IT Tips & Tricks
5 Tips for a Successful SharePoint Migration
Because Data Migration Shouldn’t Be Code for “Data Loss”
Published 20 March 2023
Updated 15 April 2026
Are you concerned about the outcome of your next data migration? Have you planned extensively and done the necessary analysis, yet still feel like you’re simply hoping for the best? Despite the fact that you and your team have done absolutely everything to ensure your data migration will be as smooth as possible, is there still an element of doubt gnawing away in the back of your mind? And, to add just a little pressure, have the execs made it clear that they want zero disruption to the business?
What if there’s massive data loss? What will you do when the end users start emailing and calling, burying IT in a swamp of complaints? Missing files, error messages, you name it, they’ll have it. And what will you have?
Well, if you accidentally forgot to factor in measures to prevent this particular scenario, chances are you’ll have missing data and broken links — in their thousands — possibly even millions.
Does your confidence waver as you realize the mammoth task that potentially lies ahead? Even with a search & replace app, you know that fixing this would take manpower and hours you simply don’t have. But you’ll have no choice. It’ll have to get fixed.
In the context of migration, missing data can be as ubiquitous as mosquitoes at a nudist colony.
But right now, before you embark on that migration, you still have choices: one good, and one not so good. You can either accept that at some point you’re going to have to figure out how to find and fix the broken links that will inevitably cause that data loss (the bad choice, obviously) or — here’s the better choice — you can ensure, once and for all, that you’re never in this situation.
And if you’ve already completed a migration and are currently facing link-related data
Broken Links: The Nature of the Beast
Missing data due to broken links is practically a given after a migration or any type of file system restructuring. It’s as ubiquitous as mosquitoes at a nudist colony, although it leaves you significantly less satisfied than the mosquitoes (or the somewhat itchy nudists).
With links, it’s simply the nature of the beast. Move them and they break. You can’t even get mad about it. That would be as pointless as getting mad at a pig for stinking like, well, a pig.
Benjamin Franklin, known to be a pretty smart guy, once said, “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” And when it comes to your data, specifically your linked data, nothing could be truer.
With links, it’s simply the nature of the beast. Move them and they break. You can’t even get mad about it. That would be as pointless as getting mad at a pig for stinking like, well, a pig.
Benjamin Franklin, known to be a pretty smart guy, once said, “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” And when it comes to your data, specifically your linked data, nothing could be truer.
No offense, but broken links — much like pigs — stink.
The All-Important Ounce of Prevention
If you consider the subject of links as the uniquely complex field that it is, there’s more to it than merely fixing links after the fact. Before links get broken, they get moved. And before they can get moved, they have to be created, which is the best time to protect them.
Fixing them after they get broken is a pound of cure. There’s no denying that if you’ve got broken links, you need to get them fixed so that your missing data can be restored.
Are you facing data loss, downtime, disruption, complaining end-users and a boss that’s giving you the evil eye?
But preventing data loss in the first place is far more efficient. Not only is it faster, but it also has the huge benefit of a zero-disruption factor for the organization. That’s your ounce of prevention.
This is not an exercise in chest-beating. The simple truth is that no one in the world has our depth and breadth of experience with links. When it comes to opening, handling and safely making the correct changes to billions of files, we are the world’s foremost authority and currently support over seventy file types.
LinkTek COO Ed Clark states, “One discovers all the ugly little anomalies that reside in an organization’s files only by cold, hard, long experience. The degree to which someone knows about and understands these quirks is the degree to which they can handle these files accurately and safely. We have been intensively investing in such research since before the turn of the millennium.”
LinkTek has processed in excess of an estimated two billion files and four billion links. “We’ve spent tens of thousands of software-engineering man-hours analyzing every type of unique file-format situation you could imagine,” Ed continues. “We’ve updated LinkFixer Advanced zillions of times to handle yet another quirky DOCX or XLSX or PDF file anomaly.”
