Migrating to Microsoft GCC High is more than a technical move—it’s a strategic shift to meet the compliance demands of working with the U.S. government and Department of Defense (DoD). For contractors handling Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI), this migration is often a prerequisite for winning or maintaining contracts. But what exactly does the process involve?
Here’s a practical overview of what to expect when investing in GCC High migration services.
1. Understanding Why You’re Migrating
Before migration begins, clarify your objectives:
Are you handling CUI or ITAR-regulated data?
Do you need to meet CMMC Level 2 or 3?
Are prime contractors requiring you to operate in GCC High?
Knowing your compliance drivers helps guide technical decisions and timeline expectations.
2. Licensing and Tenant Provisioning
GCC High licenses can only be provisioned through Microsoft-approved resellers, and the process isn’t instant.
Expect:
A validation process to prove your eligibility
Coordination with Microsoft and authorized partners
A new tenant environment distinct from your commercial Microsoft 365 setup
3. Pre-Migration Assessment
A successful migration starts with planning.
Key activities include:
Inventorying all users, devices, and workloads
Identifying custom configurations or legacy tools
Mapping out where CUI currently resides
Assessing dependencies in SharePoint, Exchange, Teams, and OneDrive
This phase ensures nothing is left behind and helps avoid last-minute surprises.
4. Migration Execution
This is where users, data, and services are moved into the GCC High environment.
Depending on complexity, this may include:
Identity migration and Azure AD configuration
Mailbox and file transfers
Rebuilding or reconfiguring workflows and permissions
Re-enrolling devices and re-establishing security policies
Downtime is minimized when the migration is executed by specialists with proven playbooks.
That’s why many organizations choose to work with experienced providers offering GCC High migration services—to reduce risk, avoid disruption, and stay compliant from day one.
5. Post-Migration Optimization
Once migration is complete, you're not done yet.
You’ll need to:
Validate data integrity and user access
Re-implement security controls (MFA, Conditional Access, DLP, etc.)
Retest integrations and application performance
Update policies and provide training to users on the new environment