Over the years, Yammer has added a lot of functionality that improves compliance, security, and overall administration of networks to streamline network management. Many of these features require what is known as Native Mode, and all new networks are configured this way by default.
Soon, all networks that are not in native mode or are in a hybrid state will soon be upgraded to Native Mode to allow users, groups, and content to be compatible with and mapped to their counterparts in Azure Active Directory and Microsoft 365. Native Mode also provides other benefits, such as the ability to host Live Events in every Yammer community and simplify file administration through SharePoint. Most critically, Native Mode supports eDiscovery through the Microsoft Purview compliance portal, allowing your organization to collaborate safely and securely within your Yammer network. 90% of Yammer networks are in Native Mode today, including our top 10 largest networks. We have tools and resources for you to begin the migration process yourself or for you to have Microsoft start the process for your organization.
When will Native Mode migration upgrades start?
We will begin migrating networks on December 01, 2022, and continue the upgrades through October 2023. We will begin the automatic Native Mode migration with smaller networks.
If you prefer to control the timing of your upgrade, you may initiate the process on your own at any time by visiting the M365 Native Mode page within the Network Admin pages of Yammer.
If you need to postpone or schedule your migration around blackout dates, please contact support by January 1st, 2023
How will this affect your organization?
In Native Mode, your Yammer network will no longer have the following features:
- Network-level guests
- Email blocked lists
- Secret groups
If your organization has active guest users, Azure Active Directory B2B guest functionality can be used for guests who reside in the same geography as the Yammer network (US guests for US networks; EU guests for EU networks). Guests will need to be reinvited to your network.
If your organization currently uses an email blocked list to manage access to your Yammer network, you can continue to manage access from the Azure Active Directory Portal. Learn more by visiting Turn off Yammer access for Office 365 users and Manage Yammer licenses in Office 365.
These feature equivalents are only available to networks in Native Mode. There is no feature equivalent to secret groups in M365; all groups must be public or private.
As part of the migration process, the Yammer administrator account will be added to all groups in the network, and files may be renamed.
What do you need to do to prepare?
If you would like to self-initiate your migration:
There is a step-by-step guide to Native Mode migration available. You can run an alignment report that will identify gaps in your current network alignment with Native Mode. It is critical that you back up your network’s data and communicate the migration to your users prior to running the Alignment Tool mentioned in the guide, as some data may be deleted during the process.
If you would like Microsoft to initiate your migration:
You are not required to take any action. You can run an alignment report that will identify gaps in your current network alignment with Native Mode. It is strongly recommended that you back up your data and communicate the migration to your users prior to your scheduled migration start date. If your alignment report reveals any blockers to migration, you can log an exception with support.
If you need to postpone or schedule your migration around blackout dates contact support to log an exception.
More Support
We hosted a webinar and answered many Q&A's live on the call. Watch the recording for more information and best practices.
This webinar recording can be accessed here.
Stay tuned to the blog for more updates and product news. Let us know if you have any questions.
Audrey Hosford, Product Manager
Audrey is the product manager leading native mode migration for Yammer and Viva Engage.
FAQ: Upgrading to Native Mode
Q: What is Native Mode and why are we upgrading to it?
A: Here is an overview of Native Mode. In Native Mode, your Yammer network is fully integrated with Microsoft 365, providing your organization with the richest Yammer experience possible today, as well as eDiscovery through the Microsoft Purview compliance portal. Requirements for Native Mode and a more detailed explanation of the migration process can be found here.
Q: How does Native Mode work with Microsoft Viva?
A: If your organization is interested in deploying Viva Engage, Native Mode provides full eDiscovery, legal hold, and compliance functionality. We strongly recommend that organizations upgrade to Native Mode to safely and securely deploy the new features offered by Viva.
Q: Can we opt-out of Native Mode?
A: No. You may log an exception with support in order to schedule your migration for a more convenient date (i.e. after completion of another IT process, to avoid a freeze period in your business, after a critical feature is generally available, etc.) but you may not permanently opt-out of Native Mode migration.
Q: How can we access the alignment report? What does the report contain?
A: Only tenant-level Global Admins can access the alignment tool and alignment report. You can access the alignment tool by logging into Yammer and navigating to Network Admin -> Native Mode for Microsoft 365. Click Generate Report to compile the alignment report. It will identify:
- Which users are currently unmapped
- How many files each user has stored in Private Messages
- Which communities in your network are Private and Unlisted (Secret)
- Which communities in your network allow external guests
- Which communities in your network do not have owners or whose owners do not have M365 group creation rights
Q: What will happen to our files during migration?
A: All files previously uploaded to Yammer will be migrated to SharePoint. When files are moved to the SharePoint document library, only the latest version is moved over, and the version history is not copied. Files within private messages will be deleted. See Files in Native Mode - Yammer | Microsoft Docs for more information.
Q: What will happen to our Yammer groups during migration?
A: All external groups will be converted to internal groups. Private unlisted groups will no longer be supported. The alignment tool will connect all of your aligned groups to Microsoft 365. Groups without owners who have Microsoft 365 group creation rights will have the global admin added to the group as part of the migration process. Please check out Troubleshoot your Yammer network for Native Mode for Microsoft 365 - Yammer | Microsoft Docs under the Groups section for additional information.
Q: We started the migration process and we want to stop and go back to legacy Yammer. How can we do that?
A: Once started, the migration process is irreversible. Once your network has begun or completed migration, it cannot go back to non-Native Mode (legacy Yammer).
Q: We need cross-geo B2B guest functionality before we can migrate. What can we do?
A: Please determine the number of users impacted and contact support to log an exception. Your network will not be migrated until that feature is generally available.
Q: We need support for Gmail/Hotmail/personal email-based users before we can migrate. What can we do?
A: Please determine the number of users impacted and contact support to log an exception and file a DCR.