Migrating to Microsoft GCC High is a key move for government contractors who need to handle Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI), meet CMMC 2.0, or comply with ITAR. But many organizations hesitate due to concerns over complexity, downtime, or unknowns.
This guide breaks down what to expect at every stage—and how expert-led GCC High migration services ensure a secure, smooth transition.
Step 1: Pre-Migration Planning
Before anything is moved, the groundwork must be laid:
Eligibility Validation – Confirm your organization qualifies for GCC High through Microsoft.
Licensing Review – Procure appropriate Microsoft 365 licenses (E5, G5, etc.).
Discovery & Assessment – Review your current Microsoft 365 (or hybrid) setup.
This phase defines the scope, timeline, and expectations for a successful migration.
Step 2: Architecture Design
A secure GCC High tenant isn’t a copy-paste of your current environment. It must be designed for compliance:
Identity and access management
Security policies and compliance mappings (NIST 800-171, DFARS)
Exchange, SharePoint, Teams, and OneDrive configurations
Tenant trust and federation plans
Your partner in GCC High migration services will document the architecture and set you up for audit-ready performance.
Step 3: Identity and Authentication Setup
User access is at the core of Zero Trust. At this stage:
Azure AD for GCC High is configured
MFA and Conditional Access policies are applied
Role-based access control is mapped
This ensures that only the right people can access the right information—at the right time.
Step 4: Data Migration Execution
With structure in place, your organization’s data is securely moved:
Mailboxes (Outlook)
OneDrive files
SharePoint content
Teams conversations and channel data
Sensitive data is encrypted and transferred using secure, compliant tooling. Downtime is minimized with a phased cutover.
Step 5: Post-Migration Hardening and Testing
After data is migrated, the environment undergoes:
Security and compliance validation
DLP, Purview, and Defender policy tuning
Audit logging and alerting tests
User acceptance testing (UAT)
You’ll also receive detailed documentation to support future audits and compliance reviews.
Step 6: Training and Support
The final step is onboarding your teams:
Admin training for managing the new environment
End-user training for Teams, SharePoint, and OneDrive
Ongoing support and governance planning
With the right guidance, your team can hit the ground running in GCC High without disruption.