Microsoft has phased out Basic Authentication (Basic Auth), replacing it with Modern Authentication (Modern Auth) to provide increased protection and user security. Through this, Microsoft has turned off Basic Auth for specific protocols in Exchange Online, causing some to wonder how this change will impact Exchange Online migrations.
Those looking to do Exchange Online migrations should consider several scenarios and risks. It’s important to ask, what tenants and workloads might be affected? Which migration tools are best to use? What best practices will ensure a smooth migration?
Microsoft phased out Basic Auth to provide a more secure way for users to access accounts. Basic Auth was limited to simple authentication scenarios that can be vulnerable to hackers and outside sources. Modern Auth, however, provides single sign-on and multi-factor authentication capabilities not available in Basic Auth, helping to ensure that all personal data and accounts are protected.
Primarily, this move impacts Microsoft Exchange Online. Modern Auth in Exchange Online, as implemented by Microsoft, is built on three main components:
These components increase security, making migrations more secure. However, this change can profoundly impact organizations that haven’t made provisions for this move to Modern Auth, as it will affect the ability to migrate mailboxes efficiently.
To achieve Exchange Online migrations during this transition, IT professionals must consider and implement steps to ensure success.
What steps should I implement to ensure a smooth migration?
Like it or not, Modern Auth is replacing Basic Auth. To ensure a smooth migration during this transitional period, IT professionals should consider the following these steps:
Always keep your software up to date
Performing routine maintenance and updates on software is critical to avoiding problems before, during and after any migration. Admins that don’t continually update their systems often find themselves without options. Older versions of software depreciate and are no longer supported. This is sometimes the case where admins are using unsupported versions of software and need to revert to older technologies to get them to work. The most sensible path is to keep your software updated to versions with vendor support.
Ensuring a smooth and secure migration process
The shift to Modern Auth can affect Exchange Online migrations. To ensure a smooth and secure migration, it’s critical to anticipate problems and understand the key steps for success. This, along with having the right migration tools that support Modern Auth and up-to-date software, will help ensure efficient migrations during this transition. Change can be hard. But these steps can help ensure a seamless move to Modern Auth and streamlined and effective Exchange Online migrations.
By Stacey Farrar