I'm considering hiring TeamVenti to copy data from one cloud environment to another. They've asked for Global Administrator permissions in both the source and destination environments. Is that a normal requirement for cloud-to-cloud migrations, or should the work be possible with more limited roles? I'm also concerned about the risks of giving a third-party vendor this level of access. Have vendors caused problems through excessive permissions, and what safeguards should I require if Global Administrator access is genuinely necessary?
4 Answers
Some established migration tools do ask for Global Administrator during setup so they can register applications and obtain administrative consent. That can be a practical limitation rather than proof that the vendor needs permanent unrestricted access. Ask whether Global Administrator is needed only for initial configuration, whether the migration can run with delegated or application-specific permissions afterward, and whether access will be revoked automatically when the project ends.
It’s common, but that doesn’t necessarily mean it’s required. Vendors often request Global Administrator because configuring separate permissions across services such as Exchange, SharePoint, Teams, and Entra ID can be complicated and may cause permission errors during synchronization. The trade-off is that you either grant broad access or spend more time troubleshooting and correcting missing permissions.
You’re not being paranoid. Giving a third party Global Administrator access creates real supply-chain and accidental-change risks. If it must be granted, use a dedicated account or approved application identity, restrict sign-in with Conditional Access where possible, enable detailed auditing, require the vendor to use named personnel, and set a firm expiration date. After initial setup or the migration itself, remove the access or downgrade it to workload-specific roles.
Global Administrator is usually the quickest option, but least-privilege access is often possible. Ask the vendor for a documented list of the minimum roles and application permissions needed on each side. Depending on what is being migrated, those might include Exchange, SharePoint, Teams, or user-management roles rather than unrestricted administration. Be prepared for some extra setup and possible delays if you choose this route.
The exact requirements depend heavily on whether you’re moving Microsoft 365 data, Azure resources, or both. The vendor should be able to provide a scope specific to your migration.
A reputable migration provider should still be able to explain which permissions are needed and why. Convenience is understandable, but it shouldn’t replace a clear access plan.