Detailed Process of Network Upload PST to Office 365 Method

Summary: This article explains how you can use the method network upload PST to Office 365. Moreover, in this article, we have discussed the alternative solution which can be used to execute the process.

As we are in the era of cloud technology, many users and several firms are inclined towards cloud platforms to store their crucial data which can be accessed from any remote location. Isn’t it sounds good?

Initially, When we talk about Microsoft/Office365, we believe that it will provide the best security and a lot of storage space to keep all our data. On a cloud platform, users can easily connect with anyone and can share data seamlessly without having any issues.

But the miserable part comes when we have to import large PST to Office 365. This could be a challenge for users, as we cannot simply drag and drop our PST files from the local system to Office 365. The user needs to follow some steps to execute this task.

To resolve this issue and make it simple for users, we have discussed the detailed steps to complete the operation.

Manual Approach To Move PST Files to Office 365

Network Upload Method

The network Upload process includes uploading the PST files to the network. And then importing the uploaded PST files to Office 365 with Import Service in it. This method allows the users to import large PST to Office 365.

Prerequisites -The user performing this task should have:

1. Admin user must have Global Administrator rights of the Office 365 account.
2. User must be assigned the Mailbox Import Export Role in Exchange Online to create import jobs.

Users need to follow each section of steps as discussed to import Large PST to Office 365 via the Network Upload method. The main steps are mentioned below:

1. Replicate SAS URL and install Azure AzCopy tool.
2. Moving PST files to Office 365.
3. Generating PST import Mapping file.
4. Making a PST Import job in Office 365.
5. Filtering the data and start Import Step.

Step 1: Replicate SAS URL and Install Azure AzCopy Tool

Follow the given instructions sequentially:

1. Navigate to the link https://protection.office.com and log in to your Office 365 account with admin credentials.
2. Under the Security & Compliance section, press Data governance>Import.
3. Once the page opens, press the + icon to add the new import job. The import job window will open. Now give a name for the PST import job and select the Next button.
4. A page will open asking to either transfer or upload the data? Choose Upload your data and then press the Next button.
5. Next, hit on the Show network upload SSL URL option, the SSL URL is available as the result. Select on Copy to clipboard and paste in a notepad or any safe location to use it later. Using the Download Azure AzCopy option, download and install the Azure AzCopy tool.

 Step 2: Moving PST Files to Office 365

To upload PST files to Office 365, users have to make sure that PST files are available at a shared network folder for upload.

Execute the given instructions to upload PST files:

1. In Command Prompt. Go to the location where the Azure AzCopy.exe tool is stored. By default, the location is “%ProgramFiles(x86)%\Microsoft SDKs\Azure\AzCopy” and open it.
2. To move or upload PST files to Exchange Online, run this command:

Note: The uploaded PST files will be present in the Azure location for about 30 days until a new import job does not come in progress.

Step 3: Initiating PST Import Mapping File

In this step, the CSV file is required to be generated because the PST files are uploaded in the previous step.

Follow the instructions carefully to implement this step:

1. Download the sample for the PST import mapping file.
2. Save the CSV file on the local system. Enter the required Office 365 mailboxes address against PST files and create a PST Import Mapping file.

Step 4: Making a PST Import job in Office 365

In this step to import large PST to Office 365, users have to create a PST Import job in Office 365 using the Import Service feature in Office 365.

1. Login using Office 365 admin credentials, navigate to Security & Compliance Centre-> Data Governance and click on the Import option.
2. Follow the similar steps as explained in step 1 (In the opened page, click on the + icon to add the new import job. The import job window will open. Here write a name for the PST import job and press on Next button. A page will open asking to either transfer or upload the data? Choose Upload your data and then press on Next.)
3. Next, in the import data page again, select the option press on I’m done uploading my files and I have access to the mapping file and click on Next.
4. Now, press the Select mapping file option to add the PST Import mapping file in the previous step. Authorize this CSV file with the given option and mark the checkbox for terms and conditions.
5. Hit on the Save option to finally submit the import job and after creating the job, press the Close button.

Step 5: Trimming the Data and Initiate Import

In the final step of the Network Upload PST to Office 365 method, the user has to apply a set of instructions to filter to trim the PSTs data and then initiate the import process:

1. Go to the Security & Compliance Centre>Data Governance in Office 365 account and open the Import page. Then git on the Ready to import to Office 365.
2. A flyout page with PSTs information details will open, check and press the Import to Office 365 button.
3. The page named Filter your data will open. User can select either to filter the data or import the complete data here. Choose the suitable option and hit on the Import option to start the import process.
4. The import process will initiate and the user can check the status for import anytime.
5.   To scrutinize the list of the uploaded PST files, check the open-source Microsoft Azure Storage Explorer tool.

Note – The network upload method allows users to upload 20 GB PST files at once. To import Large PST to Office 365, the user has to split their PST files into 20 GB file sizes. Depending on the PST file size user has to repeat this process again and again.

Alternative Solution of Network Upload PST to Office 365

The steps mentioned below will clearly explain to execute the import operation using the well-engineered Import PST to Office 365 tool.

• Download and run the tool on the local system. Enter the Admin or user account using login credentials.

• Select an option from the given options like Add file(s)/ Add Folder/ Add CSV option to import PST files.

• All the list of PST files will be shown with their email address and it will validate at the same time as shown.

• Select the category of files that needs to import to Outlook 365 and apply a date filter for each selected category if required.

• At last, select the Import button to start to Import Large PST to Office 365.

 Conclusion

In conclusion, this article talks about the detailed steps of Network Upload PST to Office 365. This method involves several lengthy steps, and the user should have the core technical knowledge to perform this operation. To avoid this, users can go for an alternative approach which we have discussed in this article.