A step-by-step guide to Active Directory migration

Active Directory (AD) migration can be a difficult and error-prone process if not performed correctly. Migrating objects from one AD forest to another—or even within domains—can be challenging. Whether your organization is undergoing mergers or acquisitions or restructuring its directory services, having a well-planned approach to AD migration can help you avoid disruptions and obstacles. Here are 10 steps you can follow to ensure a smooth AD migration.

10 steps to a successful AD migration

• Assess your existing AD environment

  Before you start your AD migration process, assess your current environment and create a plan. Identify all the objects and resources that will get transferred and the order in which you want to move these. Check the health of your system and see if there are any potential challenges, such as stale accounts. Finally, create a migration schedule to streamline the process.

• Define your domain structure

  Decide on a domain structure that meets your organization's requirements. It should account for the following factors:

  • Scalability
  • Performance
  • Administrative workload
  • Security
• Plan and build your target AD environment

  Design your new AD structure and build it. It should be robust, scalable, and match your organization's needs. Define GPOs and permissions, and consider integrating with hybrid environments like Microsoft Entra ID or other identity platforms.

• Check AD security

  Check your current AD environment for security issues, such as weak passwords, before migrating to the new system. This helps ensure a smooth and secure transition.

  Tip: Get a detailed look into your AD environment before migration and identify risks and potential threats, including weak passwords, with a comprehensive risk assessment.

• Prepare for migration

  Getting ready for AD migration includes various steps such as data cleanup and backup. Get rid of obsolete user accounts, groups, and other objects. Also, create a full backup of your existing AD organization. Check to see if all your current applications and services are compatible with your new AD. Notify stakeholders and users about the migration.

• Perform a pilot migration

  Create a test environment where you can test the AD migration process. Start the process with a pilot migration. Choose a small group of users and migrate these objects to the new domain. Resolve any issues or vulnerabilities that arise.

• Migrate users, groups, and other objects and resources

  Now, you can begin your AD migration process. Using an AD migration tool like ManageEngine ADManager Plus, you can seamlessly migrate your data. For instance, you can choose to migrate the objects and resources in batches to reduce the impact on business operations. Remember, resources like printers and applications rely on AD, so make sure they?re migrated properly and their permissions and access remain intact.

• Perform password synchronization

  Syncing passwords allows users to keep their current login details for accessing resources in the new system. This is especially important for remote workers who use passwords to connect to the VPN.

• Validation after migration

  Once all your objects and resources have been migrated, test your new AD environment. Ensure that the login process and application access work properly and that all the users and groups have the correct permissions. Also, monitor the DCs and replication for any potential issues. Checking your new AD environment helps you to address any discrepancies promptly.

• Retire your old AD environment

  Once your new AD environment is validated, the next step is retiring your old one. Archive any needed data and slowly decommission DCs and services. Doing this gradually helps reduce downtime and gives you a safety net to fall back on if something goes wrong.

ADManager Plus: Your ideal AD migration tool

ManageEngine ADManager Plus is a comprehensive AD management and reporting tool that can streamline your AD operations. Its powerful capabilities can help make your AD migration smooth and efficient.

With ADManager Plus, you can:

• Migrate users, groups, and contacts from one domain to another, or even within forests, without affecting their permissions. You can even migrate GPOs easily.
• Avoid any potential data loss by migrating objects along with their attributes.
• Migrate multiple objects without affecting the efficiency and performance of your AD environment.
• Reduce administrators' workload by delegating tasks to other technicians in your organization.
• Manage conflicts that might arise during migration by preconfiguring the conflict handling settings.
• Back up data from your entire AD environment and easily recover it in the event of data loss.

Ready to take control of your AD? Explore ManageEngine ADManager Plus today and experience a seamless solution to migrate your AD environment. Schedule a personalized demo with our product experts or download the free, 30-day trial version today!