Integrating Sharepoint On-Premise And Online For Seamless Collaboration

Understanding the Benefits of Integration

An integration solution between SharePoint On-Premise and SharePoint Online combines the flexibility of the cloud with the control of an on-premise deployment. This enables improved collaboration through a unified interface across environments. Users can seamlessly access share files and tools whether the data resides on-premise or in the cloud.

Key user collaboration benefits include:

• Ability to search content across SharePoint On-Premise and Online from one interface
• Standard user profiles and permissions synchronized between environments
• Common document libraries and lists accessible through a shared navigational hierarchy

From an administrative perspective, an integrated solution offers flexibility to move data and apps between on-premise and cloud at your own pace. This simplifies cloud adoption projects by allowing gradual migration while enabling immediate access to Office 365 apps and services.

As business needs evolve, content can be selectively moved to leverage benefits of the cloud like scalability, while sensitive materials remain on secured on-premise servers. Administrators gain options throughout the migration process instead of an all-or-nothing transition.

Key Components of an Integration Solution

A SharePoint integration solution requires three core components:

• SharePoint On-Premise Server Farm – Existing on-premise SharePoint 2016 or SharePoint 2019 environment.
• SharePoint Online in Office 365 – SharePoint Online instance accessed via Office 365 subscriptions.
• Secure Cloud On-Ramp – Software gateway to synchronize data between on-premise and Office 365 environments.

The on-premise farm and SharePoint online instance provide core content management capabilities like collaboration sites, document libraries, and web content management. Users interact with these separate environments through a unified access portal.

The secure on-ramp acts as a bridge to connect the on-premise and online farms. All traffic is encrypted through SSL and does not flow through external networks. Appropriate firewall ports must be opened to allow connectivity.

Configuring Server-to-Server Authentication

Connecting distinct SharePoint environments requires proper user identity mapping and server authentication:

1. Register SharePoint On-Premise with Azure Active Directory – Adds on-premise identity provider.
2. Configure OAuth to Enable Service Authorization – Allows servers to access resources across farms.

Registering the on-premise SharePoint servers with Azure AD extends cloud directory services and identity management to the on-premise environment. This maps on-premise users and security groups to associated accounts in Office 365.

OAuth 2.0 provides a secure authorization protocol so users can be seamlessly authenticated across integrated SharePoint farms. This allows servers to authorize privilege requests and enable features like two-way sync.

Synchronizing Content Across Environments

Once authentication configurations connect SharePoint environments, content can be synchronized:

• Microsoft Graph handles secure scheduling and execution of syncs.
• Configure two-way or one-way sync based on business needs.
• Set sync frequency – continuous or scheduled by interval.

The Microsoft Graph API coordinates data sync between the on-premise SharePoint farm and SharePoint Online libraries or sites. Choose two-way sync for libraries that need immediate updates across connected servers. Schedule one-way sync at longer intervals for bulk content migrations.

With content sync established, collaboration spaces like project sites or document repositories can aggregate information from across on-premise and cloud locations. Users interact with a common site, while sync runs in background to consolidate updates.

Review sync logs regularly to catch any mapping issues. Mismatched content types or invalid characters can cause synchronization conflicts.

Building Custom Connectors and Web Parts

In addition to out-of-the-box synchronization, SharePoint integration solutions allow aggregating data from different sources into unified views:

• Build custom connectors – Pull data from external services like Salesforce, SAP, Oracle Cloud.
• Create web parts for data mashups – Combine content from disparate libraries or sites into consolidated results.

Connectors employ the Microsoft Graph API to connect external services then surface results in SharePoint. Display third-party data in native lists or within your own custom webparts.

Use web parts to bring multiple libraries or site collections into shared views based on metadata values. Web parts empower administrators to tailor the user experience with aggregated search-driven pages.

Migration Scenarios and Best Practices

An integrated SharePoint environment enables greater migration flexibility. Review these general approaches:

• Site-by-site – Move individual sites over time based on dependencies or urgency.
• Departmental – Group sites relating to defined teams for gradual organizational rollout.
• Hybrid – Balance sites across on-premise and online during transition period.

Gradual migration reduces risk and accommodates the complexities of reorganizing content across knowledge management systems. Schedule regular sync points to redistribute updated documents and pages.

Throughout any migration initiative, incorporate user training and governance policy updates for the new integrated environment. Document metadata requirements, access protocols, content lifecycles shift with updated platforms.

Measure usage statistics over the course of adoption and tweak configurations to align integration points with evolving business processes. An integrated SharePoint architecture provides the adaptability to respond to changing needs.