Audience: Office 365 for enterprises

Author: Robert Mazzoli, Senior Technical Writer - Exchange

So you’re thinking about switching to cloud-based e-mail in Office 365 or configuring a hybrid deployment between your existing Exchange organization and Office 365.

Have you:

• Seen the term “federation” throughout your planning and you’re still are a little confused about exactly what it means?

• Do you wish there was a single place to get the scoop on what “federation” means in Office 365 and Exchange?

Congratulations – you’ve come to the right blog post!

The term “federation” is used widely throughout many of Microsoft’s products and services, but its meaning (and function) can sometimes differ. For Office 365 and Exchange organizations, you will see the following terms and services mentioned:

• Microsoft Federation Gateway

• Active Directory Federation Services (AD FS)

• Exchange Federation (or federated sharing and federated delegation)

We’ve posted a topic on the Email and Calendar with Exchange Online wiki that explains the differences between these features and services. This wiki topic will help you make sure that you understand what federation means in these scenarios and its impact on your deployment planning.

Check it out: Federation in Office 365 and Exchange

Additional Hybrid Deployment Resources

• Microsoft Office 365 Deployment Guide - Learn more about Office 365 and hybrid pre-deployment planning.

• Microsoft Office 365 Deployment Readiness Tool (beta) - Analyzes your on-premises environment in preparation for an Office 365 for enterprises deployment.

• Microsoft Remote Connectivity Analyzer - Check the external connectivity of your on-premises or Office 365 organization

• Exchange Hybrid Deployment and Migration with Office 365 - Learn more about hybrid deployment and migration options.