SharePoint upgrade vs migration – How to choose?

Read time: 5 minutes

Each successive iteration of SharePoint Server outperforms its predecessors in aspects such as features, functionality, interface, storage capabilities, and performance. Each version of SharePoint, just like other applications, comes with a lifecycle. Upon life cycle completion, Microsoft stops providing support and assistance for the respective version. This makes going to the enhanced version a necessity rather than just being an access to improved features.

Transitioning to the latest version can be achieved through two distinct approaches: an upgrade or a migration. Nevertheless, users often grapple with the decision between opting for an upgrade or utilizing the SharePoint-to-SharePoint migration solution, unsure of the most suitable choice. Understanding these differences can help you make an informed decision about the most suitable choice for your needs.

Comparison table for SharePoint upgrade vs migration

To help you choose between upgrade and migration, we have created a comparison table of the situations suitable for both. Let’s have a look at the differences.

Note: If the user wishes to move from the existing SharePoint Server version to SharePoint Online, then the migration option would be most suitable.

What to pick; upgrade or migration?

The above table must have cleared your doubts. The shared information will help you make a good decision regarding the migration or upgrade. Let us discuss this thoroughly.

An upgrade is recommended in the following situations

Upgrading refers to the process of advancing the existing SharePoint system to the next accessible version. It can be a complex process as it may cause significant downtime and require careful planning to ensure compatibility with existing customizations. Here’s when you should consider upgrading SharePoint version.

• Recommended only if re-designing is not needed (as upgrading the version moves the data with the same taxonomy).
• Only upgrading from SharePoint version 2010 or higher version is recommended. Upgrading to older versions is not supported as they lack new features and functionalities.
• Suitable when the current SharePoint version is exactly one version behind the latest version.
• Content is arranged properly with no shallowness and has to be moved just like that to the newer version.

A migration is advised in the following situations

On the other hand, migration entails moving data from either a SharePoint Server or another data source to a SharePoint Server. However, migration from SharePoint on-premises to SharePoint Online or Office 365 may involve data loss, user training, and potential disruption to business operations. Let’s see when it’s suggested to perform migration.

• When the user needs to redesign the taxonomy of the SharePoint content.
• When data is to be moved from older versions like 2003 and 2007 to the latest versions.
• When migration from an existing version to a version higher than the immediate next version is required (like from SharePoint 2010 to SharePoint 2016 or SharePoint 2019).
• When the content arrangement is not proper (with too shallow folder structures).
• When it is needed to move even customized site templates without causing any issues.

If the above stated conditions match your needs, then you can opt for migration instead of upgradation. However, we recommend making a checklist for SharePoint migration to avoid failure.

Use professional tools for data transfer

SharePoint upgrade vs migration discussion can be very broad or specific depending upon the users. However, one thing is for sure, both require data transfer. SharePoint users can use any of the two options based on their current business or personal requirements. Still, the migration option has the upper hand and is popular with Microsoft SharePoint Server users.

However, manual migrations are complex and lengthy. This is because the transfer requires an understanding of both source and destination SharePoint environment, plus thorough planning and execution. Furthermore, admins may have to customize SharePoint permissions again after the data transfer. All these make this process almost infeasible for many users.

However, there’s no need to despair, as we offer a solution that ensures a seamless, fast, and effortless transition between various SharePoint versions. Introducing Kernel Migration for SharePoint that efficiently migrates data from the file system to SharePoint Server or SharePoint Online. The SharePoint migration tool can transfer complete or specific SharePoint Sites, Subsites, Lists, Documents, items, and more.

It also supports SharePoint permissions migration and saves the admin from configuring the hectic usage access again for the new environment. What sets this advanced SharePoint Migration tool apart is its compatibility with all SharePoint Server versions and SharePoint Online plans.

To gain insight into the software’s functionalities and features, users can explore the free demo version available on our website.

Conclusion

Before making any decisions, it’s important to assess your business to find out what you want to achieve with that move and determine how important it is for your business. We’ve explored the essential considerations when undertaking an upgrade or migration within the existing SharePoint environment. The manual migrations between different SharePoint versions have their limitations.

Therefore, we recommend employing a proficient and secure tool like Kernel Migration for SharePoint to streamline the process. The tool ensures complete data integrity & preserves original file/folder structure. You can even transfer data from on-premises File server to SharePoint with the tool.