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Microsoft 365 Migration Decision Log

This is a practical guide to building a decision log for a microsoft 365 migration project — a record of the key decisions made, by whom and why, adapted to the realities of migrating email, files and collaboration to Microsoft 365.

What a Decision Log is

A decision log is a record of the key decisions made, by whom and why. For the full concept and how it works in general, see Decision Log. On a microsoft 365 migration project it plays the same role, tuned to this kind of work.

Why it matters for a Microsoft 365 Migration project

Microsoft 365 Migration projects live or die on migrating email, files and collaboration to Microsoft 365. A well-built decision log gives the team a shared, explicit reference for exactly that — reducing ambiguity, aligning stakeholders, and making problems visible early enough to act. Skipping it, or doing it generically, is how microsoft 365 migration projects drift into avoidable delay and cost.

What to include

  • Decision
  • Date and owner
  • Rationale
  • Alternatives considered
  • Impact

Microsoft 365 Migration-specific considerations

Tailor the decision log to the risks that most often derail microsoft 365 migration projects:

  • Mailbox and file migration errors
  • User adoption and training
  • Security and compliance configuration

Example

On a real microsoft 365 migration project, the decision log would be shaped by migrating email, files and collaboration to Microsoft 365. In particular, it should explicitly account for the project’s biggest risks — mailbox and file migration errors, user adoption and training, security and compliance configuration — rather than treating them as afterthoughts.