When an MSP is stuck with a tool that no longer meets the organization’s needs, it shows in different ways. Keeping the tool costs more than it’s worth, especially when additional costs—incurred from the growing number of assets to manage, for instance—are involved. Also, software that’s difficult to use can significantly slow down operations and create more hurdles than shortcuts for IT administrators.
In this case, migration is the answer, and though the process itself might seem daunting, the real risk lies not in switching to a better tool but staying stuck with an inefficient one. With that in mind, this article focuses on how to migrate from ConnectWise to NinjaOne in 5 steps, including helpful information on both solutions and a checklist to follow for a smooth MSP tool migration process.
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Why MSPs Decide to Migrate from ConnectWise
With various integrated tools designed to help IT administrators carry out their RMM, security, and service delivery tasks, ConnectWise markets itself as an all-in-one business management solution for MSPs and IT environments. That said, its users have mentioned that it has room for improvement in certain areas:
- Complex interface. Regarding ConnectWise’s RMM platform, ConnectWise Automate, it can take some time for IT technicians to fully understand its interface, with some users remarking in G2 that this complexity can be a barrier.
- Challenging implementation. ConnectWise Automate’s initial setup has been described as time-consuming and its learning curve steep. According to Capterra reviewers, learning to use the platform efficiently before full implementation takes a while.
- Lack of support. While ConnectWise provides ample support for Windows devices, it has limited support for Linux and OS X systems.
Benefits of Switching to NinjaOne for MSPs
With all the points mentioned above, if you’re an MSP looking to migrate from ConnectWise to NinjaOne, this comes with several benefits:
- Seamless migration. Though ConnectWise offers a roster of different tools to integrate into your IT environment, NinjaOne has a unified platform and prioritizes automation and efficiency in its approach to not only a seamless migration process but also smoother endpoint management as a whole.
- A simple and intuitive interface. Unlike ConnectWise’s steep learning curve when familiarizing oneself with its dashboard, NinjaOne utilizes a simplified interface that offers a holistic view of your entire IT network through a single pane of glass.
- Support for various OSs. Compared to ConnectWise’s focus on Windows devices, NinjaOne provides support for Windows, Linux, and macOS, making it a good fit for any MSP regardless of its size or industry.
The NinjaOne Migration Advantage
What are the factors that give NinjaOne an advantage in the MSP tool migration process? This question can be answered by looking into certain aspects of its structured framework.
Automation First
For one, NinjaOne adopts an automation-forward approach in migration. Specifically, in the shift from ConnectWise Automate to NinjaOne RMM, deployment is handled through lightweight agents across Windows, macOS, and Linux devices. Once the agent is installed, it applies the correct policies and configurations in a “set and forget” style, streamlining migration at scale. This also significantly shortens the steps needed to deploy patches, secure endpoint devices, back up important data, and more.
When IT support firm Global Tech Solutions realized that their current RMM tool wasn’t built to scale with their growing customer base, they turned to NinjaOne for aid and, in the span of just one week, successfully migrated 30,000 endpoints to the software with zero end-user disruptions. Other wins from NinjaOne’s automation capabilities included
- patch management that was two to three times faster than before, and
- 100% patch compliance without manual intervention.
COO Aryeh Czarka remarked, “At Global Tech, we don’t just use technology—we leverage it to drive efficiency, scalability, and innovation. NinjaOne has become a key part of that strategy, helping us stay agile and ahead of the curve.”
Read the full customer story to learn more about how Global Tech’s migrated to NinjaOne.
Migration Support from NinjaOne’s Team
Any MSP aiming to transition from one business management tool to another would feel some trepidation at the process, especially when considering factors such as the number of devices to migrate and the length of possible downtime for both IT administrators and end users. Fortunately, MSPs can look to NinjaOne’s team for support during the transition, so no business has to fear undergoing the migration process alone.
In shifting from its former RMM to NinjaOne, TeamLogic IT managed to migrate its network of over 100,000 endpoints. President and COO Dan Shapero said, “Moving 100,000 devices in 90 days is no small feat. Ahead of the migration, NinjaOne prepared the assets that we needed to be successful—documentation, the Dojo, and technical support. NinjaOne was there for us the whole way.”
Read the full customer story to learn more about TeamLogic IT’s transition to NinjaOne.
Continuity and Visibility
Lastly, one main concern of MSPs during the migration process would be the continuity of their operations and whether such a change would be noticed by—and even inconvenience—their end users. With NinjaOne, full migration can occur with zero disruptions for both the MSP and their clients.
Sweden-based MSP Rdata needed to switch from their old RMM solution to NinjaOne, and “the onboarding and implementation process for NinjaOne was as smooth and quick as could be,” according to Ulf Ringdahl, the company’s founder/owner. “It only took two days and one night to install thousands of endpoints, and our customers didn’t notice a thing.”
Read the full customer story to learn more about Rdata’s migration to NinjaOne.