The Masterclass in Link Care
We’re tempted to say, “But wait, there’s more!” because there is more, but this isn’t a tacky “as seen on TV” commercial. It’s a links masterclass, so we’re going to get our classy on.
Here are the three ways LinkFixer Advanced can go to work for you.
1. Inoculate and Cure
Used before a migration or system restructure can break your links, LinkFixer Advanced’s Inoculate process creates an association between a file and all the files to which it is linked.
LinkFixer Advanced then uses that association to quickly and automatically fix any links that get broken by whatever changes someone makes to your files. There’s no time spent on a “find and fix” exercise. There’s simply intact data from the get-go.
Once all your data is inoculated, and you keep it that way on a regular basis, even the worst luddites on your staff can do all the moving, renaming and folder restructuring they want, when they want, on all your files and folders and LinkFixer Advanced instantly takes care of the problem.
With literally a few mouse clicks, all your broken links work again, cutting down on hundreds of man-hours of work in the IT department.
Preventing data loss in the first place is far more efficient.
Michael Sexsmith, LinkTek’s Vice President for Technology says, “LinkFixer Advanced’s Inoculate function is one of those maintenance tools that should just be run nightly or at least weekly, right along with your daily virus scans and file backup procedures. This would keep all links safeguarded, so when anyone does any kind of move or rename, it’s really no big deal!”
This, in a nutshell, is your beautiful time-saving, link-protecting ounce of prevention.
2. Modify Links
If you didn’t know about LinkFixer Advanced’s ability to protect your links prior to your migration, you may now be faced with thousands or millions of broken links. Our condolences. However, it’s not too late.
The “Modify Links” function fixes broken links faster and more accurately than trying to do it manually or with a search & replace application. Of course, this instantly restores any missing data. Think of this feature as “disaster recovery mode.”
3. Move/Rename
Finally, the software also offers a “Move/Rename” function that moves or renames files and folders while automatically handling your links so that they remain fully functional when a migration is complete. Imagine completing a migration or moving data around with zero data loss due to broken file links.
Migration tools can get masses of data migrated quickly. There’s no denying that. But — and this is a big but — what they can’t do is protect your linked data during the migration process.
Take care of your linked data to avoid the chaos of broken links and the missing data they cause.
Unless you were fortunate enough to protect your data with LinkFixer Advanced ahead of the migration, you’re likely facing data loss, downtime, disruption, complaining end users and a boss that’s giving you the evil eye.
Understandably, you’re probably about ready for that pound of cure.
With three ways to deploy LinkFixer Advanced, it’s pretty much the holy trinity of link care.
And here’s a little bonus tip for you: If one of your users accidentally deletes a file, LinkFixer Advanced won’t be able to automatically restore that link. Honestly, nothing can restore a link to a file that no longer exists. But — ta-da! — with LinkFixer Advanced’s Scan feature, you can find out — very quickly — which file is missing and initiate the process of restoring it from your backup without wasting time looking for it.
How to Get Some First-Class Link Care
Whether you’ve got an upcoming data migration, or have recently completed a migration, you can see how beneficial LinkFixer Advanced can be, saving you tons of time (and your sanity) and preventing dreaded data loss, which typically results in up-in-arms end users and decidedly grouchy bosses.
If you’re understaffed but still want the benefits of LinkFixer Advanced, our consulting service was designed exactly for organizations like yours. Find out how to have an expert links specialist assist you in protecting your linked data during your migration.
Migrating to SharePoint Online? Want it to be smooth and secure? Talk to a SharePoint migration consultant and enjoy a free migration strategy session.
Imagine completing a migration or moving data around with zero data loss due to broken file links.
To get yourself some top-of-the-line link care, call 727-442-1822 or chat with us online at LinkTek.com for more information or to request a free, no-credit-card-required trial.
When it comes to protecting your linked data, nothing else will take care of it like LinkFixer Advanced. Mic drop.
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