Quest Software, known for the PacketTrap MSP remote monitoring and management platform, has launched Quest Migrator for Cloud Email, which is designed to help cloud integrators move customers from Microsoft Exchange or Gmail to Microsoft Exchange Online.

As you may recall, Exchange Online is part of Microsoft’s current BPOS (Business Productivity Online Suite); the forthcoming BPOS successor called Microsoft Office 365; and Microsoft Live@edu cloud platforms.

Quest claims the migrator tool can handle transitions to Exchange Online quickly, securely, and cheaply. For instance, Quest Migrator for Cloud Email enables administrators to filter and move data over in batches without creating duplicates. Quest is pricing the migration tool at $5/user/mailbox – but it’s worth noting that Google gives away their Exchange data mover free with a Google Apps deployment.

In recent months, some VARs and MSPs have expressed concern about moving customer data into Microsoft and Google clouds. The debate frequently focuses on maintaining SMB customer control. Still, a growing number of channel partners seem to be warming up to Google Apps and Exchange Online. In fact, roughly 29 of the top 100 MSPs now promote Google Apps to their customers, and roughly 25 percent of MSPmentor 100 survey participants promote Exchange Online and/or BPOS. (The fourth-annual MSPmentor 100 survey results debut the evening of Feb. 16.)

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