Your options for CMS as Umbraco 7 reaches end-of-life

After 10 years of diligent service, Umbraco has announced the termination of Umbraco 7. Come the 30th September, the CMS will no longer be supported with security patches, and Umbraco will no longer recommend hosting sites on this version.

So where does this leave the users of this CMS?

In this article, Propeller considers the history of the retiring CMS and explores the options available for those looking to migrate to a new CMS.

Umbraco 7 is a content management system (CMS) that allows users to create and manage their own websites. It was released in November 2013 and is open source, which means it can be used and modified by anyone. 

It is known for its flexibility and user-friendly interface, making it popular among both developers and content editors.

When the CMS was released in 2013, there were a few unique features that set it apart from others available at the time. This included a more intuitive and user-friendly interface, built-in support for responsive design and a new drag-and-drop editor.

Umbraco 7 was one of the first CMS to offer built-in search engine optimisation tools, making it easier for website owners to optimise their content for search engines.

Overall, Umbraco 7 was a major step forward for the Umbraco CMS. It helped establish Umbraco as a serious contender in the crowded CMS market.

Umbraco is a software company that is committed to creating high-quality CMS’s that meet the needs of its users. Over the years, the company has elected to terminate past versions of CMSs in order to focus its efforts on developing newer and more advanced systems.

Developing and maintaining multiple CMSs can be a complex and time-consuming process, and it can be difficult to ensure that each system is receiving the attention it deserves.

By focusing on a smaller number of CMSs, Umbraco can ensure that each system is well-supported and well-maintained, which ultimately benefits its users.

If you are currently using Umbraco 7, you need to act quickly and ensure your website is on a new CMS. Why does this matter, though?

Here are some key reasons why this must be on your radar:

Security

When a CMS reaches EOL, the vendor will stop releasing security updates for that version. In turn, this will leave your website vulnerable to security threats and attacks.

Support

The vendor will cease to provide support for that version. Therefore, if something does go wrong with your website, there won’t be anyone available from the platform to assist.

Compatibility

Discontinued CMS will eventually stop being compatible with continually updating operating systems, browsers and devices.

Compliance

For companies in regulated industries, such as finance or healthcare, there are regulations for websites. Using an outdated CMS that is not supported could result in a significant risk of non-compliance.

Thinking of replatforming?

There are a range of CMS available for professional website developers, each with their own strengths and weaknesses. Here are 5 CMSs that are popular among professional developers:

Umbraco

If you are completely satisfied with Umbraco CMS, you can stick with what you know and get a more updated version. Umbraco is a flexible and customisable CMS. It is popular among developers who need to create complex websites with advanced content management needs. 

WordPress 

WordPress is one of the most popular CMS in the world and is used by millions of websites. It is known for its ease of use and flexibility. It also has a large community of developers who contribute plugins and themes, extending its functionality.

Drupal  

Drupal is a highly customisable CMS that is popular among developers who need to create complex websites with advanced functionality. It has a steep learning curve, but offers a high degree of flexibility and scalability.

Shopify 

The Shopify CMS is designed to make it easy for users to create and manage an online store. It offers a range of features, including customisable templates, product management tools, order management tools, and payment processing capabilities.

Shopify Plus

Shopify Plus is an enterprise-level version of the popular Shopify e-Commerce platform. It offers a more advanced CMS, designed to meet the needs of large and growing businesses.

These are just a few of the many CMSs available to professional website developers, and everyone has their own preferences. We recommend considering a host of options before deciding to change your CMS

As a business grows and changes, technology continues moving forward. Dozens of brands have worked with Propeller’s experienced development team to replatform and integrate old systems. We build stronger, scalable and more long-term solutions that result in increased web traffic and better sales.

Replatforming means the website will continue with its existing functionality while also allowing for scale. Propeller is proud to support website development and design on WordPress, Drupal and Shopify.

 Our team of specialists have years of experience within these CMS options, and can bring your brand to life on any platform you choose.

We have over 20 years of experience creating unique digital experiences for brands. Our approach to website development fuses creativity, technology and data analysis. In turn, we give you the platform you need to reach new audiences and engage your existing customers.

As one door closes, another can be swiftly opened with the help of our web development specialists. Replatforming to WordPress, Drupal and Shopify CMS’s is simple for any brand looking to keep their pages up-to-date. 

If you aren’t sure which CMS would suit your brand ambition, speak with a member of our team today and learn more about your options. 

Creative digital experiences that flourish online 

From the planning and mapping to testing and delivery, to create a fantastic website that delivers results, we can help you with: 

• Analysis & Planning
• Data maps & User flows
• Digital design & Web builds
• Wireframe planning & Mapping
• Mobile & Desktop
• Web development & Testing

Depending on what you need, our development team builds websites on WordPress, Drupal and Shopify. We’ll also ensure that everything is on brand and any third party apps are integrated seamlessly.