In-Place Archive Migration — Microsoft 365 Archive Mailbox Move
IT Partner’s In-Place Archive Migration service moves archive mailboxes from Exchange Server or Exchange Online to Microsoft 365, with archive data safely placed in the destination Microsoft 365 mailboxes. SKU: ITPWW490MIGOT. Price: $10.00 per mailbox. Duration: 7 days. Manager: Roman Sotnik.
What this engagement is
In-Place Archive is Microsoft Exchange’s long-term email storage capability. It helps organizations reduce reliance on personal store (.pst) files by giving users an archive mailbox for historical messaging data outside the primary mailbox. IT Partner helps move archive mailboxes from your mailbox database to Microsoft 365 using the Exchange Management Shell and the Exchange admin center (EAC) in your on-premises organization. The project is considered complete once all archive mailboxes have been safely moved and placed in the destination Microsoft 365 mailboxes.
Success criteria
What you receive
How the work unfolds
Confirm the archive migration scope, source and destination environment details, mailbox list, success criteria, customer contacts, escalation path, communications approach, expected schedule, and any high-risk or VIP users requiring additional coordination.
Review source archive mailbox inventory, licensing readiness, tenant and Exchange connectivity, permissions, DNS-related dependencies if applicable, mailbox/archive status, and migration readiness items that could affect archive data transfer.
Configure the required migration approach and begin the archive mailbox migration or pre-stage activity using Microsoft-supported Exchange tools and administrative interfaces, while monitoring initial batch behavior and resolving blocking issues.
Validate migration progress and results by checking migration batch status, archive mailbox availability, destination mailbox/archive association, item counts where available, and a representative set of migrated archive data.
Complete the final migration activities for remaining archive mailbox data, monitor completion status, address failed or stalled items within the agreed scope, and confirm that archive data is placed with the appropriate destination Microsoft 365 mailboxes.
Perform post-migration validation, review any remaining exceptions with the customer, confirm acceptance against the stated success criteria, and prepare the project closeout report with final status, outstanding issues, and budget information.
Prerequisites
Who does what
IT Partner
- Discover and assess In-Place Archives from the source tenant.
- Perform pre-stage migration.
- Assign the licenses.
- Start and control the final In-Place Archive migration.
Your team
- Provide a dedicated point of contact responsible for working with IT Partner.
- Coordinate any outside vendor resources and schedules.
- Configure all network equipment, such as load balancers, routers, firewalls, and switches.
- If Microsoft Outlook or other desktop email clients are used to connect to Microsoft 365, deploy email software on client workstations.
- Perform changes to internal and external DNS, as required.
- Assist with identification of high-risk users (top executives and VIP users, users with 50 GB mailboxes or larger and/or 30 GB deleted folders or larger)
- Recreate a new Outlook profile on all client workstations if the desktop Outlook version is used.
- Inform users about upcoming changes and provide the necessary information.
What's not included
Limitations & technical notes
Frequently asked questions
What does IT Partner’s In-Place Archive Migration service do?
IT Partner’s In-Place Archive Migration service moves archive mailboxes from Exchange Server or Exchange Online to Microsoft 365. The project is complete when In-Place Archive data has been safely migrated and placed in the appropriate destination Microsoft 365 mailboxes.
What is an In-Place Archive in Exchange?
An In-Place Archive is Microsoft Exchange’s long-term email storage capability for historical messaging data outside the user’s primary mailbox. It helps organizations reduce reliance on personal store .pst files by giving users an archive mailbox that is accessible through Exchange.
Which migration sources and destination are covered by this service?
This service covers archive mailbox migration from Exchange Server or Exchange Online to Microsoft 365. The destination is Microsoft 365, with archive data placed in the appropriate destination Microsoft 365 mailboxes.
What is included in the In-Place Archive Migration service?
The service includes discovery and assessment of In-Place Archives, pre-stage migration, license assignment, and the final In-Place Archive migration started and controlled by IT Partner. It also includes a project closeout report with final project status, acceptance criteria matching, outstanding issues, and the final budget.
What is not included in the In-Place Archive Migration service?
