Mailbox migration tools vs data migration tools: what's the difference?

Mailbox Migration tools and data migration tools serve different purposes.

Mailbox migration tools typically focus on duplicating the on-premises Exchange environment in the new Office online environment.  Data migration tools focus on doing something with the users’ legacy email data – either moving it into their new online environment or moving it to a location that will be accessible online.

Which solution do you need?

Put simply, it depends on how many users you’re migrating and how much data they have.  While most migration tools include features that will migrate users’ legacy email data, you only care about PST files if you have users that need or want to access them.   Yes, Exchange 2010 introduced the Archive Mailbox and eliminated PST files, but you need to ingest PST files into that archive mailbox if users want to access them.   And getting to them from Office is nearly impossible – not only do they need to be moved off of users’ desktops, they need to be migrated to the Microsoft cloud, which can be a lengthy process.

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If you need to access PST files from Office 365, much better to move them to a compatible archive.  Barracuda Essentials for Office 365 includes a cloud based, indexed archive separate from Office 365 that allows for granular retention policies, extensive search, auditing, permissions, legal hold and exporting of emails that may be required in eDiscovery. Litigation holds preserve email from being tampered with until the litigation hold expires or is removed.