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Before now, when it came to storing files and data, several options were available but there was always the problem of space. Technological advancement has now provided for cloud-based solutions that offered several advantages. Some of these include increased storage space and easy access to these data anywhere you are in the world without a need to carry physical storage devices. You may wish to read more about the history of cloud storage systems here.
One of the earliest of these cloud storage platforms is Dropbox. Dropbox is a cloud storage service for hosting files and data. It is operated by Dropbox Inc. a company headquartered in San Francisco.
Dropbox works by creating a folder on a user’s computer. The user brings all the files they intend to store into this folder and its content is synchronized, that is copied to a replica folder in the user’s account on Dropbox servers. They are also synchronized to any other device on which the user has installed the software. This means that the files are updated and available wherever the user needs it.
Dropbox offers both free and paid subscription accounts for individuals and businesses and it is available on popular computer operating systems; Microsoft Windows, Apple Mac OS, and Linux. It is also available on mobile platforms Android, Windows phone and iOS.
Other Storage Services
These days, several other cloud storage platforms are available from leading tech companies such as OneDrive from Microsoft, Google Drive from Google, Amazon Drive from Amazon, MEGA by Mega Limited; an Auckland based, New Zealand company, etc.
All of these services offer different packages including free and paid subscriptions for individuals and businesses.
On its part, OneDrive which is a cloud file hosting service by Microsoft is a part of the web version for its Office suite of software which allows users to easily upload their Office documents to the service. This makes it attractive to a lot of people and businesses who typically use Microsoft Windows as their operating system or Microsoft Office tools such as Word, Excel, PowerPoint, SharePoint, etc.
Migrating From One Cloud Service to Another
There are different reasons a user or a business might need to migrate their files from one cloud account to another. In this article, we will be considering migration between Dropbox and OneDrive. Some reasons to migrate include:
- A need for larger storage space. OneDrive offers a 5GB free storage compared to Dropbox’s 2GB.
- A need to standardize and do a consolidation of business systems to Office365 as OneDrive comes with other packages that make, syncing, sharing and integration easy.
- OneDrive offers cheaper storage space for their paid subscription as compared to Dropbox.
- A lack of space on Dropbox and a need for an alternative.
- Organizational or project changes that necessitate a change in cloud storage platforms but needing previous files and data.
All these reasons are valid as it appears that the Microsoft option offers a better value to using Dropbox. However, the migration of files is not at all an easy task. How then how can a user or business do this?
There are options to do so. An individual or business may choose to use the old drag and drop way but this is only advisable if you have very few files as it is slow, tedious, and grossly inefficient.
Another way to do so is using tools designed by third party businesses for migration such as the one found here https://www.cloudfastpath.com/migrate-from-dropbox-to-onedrive/ since such a tool as this makes migrating easier and faster. These types of migrating companies have experience helping businesses migrate their files and have perfected the art over time.
Important Things to Note and Do When Migrating Your Data
For users undertaking a migration, what are the things to consider before, during and after migration?
Communicating with Interested Parties and Stakeholders
Migrating data is a huge venture and if you are a business, it is important to communicate with the management, your employees, teams and departments on what is happening, why it is happening and how it may affect them including the gains of migrating data. Adequate and effective information will be of immense help to guide your teams in this process of migration.
Planning
This is a hard but necessary ad critical part of migration especially if one is to have a successful and smooth one. This includes gathering relevant information; the number of users to migrate, data distribution and ownership, number and amount of files and data to move etc. It also requires the need to determine timelines, make sure folder structures are retained, and the file path and length is not more than 400 characters as this is the maximum that OneDrive allows.
Other things to check include your file types. You need to check to confirm that the file types that will be migrated are those allowed on OneDrive.
Migration Timelines
In migrating your files, it is important to be realistic with the amount of time that will be needed to do so. This is heavily dependent on different organizational factors including size of data to be moved, your business needs, security, budget, etc. It is important to allot enough time for this and not rush through any process so as to avoid any mistake that can later prove costly. It is important to know these strategies for a successful data migration before attempting to carry out any such operation.
Conclusion
Migrating data for either a business or an individual is never a small task. However, by doing the right things one can effectively carry out a smooth transition. When moving enterprise data, you are not just moving files but people and whole workspaces, so effective communication is necessary. Proper planning will also help to make the process more straight forward and cushion the effect of the transition by using the right tools for analysis, automation and adequate reporting.
