Microsoft 365 migration in Montreal

Microsoft 365 is more than Outlook and Word. It's an integrated platform: pro email with your domain, secure shared files, video, intranet, identity management.

ClicPomme deploys M365 based on your real needs — no oversizing. Secure-by-default configuration, lossless migration, user training.

Microsoft 365 migration in Montreal: how it works, how long it takes, what it costs

A successful Microsoft 365 migration is one nobody notices: on Monday morning Outlook opens, the email is there, the calendars are there, and no one has lost an attachment. Here is how we run migrations for Montreal small and mid-sized businesses, how long they take and what they cost.

The steps of a migration with no downtime

It starts with an audit of what you have: where your email lives today (Google Workspace, a web host over IMAP, an old Exchange server, another Microsoft tenant), how many mailboxes, how many gigabytes, which devices. We then prepare the tenant: verified domain, DNS records, licences, multi-factor authentication and security policies turned on before the first user signs in. Data is pre-synchronized in batches while you keep working on the old system. The cutover happens one evening or over a weekend: MX records are switched, a final differential sync runs, then Outlook, phones and signatures are reconfigured. A short training session per team closes the project.

From Google Workspace, a web host or an Exchange server

Each source has its traps. Google Workspace: labels become folders, Google Docs must be converted or left in Drive, and shared calendars need special care. IMAP at a web host: no server-side calendars or contacts, so they have to be recovered from each computer. On-premises Exchange: hybrid or cutover migration depends on the version and the health of the server. We have done all three many times, for five-person firms and for companies of 80 employees.

Mac and Windows: Outlook, OneDrive and Teams on every device

ClicPomme has been an Apple technical partner in Montreal since 2009 and also manages Windows fleets. Microsoft 365 works very well on Mac when it is configured properly: OneDrive with Files On-Demand, new or classic Outlook depending on your needs, Teams without duplicate accounts, and automated deployment through device management (MDM) rather than one computer at a time. Mixed Mac and PC teams share the same SharePoint libraries and the same security policies.

Secure from day one

A freshly created Microsoft 365 tenant is not secure by default. We enforce multi-factor authentication for everyone, configure conditional access, publish SPF, DKIM and DMARC so your email stays out of spam folders, and turn on audit logging. An often-forgotten point: Microsoft keeps deleted data for about 30 days, which is not a backup. We add an independent Microsoft 365 backup (email, OneDrive, SharePoint, Teams) so nothing is lost, even after ransomware or human error. See also our cybersecurity services for SMBs.

How long it takes and what it costs

As a guideline, a business of 5 to 20 users is migrated in one to two weeks of preparation plus one evening for the cutover. Above 50 users with SharePoint and complex shares, plan for three to six weeks. Microsoft licences run between $8 and $30 per user per month depending on the plan; we match the right plan to each role instead of giving everyone the same one, which often lowers the bill. The migration project is quoted as a fixed price after a no-obligation audit, and day-to-day support can follow as a managed service.

Montreal, Laval, South Shore and remote

Our office is at 2000 Beaubien Street East in Montreal. Most migration work is done remotely, with on-site visits for the cutover and training when useful, in Montreal, Laval and on the South Shore. Call 1 877 622-3658 or request your Microsoft 365 audit.

Microsoft 365 migration FAQ

How long does a Microsoft 365 migration take?

For a business of 5 to 20 users, plan one to two weeks of preparation and one evening or weekend for the cutover. Companies with more than 50 users, SharePoint and complex shares take three to six weeks.

Will we lose email or be without email during the migration?

No. Data is pre-synchronized while you keep working on the old system, and the cutover happens outside business hours with a final differential sync. Email, calendars, contacts and attachments are preserved.

Can we migrate from Google Workspace to Microsoft 365?

Yes, it is one of the most common migrations we perform in Montreal. Email, labels, calendars and contacts are transferred; Drive files move to OneDrive and SharePoint, and Google Docs are converted to Office formats.

Does Microsoft 365 work well on Mac?

Yes. Outlook, Teams, OneDrive, Word, Excel and PowerPoint are native on macOS. The key is careful configuration (OneDrive, accounts, authentication) and automated deployment through MDM. ClicPomme has been an Apple technical partner since 2009.

Does Microsoft 365 back up my data?

Not in the sense of a real backup: Microsoft keeps deleted items for about 30 days and guarantees service availability, not recovery after ransomware or human error. We recommend an independent Microsoft 365 backup (email, OneDrive, SharePoint, Teams).

Which Microsoft 365 licence should a small business choose?

It depends on the role: some employees only need email and web apps (basic plan), others need the installed applications, and sensitive accounts benefit from the advanced security of Business Premium. Mixing plans often lowers the bill; we settle it during the audit.