For businesses in healthcare, law, or finance, choosing a secure email provider like Hushmail is a smart first step. But as your organization grows, the need for a more integrated platform often emerges—one that combines robust security with powerful tools for collaboration. This is where Google Workspace shines, offering a path to upgrade your capabilities without compromising on security.

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If you’re ready to expand beyond encrypted email into a full suite of productivity tools, this guide will show you how to migrate from Hushmail to Google Workspace. We'll cover both the hands-on DIY method and a fully managed, stress-free alternative.

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Option 1: The Do-It-Yourself (DIY) IMAP Migration

The DIY migration path uses Google's built-in Data Migration service to copy your email data. This method gives you direct control but requires careful planning and an understanding of its specific limitations.

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Understanding the Scope of an IMAP Migration

It's critical to know that this process is designed for email only.

• What Is Migrated: Your email messages and the folder structures within your Hushmail mailboxes will be copied over. These folders become labels in Gmail.
• What Is NOT Migrated: This tool does not transfer contacts, calendar events, or other data types. This information must be moved separately using manual export and import processes.

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Key Considerations for Hushmail Users

Before you begin, be aware of these specific challenges:

• The Password Requirement: You must have the Hushmail passphrase for every single user account you plan to migrate. This requires careful, secure handling of sensitive credentials.
• Two-Step Verification: If users have two-step verification enabled on their Hushmail accounts, they may need to generate and use a special security code or app password instead of their regular passphrase.
• 100-User Limit: Google's migration tool can only process 100 users at a time. Larger organizations must divide their users into multiple migration batches.

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Your Pre-Flight Checklist

Proper preparation is the key to a smooth migration.

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• In Google Workspace:
  • You must be logged in as a super administrator to set up and run the migration.
  • Ensure all target user accounts have been created and that IMAP is enabled for them.

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• In Your Hushmail Account:
  • You will need Hushmail's IMAP server address: imap.hushmail.com.
  • You must have the full email address and correct password (or app password) for every user being migrated.

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The DIY Migration Process: A Step-by-Step Guide

These steps are all performed within your Google Admin console.

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Step 1: Establish the Connection

1. From the Admin console menu, navigate to Data import & export > Data Migration (New).
2. Select the Migrate option for IMAP.
3. Enter the IMAP server address for Hushmail: imap.hushmail.com and ensure the Port is set to 993.
4. Click Test connection to verify that Google can communicate with the server.

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Step 2: Map Your Users via CSV

1. This process requires a CSV file to tell the tool where to move the data. The file must contain three column headers: Source ImapUser, Source ImapPassword, and Target GUser.
2. In each row, fill in the user's full Hushmail email, their passphrase (or app password), and their new Google Workspace email address.
3. Upload the completed CSV file into the migration tool.

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Step 3: Define Your Migration Scope

• Set a Start date to migrate only the emails received after a specific point in time.
• Use the checkboxes to decide if you want to include items from the spam or deleted items folders.
• You can also use the Exclude specific folders field to prevent certain folders from being copied.

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Step 4: Launch and Complete the Migration

1. Click Start migration to begin the data transfer.
2. You can monitor the progress on the migration dashboard. After the initial pass, run a delta migration to transfer any new emails that arrived during the process.
3. Once you have verified that everything is complete, click Exit migration. This is a permanent action that finalizes the project.

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Option 2: The Secure, White-Glove Migration Service

For any business, but especially for those handling sensitive information, the DIY migration process presents significant risks. Managing a list of user passphrases, ensuring data integrity, and manually moving calendars and contacts can introduce security gaps and costly errors.

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Cloudasta offers a fully managed migration service that elevates your business to a new collaborative standard without compromising the security you require. Our expert team manages the entire process with strict security protocols, so you never have to collect or handle your team's sensitive data. We ensure a seamless transition with near-zero downtime, migrating your entire digital office—from emails and calendars to contacts and critical files—so nothing is left behind.

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As a Google Cloud Partner since 2014, we leverage industry-leading technology to perform secure and comprehensive migrations for companies with the highest standards.

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Make your transition to Google Workspace even smarter by partnering with Cloudasta for your licenses. If you sign up or transfer your Google Workspace subscription to us, you could get a discount of up to 75% in your migration fees. This long-term partnership extends beyond the migration, giving you ongoing access to premium support, exclusive industry insights through our monthly newsletters and webinars, and strategic advice from our team of Google Cloud experts.

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For a migration that is as secure as it is seamless, contact Cloudasta today for a personalized quote.

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