Why migrate from Microsoft 365?
Microsoft 365 (formerly Office 365) is a comprehensive solution but raises questions: rising costs, data hosted outside Europe, dependence on a closed ecosystem.
Infomaniak offers a Swiss alternative, respectful of privacy, with transparent pricing and excellent support. But technically, migration requires understanding some subtleties.
What you need to know
Outlook is not just an email client. It synchronizes emails (IMAP or Exchange), calendars and contacts via different protocols. At Microsoft, everything goes through Exchange. At Infomaniak, we use IMAP + CalDAV + CardDAV.
IMAP vs Exchange: what's the difference?
Exchange is a proprietary Microsoft protocol that synchronizes everything at once: emails, calendars, contacts, tasks. Convenient when staying with Microsoft, but it locks you in.
IMAP is an open protocol for emails only. At Infomaniak, your emails go through IMAP, and that's great: compatible with all clients, reliable, proven.
| Aspect | Exchange (M365) | IMAP (Infomaniak) |
|---|---|---|
| Protocol | Microsoft proprietary | Open standard |
| Compatibility | Mainly Outlook | All email clients |
| Lock-in | High | None |
| Migration | Complex | Standard IMAP-to-IMAP |
Our migration method
We use imapsync, a robust tool that transfers emails from server to server, folder by folder, without going through your workstation.
Mailbox audit
We list accounts, volume, existing aliases and redirections.
Infomaniak account creation
Mailbox configuration with the same addresses and aliases.
IMAP migration
Transfer of all emails in the background, without interruption.
DNS switchover
Changing MX records to receive new emails at Infomaniak.
Final synchronization
Retrieval of last emails that arrived during the switchover.
Common pitfalls (and how we avoid them)
Problem: "Sent" folder not syncing properly
Outlook may create its own "Sent Items" folder instead of using the standard IMAP folder.
Solution
We correctly configure the IMAP folder mapping in Outlook. We also check the settings on the Infomaniak server side.
Problem: Duplicate messages
A poor migration can create duplicates, especially when synchronizing from multiple sources.
Solution
Single-pass migration with imapsync. We disable sync on old accounts before switching.
Problem: Email loss during switchover
If the DNS switchover is not well prepared, emails can be lost.
Solution
We lower the DNS TTL 24h before, switch at a quiet time, and do a delta sync after switchover.