# Cloud Migration for UK Small Businesses Source: https://dijitulsupport.co.uk/cloud-migration/ Updated: 2026-10-10 > dijitul support moves UK small businesses off ageing servers and into the cloud: shared drives into SharePoint and OneDrive, email into Exchange Online, and logins into Microsoft Entra ID. We plan the folder structure and permissions, migrate over a weekend where possible and support staff afterwards. Every migration is quoted upfront. ## Common symptoms - Your server is out of support or due to be soon - Staff cannot get to the shared drive from home without a clunky VPN - Email still lives on an old Exchange server or a basic IMAP host - You pay to back up and maintain hardware that sits idle most of the day - Files are emailed back and forth because nobody can edit the same copy - A previous migration left duplicate folders and broken permissions ## Key facts - We migrate file servers and NAS shares into SharePoint document libraries and OneDrive - Email moves from on-premises Exchange, IMAP or Google Workspace into Exchange Online - SharePoint has a 400-character limit on the full decoded file path - Characters such as " * : ? / \ | are not allowed in SharePoint and OneDrive file names - Microsoft recommends no more than 300,000 files syncing per device for OneDrive - Most migrations are done remotely with a cut-over outside working hours - Every migration is quoted upfront; post-move support can sit on a monthly plan ## What a cloud migration actually moves For most small businesses, 'moving to the cloud' means three things: - **Files** move from a server or NAS into SharePoint document libraries (shared team files) and OneDrive (personal files). - **Email** moves into Exchange Online, along with calendars, contacts and shared mailboxes. - **Identity** moves from an on-site Active Directory to Microsoft Entra ID, so the same account signs in to laptops, email and files with MFA. Some businesses also move a line-of-business application into a hosted version, or into an Azure virtual machine where no cloud version exists. We look at each application separately rather than forcing everything into one answer. Not everything belongs in OneDrive. Very large CAD or video files, desktop databases that several people open at once, and folders with hundreds of thousands of small files can sync badly. We flag these early and suggest a better home for them. ## Planning: where most migrations go wrong Copying a 15-year-old S: drive straight into one SharePoint library recreates the mess in a new place and usually breaks syncing. Before we move a file, we: - Scan the source for paths that will exceed SharePoint's 400-character limit, blocked characters, and file types that do not sync well, such as open Access databases and Outlook PST files. - Agree a structure: usually one SharePoint site or library per department or function, with permissions set on the site rather than on hundreds of individual folders. - Map who needs access to what, using Microsoft 365 groups rather than individual users. - Decide what to archive. Old project folders that nobody opens do not need to sync to every laptop. We also check licences. Business Standard covers SharePoint, OneDrive, Exchange and the desktop apps; Business Premium adds Intune and Conditional Access, which matter once the server is no longer the thing keeping devices in line. ## The migration itself We use Microsoft's SharePoint Migration Tool or Migration Manager for file moves, which preserve modified dates and authorship where possible, and run an initial copy in the background while staff keep working. A final delta pass picks up anything changed, normally over a weekend or evening, and then the old share is set to read-only so nobody saves to the wrong place. For email, we use cutover, staged or IMAP migration depending on the source, then switch your domain's MX, Autodiscover and SPF records. If DNS is a mystery, our domain and DNS support page explains what changes and why. On each laptop we set up OneDrive with Files On-Demand, so files appear in File Explorer without downloading everything, and turn on Known Folder Move so Desktop and Documents are backed up too. ## After go-live The first week after a migration is when people discover a shortcut that no longer works or a spreadsheet with links to the old S: drive. We stay on hand to fix those, show staff where things now live, and tidy any permissions that need adjusting. Linked Excel workbooks and Access databases sometimes need their paths updating, and we handle that rather than leaving you to find them one by one. We then decommission the old server properly: confirm nothing still points to it, take a final backup, and wipe the disks. Microsoft 365 data still needs its own backup, which we cover on our backup and recovery page. ## Cost Every cloud migration is quoted upfront, based on how much data you have, how many users and mailboxes are moving, and how tidy the starting point is. Ongoing support afterwards can sit on a monthly plan; the Complete plan at £99 a month + VAT includes IT and Microsoft 365 helpdesk support for your team and 3 hours of work each month. Small follow-on jobs without a plan are £45 an hour + VAT. Ask for a migration quote. ## FAQs ### Can I move my shared drive to SharePoint? Yes. dijitul moves file server and NAS shares into SharePoint document libraries, checking path lengths, blocked characters and permissions first. Files keep their modified dates where possible, and staff can open them in File Explorer through OneDrive sync. Each migration is quoted upfront. ### Will we lose any email moving to Microsoft 365? Not if the migration is planned properly. dijitul copies mailboxes, calendars and contacts into Exchange Online before switching your MX record, then runs a final pass to catch anything that arrived during the change. Shared mailboxes and distribution lists are recreated as well. ### How long does a cloud migration take? It depends on data volume and the starting point. The planning and background copying can take days or weeks, but the cut-over itself is normally done in an evening or over a weekend so staff are not disrupted. dijitul gives you a timeline with the quote. ### Do we still need a server after moving to the cloud? Often not. Once files are in SharePoint, email is in Exchange Online and logins are in Entra ID, the server's main jobs are gone. Some businesses keep one for a desktop database or specialist software. dijitul will tell you honestly whether yours can be retired. ### What is the SharePoint path length limit? SharePoint and OneDrive allow up to 400 characters in the full decoded file path, including folder names. Deeply nested folders from an old shared drive can exceed this, which stops files syncing. dijitul scans for long paths and fixes them before migration. ### Is our data backed up once it is in Microsoft 365? Microsoft keeps your service running and offers version history and recycle bins, but that is not the same as an independent backup. Deleted items eventually expire. dijitul recommends a separate Microsoft 365 backup for email, OneDrive and SharePoint. ## Pricing and contact This work is quoted to fit. Request a quote at https://dijitulsupport.co.uk/quote/ or call 01623 650333.