Informing users about upcoming changes, customer team training, desktop software settings, and documentation beyond the project closeout report are not included in the standard service. Training and more extensive documentation may be available as additional services, but they are outside the stated base scope.
How much does the In-Place Archive Migration service cost?
IT Partner’s In-Place Archive Migration service is priced at $10.00 per mailbox. The listed SKU is ITPWW490MIGOT, so the total service cost depends on the number of archive mailboxes included in the migration.
How long does the In-Place Archive Migration service take?
The stated duration for IT Partner’s In-Place Archive Migration service is 7 days. The plan may vary depending on customer needs, so any schedule constraints or timing requirements should be confirmed with IT Partner during planning.
What prerequisites are required before the archive migration can start?
The customer must provide global admin level access to the source Microsoft 365 tenant and global admin level access to the destination Microsoft 365 tenant. The destination tenant must have Exchange Online licenses available, and the customer must also have access to the email domain DNS zone.
Who is responsible for assigning Microsoft 365 licenses during the migration?
License assignment is included in IT Partner’s responsibilities for this service. The customer must ensure that Exchange Online licenses are available in the destination Microsoft 365 tenant because license availability is listed as a prerequisite.
What does IT Partner do during the engagement?
IT Partner discovers and assesses the In-Place Archives, performs the pre-stage migration, assigns licenses, and starts and controls the final In-Place Archive migration. IT Partner also verifies the migration and provides a project closeout report at the end of the engagement.
What does the customer need to do during the migration project?
The customer must provide a dedicated point of contact, coordinate outside vendors, configure network equipment if needed, perform required internal and external DNS changes, and inform users about upcoming changes. The customer is also responsible for deploying desktop email software if used, recreating Outlook profiles if the desktop Outlook version is used, and helping identify high-risk users.
What are the main project milestones for the In-Place Archive Migration service?
The stated milestones are kickoff meeting, pre-migration source system health check, email migration start, verification of email migration, final email migration, and post-migration tasks. The source service description provides milestone names only, so detailed milestone activities should be confirmed with IT Partner if required.
Will users be able to access Exchange Online after the migration?
Yes, one stated success criterion is that users can access Exchange Online on desktop PCs, mobile phones, and tablets from any place at any time. The second success criterion is that In-Place Archive data has been migrated to the appropriate mailboxes.
Will there be downtime or business impact during archive migration?
The service description does not specify a guaranteed downtime window or no-downtime commitment. Because the scope includes pre-stage migration, final migration, and verification, any expected user impact should be reviewed with IT Partner during the kickoff and planning stages.
Does this service handle mail flow or DNS cutover?
This service is focused on migrating In-Place Archive data to Microsoft 365 mailboxes, not on providing a separate mail-flow redesign service. If DNS changes are required, the customer is responsible for performing internal and external DNS changes and must have access to the email domain DNS zone.
Does IT Partner migrate PST files as part of this service?
PST migration is not listed as an included deliverable for this service. The service migrates Exchange In-Place Archive mailboxes, although In-Place Archives can help organizations reduce reliance on .pst files.
How are high-risk or VIP users handled?
The customer is responsible for assisting IT Partner with identifying high-risk users, including top executives, VIP users, users with 50 GB mailboxes or larger, and users with deleted folders of 30 GB or larger. The service description does not define a separate high-risk-user migration procedure, so special handling should be confirmed with IT Partner during planning.
Are Outlook profile changes included after the migration?
Desktop software settings are not included in the standard service. If desktop Outlook is used, the customer is responsible for recreating a new Outlook profile on all client workstations and deploying email software on workstations if needed.
What happens after the In-Place Archive migration is completed?
After completion, IT Partner provides a project closeout report showing the final project status, acceptance criteria matching, outstanding issues, and final budget. The migration is considered complete when all archive mailboxes have been safely moved and placed in the destination Microsoft 365 mailboxes.
Who manages the In-Place Archive Migration service?
The listed manager for IT Partner’s In-Place Archive Migration service is Roman Sotnik. Customers should confirm project communication details and escalation paths with IT Partner during kickoff.