Migrating to Microsoft GCC High is a high-impact project for any organization working in federal contracting. It’s not just about moving data—it’s about building a compliant, secure, and reliable foundation. Yet, many companies fall into the same costly traps that derail their migrations or lead to compliance failures.

Here are the top mistakes to avoid—and how experienced GCC High migration services can help you sidestep them.

1. Starting Without Confirming Eligibility

You can’t use GCC High just because you want to. Microsoft requires:

• U.S. citizenship for all users

• Proof of handling Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) or ITAR data

• Licensing through an AOS-G partner

✅ Mistake: Buying standard licenses or starting the process without confirming your eligibility.

2. Underestimating Migration Complexity

Moving to GCC High isn’t like switching Microsoft 365 plans. You’re creating a brand-new tenant and need to:

• Rebuild identity infrastructure

• Migrate email, files, and Teams data

• Reconfigure compliance and security policies

✅ Mistake: Treating the migration like a quick lift-and-shift project without detailed planning.

3. Failing to Map Dependencies

GCC High’s isolated environment means:

• Some third-party tools may not work

• APIs and automations may break

• Integrated workflows may need redevelopment

✅ Mistake: Not auditing third-party integrations before cutover.

4. Neglecting Compliance Configuration Post-Migration

GCC High provides the platform, but:

• Security policies, DLP rules, and audit logging must be manually configured

• Sensitive data labeling and encryption require setup

• Role-based access control needs to be redefined

✅ Mistake: Assuming you’re compliant just because you’re in GCC High.

5. Skipping User Training and Change Management

Even with a flawless backend migration:

• Users may be confused by MFA, login changes, and lost bookmarks

• Teams and Outlook disruptions create productivity loss

• IT teams face an influx of support tickets

✅ Mistake: Not preparing your users or communicating clearly.

How GCC High Migration Services Help

With GCC High migration services, you gain:

• Eligibility and licensing support

• Pre-migration assessments and detailed planning

• Data and identity migration expertise

• Security and compliance configuration

• Change management and training programs

Conclusion:

GCC High migrations are critical—but complex. Avoiding these common pitfalls ensures a smoother transition, better security outcomes, and long-term compliance success. Don’t leave it to guesswork—trust experienced GCC High migration services to get it right the first time.