How to Use Split Delivery in G Suite to Office 365 Migration?

People use Google Workspace split delivery to route incoming emails between systems while performing a phased migration. In this article, I am going to explain how you can set up Google Workspace split delivery in simple terms.

What is Split Delivery in G Suite?

Split delivery is an email routing configuration that allows incoming emails of the same domain to be sent either to Google Workspace or Microsoft 365. This feature is based on configured recipient routing rules and mailbox existence, which only controls how a new incoming message is delivered during coexistence or phased migration.

So, in short, Google Workspace first receives emails and then routes them on the basis of admin-defined rules. Those emails for Google users will stay in Google. Other emails are routed to Microsoft 365 using the configured rules.

Why Split Delivery is Needed?

Many companies use split delivery to ensure smooth email coexistence between Google Workspace and Microsoft 365. It is a safe option as it delivers the messages to two platforms based on the recipient rules. With this, you will get many benefits, like.

• Instead of moving all users, organizations route emails between the systems. This way, some of the emails are sent to Office 365, and some remain in the G Suite.
• This allows coexistence between G Suite and Office 365. Where some use the Google environment and others the Microsoft environment under the same domain.
• Before you fully switch to Office 365, split delivery helps you to test the programs first. If everything is fine, you can later transfer the rest of the accounts.
• Moving the entire mailbox is risky, but with a gradual transition and fallback options, your migration will be safer.
• It also helps you manage your emails across multiple servers for a long time.

Therefore, using the split delivery will reduce downtime and risk when you are properly configured. To set up the split delivery, you have to focus on several points, which I have mentioned below.

Prerequisites to Set Up Split Delivery

• The most important thing in preparation is that both the G Suite and Office 365 are connected to the same domain.
• The domain must be owned by the organization and properly verified.
• When setting up the function, you must have complete administrative access to both platforms.
• The domain MX records must point to Google as your primary mail server.
• Update the SPF record to get both programs to send emails and configure DKIM separately for each platform.

This checklist makes the procedure easier, and you can avoid any issues. After that, it is time to set up the split delivery.

Guide to Configure Google Workspace Split Delivery

The procedure begins with configuring your domain’s MX records to point to Google. Then, make Microsoft 365 a secondary host within the Google Admin. After that, the main step starts: create a routing rule to identify the incoming messages. Lastly, update the SPF and DKIM records.

This is an overview that lets you clarify how you are going to make the G Suite and Office 365 co-exist. Below is the complete step-by-step process, so carefully follow it.

Step 1: Point Domain DNS to Google Workspace

1. Go to your Domain DNS verification.
2. Ensure MX records point to Google Workspace during coexistence.
3. Make sure you lower the TTL (like, 300 seconds) so that the set up changes apply quickly.

Step 2: Prepare the Microsoft 365 Account

1. Log in to the Microsoft 365 Admin center. Add and verify the same domain using G Suite.
2. Then, create the user accounts in Microsoft for the migration.
3. Assign the licenses to all the user accounts that you created.
4. Also, create mailboxes where your emails are going to be stored.

Don’t change the MX records yet, as at this stage, we need G Suite as the primary email system.

Step 3: Prepare your G Suite Account

1. Log in to the Google Admin Console. Check that all the users are active and the mail flow is normal.
2. Select the users for the first migration batch. For this, you must have super admin access.
3. Create a backup of your Gmail data before migrating it.

Step 4: Create Split Delivery Routing

In this, I am going to create a routing rule, where emails for migrated users will be delivered to O365, and the rest of them will stay in Gmail.

1. In the Admin Console, navigate to the Apps.
2. Click on the Google Workspace and then Gmail.
3. Select the Routing option. Click on Configure under the Routing option.
4. Now, create a new routing rule
   • Select Email messages to affect: for incoming and internal messages.
   • For recipients: Specific users or groups only
5. After creating the rule, enable the Change route button.
6. Now, add the mail route as Microsoft 365:
   • Host: your-domain.mail.protection.outlook.com
   • Port: 25
   • TLS required
7. Lastly, save and apply the rule.

Step 5: Configure Inbound Connector in Office 365

1. Again, go back to Exchange Admin Center. Then, Mail Flow and Connectors.
2. Create a new connector by adding From: Google Workspace and To: Microsoft 365.
3. Now, allow messages from Google Workspace IP ranges. Enable the TLS encryption and validate the connector.

Step 6: Update the Domain MX Records

1. Here, keep the Google Workspace as primary.
2. Make sure Office 365 MX records are not active yet.
3. For the final cutover, lower the DNS to 300 seconds (recommended).

So, these are the steps to Google Workspace split delivery. After this, when the incoming emails are received in Google Workspace. However, this method only transfers incoming emails, not the old and existing emails. Also, it doesn’t apply to contacts, calendars, and documents.

Move Old or Existing G Suite Data

When it comes to transferring Google Workspace data, including emails, contacts, calendars, and documents, into Microsoft environment, tools like SysTools G Suite to Office 365 Migration are a perfect choice. As it can migrate complete data without making any issues. The software is secure when it comes to handling the admin credentials and the data. Here, the utility easily moves multiple user accounts and specific data using the date filter button.

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Conclusion

Split delivery is useful for email routing to establish coexistence between Google Workspace and Microsoft 365. Here, I have provided detailed steps for Google Workspace split delivery. Make sure you have properly prepared your process by following the pre-requisite checklist. To complete the migration, professional software will be great.