Introduction

The end of official Umbraco 7 & 8 support has left many businesses wondering: do we really need to upgrade now? The truth is, not always. While agencies may push upgrades to newer versions, sticking with Umbraco 7/8 and putting the right maintenance plan in place can be a cost-effective, secure option for many organisations.

Acknowledgment of concerns

The cessation of official support for Umbraco 7 at the end of September 2023 and Umbraco 8 in 2024/5 raised valid concerns among its users. Does this mean we now have to upgrade, what if we can't afford to, are we now vulnerable to attack, will our site stop working?

This move by Umbraco to stop providing support can potentially expose the platform to security risks, especially given the lack of official updates to counter new threats. However instead of just dismissing these concerns, it's crucial to understand and address them to provide a solid foundation for the arguments against mandatory forced upgrades.

Customised security measures

Many of the issues can be mitigated by getting together with an Umbraco partner agency that will still be happy to support these older versions and help you over the coming years to manage them effectively.

A proficient maintenance partner can implement custom security measures including potentially back-porting security patches from other versions (if applicable or even practical) or creating bespoke solutions to address vulnerabilities by implementing other 3rd party strategies to deal with incoming threats. Their expertise plays a pivotal role in safeguarding your platform, making the absence of official updates a lesser concern.

Should I be upgrading though?

Upgrading to newer versions of Umbraco brings about various advantages, as outlined below:

1. Improved Performance
2. Enhanced Security
3. Feature Enhancements
4. Latest Technology Stack
5. Support and Maintenance
6. Adaptability and Futureproofing

These advantages underscore the potential benefits of upgrading to newer versions of Umbraco. However, the decision to upgrade should be weighed against the costs, the learning curve, and the specific needs of the organization.

Cost-efficiency

In an ideal world, upgrading to a newer version brings lots of advantages as discussed previously, however upgrading to a newer version entails significant costs i.e. potential licensing, additional hosting requirements, development, and potential downtime to name a few.

Conversely, maintaining the current version with a trusted partner is often a more cost-effective solution. In the long run, the financial benefits of sticking with Umbraco 7 could be substantial, freeing up resources for other critical business needs.

Business continuity

Business continuity is a paramount concern for organisations in the digital age, and having a trusted maintenance partner is instrumental in achieving this objective. A dedicated maintenance partner can provide ongoing support, updates, and necessary enhancements to your website, ensuring it remains robust, secure, and efficient over time.

This level of support not only addresses the immediate technical needs but also fosters a stable digital environment where businesses can thrive and grow.

Long-term relationship

Here at Simon Antony believe in a collaborative approach when it comes to decision-making around upgrades. We work closely with our clients to comprehensively evaluate the pros and cons of upgrading versus maintaining the existing Umbraco 7 setup.

Our objective is to ensure that our clients make well-informed decisions that are in the best interest of their organisation's long-term success. We provide clear insights, practical advice, and continuous support, ensuring that the decision to upgrade or maintain is well-thought-out, and the execution of this decision is seamless and beneficial.

Through this approach, we aim to demystify the upgrade dilemma and provide a path that prioritises business continuity, operational excellence, and cost-effectiveness. 

Offering a comprehensive maintenance plan

A comprehensive maintenance and support plan manifests our dedication to preserving the robustness and security of your Umbraco platform. This plan will lay out a clear strategy encompassing regular security audits, performance monitoring, and ongoing optimisations.

Security audits are essential in a digital environment where threats constantly evolve, helping to identify potential vulnerabilities and ensure adherence to industry-standard security protocols.

On the other hand, performance monitoring helps in early detection and rectification of issues impacting the website's loading speed, responsiveness, or overall user experience, thus maintaining an efficient and reliable platform.

We still have clients using Umbraco 3, 4, 6, 7 & 8 on our support programs - why not join them?

Talk to us about your Umbraco 7 site

At Simon Antony, we still support clients on Umbraco 3, 4, 6, 7 and 8 — keeping them secure and stable until the time is right to move.

👉 Book a free consultation today and let’s explore the best path forward for your business: Schedule a call on cal.com

Or email us at hello@simonantony.co.uk to discuss your site.