Coming Soon: Drupal 7 End of Life. Are You Ready?

Since upgrading from Drupal 7 to Drupal 8 (or 9) essentially requires a rebuild of your entire website, now is a good time to look at what options are available. What's the best content management system (CMS) for your business? Should you upgrade to a newer version of Drupal, or go with an alternative CMS, such as WordPress? The answer to this question could go either way, based on your company’s needs and expectations. If you’re looking for an interface that’s easier to use and more flexible for managing content, then WordPress may be the right fit for you. If you’re looking for a CMS that’s more dynamic and powerful in it’s functionality, then Drupal may be the better choice for you. Learn more about the key differences between WordPress and Drupal here. 

Is your site currently using Drupal 7? If you answered yes, you may have just lucked out. 

But what exactly does that mean? Well, Drupal 7 was originally supposed to reach end of life (EOL) in November 2021, however, earlier this year, the Drupal organization pushed this out until November 2022. But why is that? Based on the pandemic our world is currently going through, you may have already guessed (correctly) that COVID-19 had something to do with this extended timeline. The Drupal organization adjusted the EOL schedule so that it would provide businesses with more time for the major transition. Take a look at the original release and end of life dates for Drupal 7, 8, and 9, pre-pandemic. 

Is your site currently using Drupal 8? If you answered yes, it’s time to start planning. 

The Drupal 8 EOL was originally scheduled for November 2021, and it is *still* scheduled for that same time. Apparently the pandemic wasn’t enough to give Drupal 8 users more time, huh? As it turns out, this timeline remains intact due to Drupal 8’s reliance on a major framework, Symfony 3, which will reach it’s EOL at that same time. All things considered, the transition from Drupal 8 to 9 is much less intensive than going directly from 7 to 9, sources say. Some recommend upgrading from 7 to 8 first, and then moving from 8 to 9, as there have yet to be compatible modules in Drupal 9 that currently exist in Drupal 8. 

Now, you’re probably wondering, “What does all of this mean for me?” Well, it’s good to start considering your options before doing anything else (as it’s never too early to start planning!). Perhaps you’re interested in transitioning to Drupal 9, but aren’t sure where to start? Or, maybe you’re questioning whether Drupal is the right fit for you and are open to considering an alternative CMS, such as WordPress. Either way, we’re here to help you navigate during this transition period and figure out the best solution for your business. 

Still not sure what plan would be best for you? Contact us today or request an audit to learn more about how you can optimize your website and prepare for the future.