We are building new Umbraco websites on versions 13+. Version 7 is now unsupported and entered its end of life phase in September 2023. This means that this version is no longer supported with functionality upgrades or security patches. Support for Umbraco Version 8 is being withdrawn on February 24th 2025.
Unsupported versions can still be used but the CMS functionality could degrade and security issues or bugs may arise. Umbraco will not release any further patches or upgrades so problems that occur within the CMS itself are unlikely to be fixable, and the website is more vulnerable to security breaches.
Why you should move to an supported version
1. Security and support
- Newer versions have enhanced security features, including better authentication and protection against vulnerabilities.
- Support and additional development becomes more expensive on unsupported versions.
2. Performance and scalability
- .NET Core Migration: From Umbraco 9 onward, the CMS runs on .NET 5/6/7+ (instead of .NET Framework), offering faster performance, better memory management, and cloud-native capabilities.
- Better Caching: Modern caching strategies in later versions improve page load speed and overall user experience.
3. Modern development practices
- Cross-Platform Compatibility: Since Umbraco 9+, it runs on Windows, Linux, and macOS, allowing for more flexible hosting options.
- API-First Approach: Improved headless CMS capabilities with modern APIs for better integration with third-party applications.
- Dependency Injection (DI): Cleaner and more scalable code architecture using built-in dependency injection.
4. Improved editor and user experience
- Enhanced Backoffice UI: More modern and user-friendly interface with better workflows.
- Block Grid Editor: A flexible, modular way to create content layouts (introduced in newer versions).
- Accessibility Improvements: Improved UI accessibility for better compliance with accessibility standards.
5. Future-proofing
- Long-Term Support (LTS) Versions: Upgrading to an LTS version (e.g., Umbraco 13) ensures long-term support and regular updates.
- Better Plugin & Community Support: Many popular Umbraco packages and extensions have stopped supporting Umbraco 7 but work well with newer versions.
6. Compliance & GDPR readiness
- Better Data Handling: Enhanced GDPR compliance features, such as better consent management and improved logging.
The costs to maintain and move forward an unsupported website become ever-increasing, and any development work undertaken prior to a re-build simply adds to the cost of the future project.
Planning a website re-build in a timely manner is the most cost-effective solution, ensuring security, stability and longevity of your online resource.
We can help
Here at Frontmedia we have extensive experience of the upgrade and rebuild solutions available to you. We’re more than happy to talk your through the options and provide a ‘no obligation’ quote, so get in contact to find out how we can help you to get the support you need.
Check out our portfolio to see some of our most recent projects, drop us a note at team@frontmedia.co.uk or call in for a chat on 01206 692873.