workspace environments, reviewing compatibility, permissions and organisation first. The review establishes which content can move directly and which access or structural changes need to be prepared for the destination environment.
Google provides official documentation for Google Workspace Migrate, which can migrate data from Microsoft Exchange, SharePoint, OneDrive, file systems, Box and Google Workspace, subject to its supported features and limitations.
Yes. We can review migrations from Dropbox to Microsoft 365, Google Workspace or other environments, considering team folders, permissions, owners and shared content. These elements need to be assessed together so that the destination structure and access model reflect the way the organisation needs to work.
Dropbox provides official documentation on how to migrate data from a server to Dropbox and on the management of team folders, which are important components to consider when planning and carrying out a business data migration.
It depends on the source platform, destination platform and tools used. Some environments support the transfer of permissions; in others, rebuilding them is more appropriate for improving security and organisation. We review the available options before agreeing how access will be configured and checked in the destination.
Before migration, we review users, groups, external access, inherited permissions, owners and shared folders to define the most appropriate strategy for the information and platforms involved.
In many cases, yes. We can retain the original folder structure where it makes sense for the business, or help reorganise it before migration to make the destination clearer and more useful. The decision should reflect both the existing content and the way the destination platform is intended to be used.
We also review long paths, problematic filenames, duplication, obsolete folders and data that should be archived before the transfer, so that avoidable problems can be addressed in advance.
It depends on the platform, file type and available tools. Some metadata can be retained, while other information may change during migration. The review identifies which attributes matter to the business and what the selected migration method can preserve, so that expectations and validation criteria are clear before transfer.
Google Workspace Migrate documents supported and unsupported features, including Drive files, metadata and shared drives, in its official guide to supported and unsupported features.
It depends on the type of migration. Some projects can be carried out in phases, retaining access for much of the process. In others, changes should be limited during the final window to avoid conflicts or differences between the source and destination. These arrangements need to be defined before the final transfer begins.
Before execution, we agree a communication strategy so that users know when they can access data, when they should avoid changes and when they should start working in the new environment.
Timing depends on data volume, file count, average document size, source platform, destination platform, connection speed, permissions and structural complexity. These factors need to be reviewed together before a realistic estimate can be provided for preparation, transfer and the checks needed to validate the destination environment.
After the initial assessment, we can estimate the work by phase. For larger projects, we recommend a pilot, incremental migration and validation before the final change to the new environment.
During migration, we monitor errors, unsupported files, problematic paths, conflicting permissions and blocked items. We then review the issues and define how they should be handled. This distinguishes items that can be retried from those needing changes or another method of transfer before the result can be validated.
Some files may need renaming, clean-up, an alternative export, conversion or manual transfer, depending on the destination platform and the limitations of the migration method being used.
Yes. For cloud storage and business data projects, we can assess migration to Google Cloud Storage or other cloud environments, particularly for large volumes or data that does not need direct collaborative editing. The intended use of the information helps determine whether this type of storage is appropriate for the project.
Google Cloud provides official documentation for Storage Transfer Service, which moves data from other cloud providers, on-premises data centres or HTTP/HTTPS URLs into Cloud Storage, according to the sources and transfer options supported by the service.
Yes. After migration, we can help with validation, permission reviews, incidents, user support, documentation, basic training and recommendations for administering the new environment. The follow-up work is defined around the information transferred and the support requirements agreed with the organisation for the period after the change.
We can also help optimise the document structure, establish good working practices and define access policies to keep the new environment organised as people continue to add, share and use information.
Request your data migration
Tell us about the current platform, the number of users or resources involved and your priorities. We will review the context to define the next steps and the scope of the proposal for your organisation.
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