How to Synchronize Directories on Day One of Your Merger

Getting ready for 'Day One' of a merger or acquisition is a unique challenge. There’s often a lot of complexity to think through—and not a lot of time to do it. So the top IT priority for Day One should be to set systems up so the organizations can start working together. In this post, we focus on setting up a unified directory.

Why a unified GAL matters

Unifying directories is a key first step in any merger. It’s a small thing that can have a big impact on the overall success of the first few weeks and months of the merger.

If your users can’t find each other, it’s harder for them to send emails and invites. No one wants to revert to the good old days of having to track down an email address and then manually type it in. Not only does this take longer, it also often leads to typos and missed deliveries. Basically, it’s an unnecessary frustration at a time when emotions might already be heightened.

So a key goal for IT on Day One is to create a unified global address list (GAL). This lets users find each other across applications like email, conferencing, instant messaging, and other collaboration apps like Skype for Business, Teams, and Office 365 Groups.

But synching directories can be a challenge

Setting up a unified GAL is easier said than done. That’s because it goes well beyond a one-time sync. You also need to keep directories in sync over time as things change. (Like when you add, delete, or edit groups or users.) And no matter which email platform the different organizations are on—whether it’s on-premises or in the cloud—you have to continuously and consistently sync information across all directories.

Let’s take a common scenario as an example. Most of our clients use Active Directory to manage identity. But that’s often where the common ground ends. Many of our merging clients find themselves bringing together a mix of messaging systems. One organization might be on Microsoft Exchange on-premises. Another might have already migrated to Office 365. So your solution needs to sync across different on-premises and cloud environments.

One way to do this is using the free Active Directory Connect from Microsoft. But this requires you to create new objects and sync directions, which is where many people can get stuck. It can be done, but it’s painful.

There’s an easier way

GALsync helps you unify your business under a shared directory. It lets you synchronize contact and user data between Active Directory forests in an ongoing sync between Active Directory on-premises or in the Microsoft cloud—even between the most complex workflows. All so your users can stay in step and connected during your merger. With this solution, you can:

1. Install and configure in less than 1 hour
2. Configuration is done by wizards which walk you through each step.
3. No additional software, hardware, or database is required.
4. There are no security risks at your firewall and no additional firewall is required.
5. Does not require any trust between Exchange organizations.
6. Does not require any access to Availability Service through the internet. All information can be exchanged by using email, FTP or fileshares.

We at ENow continue to streamline mergers and acquisitions. These drive many of the migrations we work on, for clients in industries around the world.

Conquer the Complexities of M&A IT Integration

Synchronizing contact and user data between Active Directory forests can be difficult, time-consuming, and error-prone.  Make your life easier and streamline the M&A integration process with GALsync.

• Sync users, contacts, Groups, attributes and more
• Transfer the encrypted datafile via email, network share, or FTP
• Manage how attributes are imported and exported
• Modify target address, primary or secondary SMTP address
• Automate the sync at pre-determined intervals