# Admins + IT pros

> SharePoint and Microsoft 365 administration resources for IT professionals. Covers migration tools, backup solutions, PnP PowerShell, security guidance, and roadmap updates.

Source: https://ali.id.au/platforms/m365-sharepoint/it-admins/ (last edited 2026-10-12)

## Official resources

* [SharePoint documentation](https://learn.microsoft.com/sharepoint/)
* [Microsoft Learn: Certifications](https://learn.microsoft.com/certifications/browse/?resource_type=certification)
* [Microsoft Adoption Centre - IT professional](https://adoption.microsoft.com/roles/it-professional/)
* [List of Office 365 security resources](https://practical365.com/office-365-security-resources/)

## Getting started

* [YouTube: Microsoft Mechanics](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJ9905MRHxwLZ2jeNQGIWxA)
* [LinkedIn Learning: SharePoint](https://www.linkedin.com/learning/search?keywords=sharepoint)
* [Well-reviewed books](https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_c_2_25?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=sharepoint+administration&sprefix=sharepoint+administration%2Caps%2C910)

## Roadmap and updates

* [Microsoft 365 Roadmap (SharePoint)](https://www.microsoft.com/microsoft-365/roadmap?filters=SharePoint)
* [SharePoint Tech Community blog](https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/t5/microsoft-sharepoint-blog/bg-p/SPBlog)
* [Ignite Conf](https://www.microsoft.com/ignite) (particularly Jeff Teper keynotes)
* [IntraZone Podcast](https://intrazone.libsyn.com/) (wrapped up in 2025, archive still worth a listen)
* [Microsoft 365 community calls](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_mKdhw-V6CeCM7gTo_Iy7w/videos)
* [M365 Maps - licensing](https://m365maps.com/)

## Community resources

* EVP for M365 collaboration [Jeff Teper](https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffteper/)
* [bluesky.ms](https://bluesky.ms) - collection of influencers
* [MS 365 blog](https://www.microsoft.com/microsoft-365/blog/)
* Patterns and Practices lead [Vesa Juvonen](https://x.com/vesajuvonen) and his [PnP community calls](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_mKdhw-V6CeCM7gTo_Iy7w/videos)
* [SharePoint Community blog](https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/t5/Microsoft-SharePoint-Blog/bg-p/SPBlog)
* [ShareGate blog](https://sharegate.com/blog)

## Tools

* [Patterns and Practices](https://pnp.github.io), [PowerShell](https://pnp.github.io/powershell/), [GitHub](https://github.com/pnp)
* [MS 365 Developer Program - a free MS 365 test environment](https://developer.microsoft.com/microsoft-365/dev-program)
* [Graph Explorer](https://developer.microsoft.com/graph/graph-explorer)
* [Syskit](https://www.syskit.com/) (Or SPDocKit [on-prem](/platforms/m365-sharepoint/on-premises/))
* [Rencore Governance](https://rencore.com/)
* Chrome extension: [SP Editor](https://chromewebstore.google.com/detail/sp-editor/ecblfcmjnbbgaojblcpmjoamegpbodhd)
* [Useful SharePoint API URLs](https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1vKO9jOaTM4poMOPEogfnH35ky2pRuE8V/edit#gid=667984383) (via [this thread](https://old.reddit.com/r/sharepoint/comments/ubi4cm/sharepoint_admin_useful_urls_sharepoint_rest_api/))
* [SharePoint API Change Tracker](https://s-kainet.github.io/sp-rest-explorer/#/api-diff)
* [CLI for Microsoft 365](https://pnp.github.io/cli-microsoft365/) - cross-platform admin scripting, great in CI
* [Maester](https://maester.dev/) - automated security config tests for your tenant (CISA/CIS baselines built in)
* [Microsoft365DSC](https://microsoft365dsc.com/) - tenant configuration as code with drift monitoring
* [cmd.ms](https://cmd.ms/) - every admin portal, one address bar away
* [Aquaforest](https://www.aquaforest.com/) - OCR and PDF tools for SharePoint

## Migration and backup

* [Microsoft 365 Backup overview](https://learn.microsoft.com/microsoft-365/backup/)
* [MS Migration Manager](https://learn.microsoft.com/sharepointmigration/mm-get-started)
* [BitTitan](https://www.bittitan.com/)
* [MS SharePoint Migration Tool (SPMT)](https://learn.microsoft.com/sharepointmigration/introducing-the-sharepoint-migration-tool)
* [Files To Go](https://www.thinkscape.com/SharePoint-Online-File-Migration-Tool/) (cheap/small)
* [AvePoint](https://www.avepoint.com/)
* [Quest Content Matrix](https://www.quest.com/products/content-matrix/)
* [ShareGate](https://sharegate.com/)
* [Synology DSM - Active Backup for 365 (SME)](https://www.synology.com/dsm/feature/active_backup_office365)
* [Longer vendor list from Expert Insights](https://expertinsights.com/backup-and-recovery/the-top-backup-and-recovery-solutions-for-microsoft-office-365)

Very small migrations can now be achieved using [PnP Powershell](https://pnp.github.io/powershell/cmdlets/Copy-PnPFile.html).

For data recovery, be aware of built in capabilities in MS 365: [dual stage recycle bin](https://support.microsoft.com/office/restore-deleted-items-from-the-site-collection-recycle-bin-5fa924ee-16d7-487b-9a0a-021b9062d14b), [OD rollback](https://support.microsoft.com/office/restore-your-onedrive-fa231298-759d-41cf-bcd0-25ac53eb8a15), [SP rollback](https://steveknutson.blog/2021/07/20/sharepoint-online-ransomware-recovery/), [SP version history](https://support.microsoft.com/office/restore-a-previous-version-of-an-item-or-file-in-sharepoint-f66dbda0-81f4-4d1e-b08c-793265c58934).

If you've suffered catastrophic loss in the cloud, get escalated to MS via a respected partner within 14 days and you may be able to get the data recovered. Check [Appsource](https://appsource.microsoft.com/) for partners with SharePoint/MS365 competencies.

## Client software

* [OneDrive Files on Demand](https://support.microsoft.com/office/learn-about-onedrive-files-on-demand-0e6860d3-d9f3-4971-b321-7092438fb38e)
* [Thinkscape Zee Drive](https://www.thinkscape.com/Map-Network-Drives-To-Office-365-OneDrive/) - particularly useful if you're having problems with CAD and architecture files.
* On iOS/Android app stores: SharePoint app, OneDrive app, Microsoft 365 admin app.

## Productivity videos

* [Using Windows Terminal Like A Pro](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FC-gLkYWXLw) - optimize your command-line workflow

## On-premises resources

* [On-prem SharePoint Docs](/platforms/m365-sharepoint/on-premises/)
* [SharePoint Subscription Edition (SE)](https://learn.microsoft.com/sharepoint/sharepoint-server) (not recommended, major security and long term support issues)
* [Azure Local (prev. Azure Stack HCI)](https://azure.microsoft.com/products/local/)

See also: [PowerShell](/practices/running/powershell/) for the Microsoft 365 and Azure modules.