Umbraco 7 has End Of Life (EOL) in September 2023 – here's what you need to know

What does EOL mean and what do I need to do? 

The term EOL means "end of life", and means that Umbraco will stop providing support for version 7 after September 2023, it will simply be discontinued.  

So if you have a website that uses Umbraco 7, you need to migrate to a later version of Umbraco, or look for another platform, before September 2023. Hopefully you like the benefits of Umbraco and want to continue with their latest technology used from version 10 and onwards (Umbraco 11 was released just a couple of weeks ago).  

Is it possible to upgrade from Umbraco 7 to 10 or 11? 

No, it doesn't work, as of Umbraco 10, .NET Core is used, a completely different technology, which means that there is no upgrade path between versions. Instead, a migration is done, i.e. you move the content and the code behind and integrate with code in the new solution. Depending on the size and complexity of the site, it may be the case that certain functions and content are rebuilt in the new solution, or alternatively built completely new if it is deemed most time-efficient.  

What happens if I stay on Umbraco 7? 

We understand that it can involve a lot of work and resources in the form of time and money to switch to Umbraco 10 or 11. Especially if you are satisfied with your solution as it is today and see no need to renew yourself, and that the idea of continuing with version 7 after end of life may seem like the easiest and cheapest solution, but it is not something that neither we, nor Umbraco, recommend and these are the reasons: 

• No continued support from Umbraco - no security updates, i.e. increased risks of breaches 
• Older technology can contribute to lower performance - can also affect your SEO ranking
• No a long-term solution - give yourself the technical possibilities to take more market shares

Having said that, your site will not suddenly stop working after September 2023, so it is absolutely possible to continue with version 7 after that, provided that your operating partner (and yourself) are willing to take the risk of security breeches - in the worst case you may lose all data and content on the site. Considering the digital society we live in, the website is central to many companies when it comes to both marketing and purchasing services and products, so we would say that security should be prioritized in order not to risk losing data and content that has taken years to build. 

At Webmind, we have chosen not to continue offering hosting of sites using version 7 due to the security risk, which is in line with what Umbraco themselves recommend. End of life simply means that Umbraco decommissions that product, and thus no further security checks or updates are made. You can say that it is a version that will live on artificial respiration.

How long will I be able to use Umbraco 10 and 11?

How long we will be able to use these versions has not been determined. What we do know is that Umbraco 10 will be a version with a long lifespan with possibilities for making easier updates. Starting with version 10, new major versions come twice a year, but then also with better possibilities for upgrading to a later major version. Umbraco 10 has so-called Long Term Support (LTS), which means that that version will live for a long time and is supported by Umbraco. Umbraco 11 does not come with LTS.  

However, you should always remember that websites have a limited lifespan, just like any other technology. For example. a mobile phone has a lifespan of a few years before both hardware and software become obsolete. But a website is not only affected by its CMS, things like design trends, new types of devices and browsers, new regulations can have an impact, not to mention changes in one's own business which means that perhaps both functions and communication need a bigger change.  

Why should I continue with Umbraco as CMS? 

It is a completely natural question that comes up in the context and you might start thinking about looking for another platform, but hopefully you are satisfied with the solution and want to keep using Umbraco. 

Here are some of the great benefits of that come with Umbraco: 

• Scalable & flexible - don't lock yourself into a solution with limitations, with Umbraco you can scale up infinitely and adapt it to your prerequisites and requirements 
• User-friendly - very easy to manage content with a drag & drop functionality 
• Security - built on Microsoft's stable and reliable .NET technologies and Umbraco and an external security company perform frequent tests to detect and fix any flaws 
• No licensing costs – Umbraco is a free open source solution 
• Rights - you own your solution/code 
• Large and active community - maintained and developed by both a large community and Umbraco themselves 
• SEO technical prerequisites - for many, SEO is a large and important part of marketing and hence also the importance of having a CMS that has the technical prerequisites in place from the start - which Umbraco has 

How much does it cost to migrate to Umbraco 10 or 11 and when does it need to be done? 

It depends entirely on your specific solution, i.e. how big the site is and the functionality behind it. We always work with the newest versions as soon as they are stable. It is important to start the work to migrate the site as soon as possible in order not to end up in a stressful "last minute" situation. Get in touch with us today, and we'll take a look at your solution and prepare a quote for you.