Overall, with NinjaOne’s
- automation-forward approach,
- full team support, and
- assurance of continuity and visibility
During the MSP tool migration process, any business looking to migrate from ConnectWise to NinjaOne can rest assured that the transition will not only be seamless but also result in boosted productivity and easy onboarding for IT teams.
5 Steps to Migrate from ConnectWise to NinjaOne
Ready to migrate from ConnectWise to NinjaOne? If so, follow these steps for a smooth transition.
1. Assessment & Planning
Start by evaluating your current IT environment and aligning the switch with your business goals. For instance, it’s important to consider the contract renewal date of your ConnectWise tool and factor it into your general migration timeline. Just as—if not more—crucial is informing your whole IT team about the change so that they can be better prepared to use and deploy the new software.
2. Data & Configuration Mapping
Next, perform a full audit of all the data and configurations you want to transfer to NinjaOne. If necessary (or preferred), build your policies in advance so that all you need to do during migration is enroll your devices. Take your time when mapping your settings to the software as well.
3. NinjaOne Setup & Customization
Once you’ve gotten a feel for the NinjaOne platform, tailor it to your workflows and customize it in any way that helps get work done quickly (e.g., automating repetitive tasks). Don’t forget to configure alerts and notifications for issues that need urgent attention.
4. Testing & Validation
Run tests in a controlled environment to make sure everything’s in working order, including policies and automations. Deploy NinjaOne on a small group of devices and gradually expand the rollout until all devices are accounted for. Afterward, confirm whether all your data has been fully transferred, all your settings have been mapped correctly, and all integrations are properly synced.
5. Go-Live & Ongoing Support
After you’ve completely migrated your endpoints to NinjaOne, you can schedule free training/onboarding calls with the NinjaOne team, which offer insights on new features and provide a space for you to ask questions about the software. You can also consult the NinjaOne Dojo (knowledge base), directly contact technical support if you run into any problems, or download NinjaOne’s full migration guide for MSPs here.
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The NinjaOne Migration Checklist
With all that said, here’s a complete checklist of items to accomplish for the full MSP tool migration process from ConnectWise to NinjaOne:
Before Migration
Assess and Plan
- Evaluate your current IT environment.
- Align the timing of the migration with your business goals.
- Review your ConnectWise contract renewal date to set a realistic timeline.
- Consider how the switch will affect your IT teams, their tasks, and workflows.
Prepare Data and Configurations
- Conduct a thorough review of the data and configurations you plan to migrate.
- Set up your policies ahead of time so migration only requires device enrollment.
- Map existing configurations and settings to NinjaOne.
During Migration
Set Up NinjaOne
- Explore the NinjaOne platform to understand its workflows.
- Customize the platform to fit your organization’s processes.
- Build automations for repetitive tasks.
- Configure alerts and notifications for critical issues.
Test and Validate
- Run tests in a controlled environment to ensure that your policies and automations work as intended.
- Roll out NinjaOne to a limited set of devices first; then extend deployment to include all devices.
- Verify that all data has been transferred correctly.
- Confirm that configurations and settings have been mapped properly.
- Ensure all integrations are synced and functioning.
After Migration
Go Live
- Complete the migration of all endpoints to NinjaOne.
Consult NinjaOne for Support
- Set up free training with NinjaOne to discover new features and ask any questions you have.
- Use the NinjaOne Dojo for troubleshooting and best practices.
- Contact NinjaOne technical support for additional assistance if issues arise.
- Download and review the full NinjaOne migration guide for MSPs.
Why Switching Now Is Low Risk
As we mentioned earlier, there’s a greater risk to an MSP of sticking with a tool that no longer fits the needs of the business than shifting to a new one. How so?
- If the current tool isn’t built to scale with the business, then this can result in the inability to meet growing demands and may even necessitate more manual intervention by IT admins, which can cost valuable time and resources.
- Software that is too complex to use can mean longer onboarding times for new IT admins and more hours spent on figuring out how certain features work than on addressing more pressing issues.
- Security is a large factor as well. A management platform that isn’t being used to its full potential can leave some endpoints unpatched and vulnerable to cyber threats.
Rest assured that if you intend to migrate from ConnectWise to NinjaOne—the latter designed to fit MSPs of all sizes—the transition would take days, not weeks, giving you more time to plan the next strategic move for your business.
Making the transition to NinjaOne
At the end of the day, the ConnectWise-to-NinjaOne migration is easier than you think, owing to NinjaOne’s automation-first approach, full assistance throughout the transition, and assurance of your business operations’ continuity and visibility.
Apart from its user-friendly design, ease of setup, and extensive integrations, NinjaOne is trusted by over 30,000 users around the globe thanks to its world-class customer support, earning it an average CSAT score of 98. With this software, you gain full visibility of all your Windows, macOS, and Linux devices in real time as well as automate the most tedious patch management tasks to reduce security vulnerabilities and keep your operations going.
It’s time to migrate from ConnectWise and experience the NinjaOne advantage.
