I'm running a web design and development business, and I've recently taken on a client whose company has rebranded from 'Lee' to 'Bell.' The main challenge is that my client has 20 years' worth of email history associated with their old 'lee.com' domain. I need to ensure that all of this email history is preserved while also forwarding any incoming messages from the old domain to the new 'bell.com' email address. Additionally, all outgoing emails should come from the new domain. I have access to their Microsoft 365 account, but I'm not the organization owner, so I can't make certain changes like setting up forwarding. I've been considering two approaches: adding a new email under the 'bell.com' domain and modifying the DNS settings, or creating a new Microsoft 365 workspace and migrating all data manually. I'm seeking guidance on how to proceed, as this is my first time tackling such a migration.
4 Answers
What you're looking to do is very possible! You just need to add 'Bell' as the primary domain for your client's existing Microsoft 365 tenant, then keep 'Lee' as an accepted secondary domain (alias). Users will just have 'Bell' addresses as primary, and 'Lee' addresses as aliases, allowing seamless email reception. Make sure to adjust the MX records for the new domain, while leaving the old untouched if they’re on the same server. And remember: the initial configuration will be crucial to ensure everything flows smoothly!
Migrating in M365 is usually pretty straightforward. Just make sure to:
- Set 'bell.com' as the primary domain and keep 'lee.com' as a secondary accepted domain.
- Set 'bell.com' addresses as the primary for users while keeping 'lee.com' addresses as aliases.
This way, any inbound mail sent to the old address will still route correctly, and there's no need to change the MX records if they are hosted on the same platform. Plus, all old emails will remain in the mailbox—no need to move them elsewhere!
First off, you need access to the Office 365 tenant to make any changes. Here are the steps:
1. Add the new domain 'bell.com' to the Office 365 account.
2. Set up the MX record as directed by Microsoft.
3. Ensure that the necessary proxy addresses are associated with the appropriate mailboxes.
4. Finally, change the primary email for users from their old addresses to the new ones when you're ready.
If there's a third-party spam filter in use, don't forget to account for that as well!
The previous replies have covered the technical side well. Just a few key things to keep in mind:
- Ensure you update SPF, DKIM, and DMARC records for the new domain before sending emails. Otherwise, a lot might end up in spam.
- Make a list of all shared mailboxes and distribution lists because they often get overlooked.
- Consider any third-party services that send emails in the old domain's name—they'll need updating too.
- Old calendar invites will still show the old email, which can confuse people, so a quick heads-up to your contacts wouldn't hurt!
This project is definitely manageable, but if you're new to email admin, you might find it beneficial to consult with someone experienced at least for the first run.
Great tips! Honestly, it's probably a good idea to let the new domain sit for 30 days. A lot of spammers mark new domains as high risk until they gain some trust.
Haha, can you actually be my consultant? I didn’t even think about all the places that needed updating!
Totally agree! And it helps to add a notice in the footer of all outgoing emails about the new domain. You'll still receive emails sent to the old domain as long as you retain ownership, so that should ease the transition.