Umbraco is a popular and powerful open-source platform for building content-managed websites and web applications.
Umbraco 11 was released in December 2022, providing users with even more new and enhanced features. Conversely, Umbraco 7 is reaching its End-of-Life (EOL) on 30th September 2023, after more than 10 years on the market.
In this post, we’ll explore what your options are if you currently use Umbraco 7. And we’ll also share reasons why you may want to consider moving to Umbraco 11.
What does Umbraco 7’s “End-Of-Life” mean?
Umbraco has been slowly phasing out the use of version 7 of its content management system (CMS).
Umbraco 7 entered into a security-only phase back in July 2021.
And on 30th September 2023, it will reach End-of-Life, meaning Umbraco 7 will no longer be supported by Umbraco with security patches.
It’s important to note that Umbraco 7 websites will still be functional and won’t be shutting down. The change is that Umbraco themselves will no longer be supporting the product in any way.
If you’re using Umbraco 7, this could leave your website open to vulnerabilities. So, whilst you can still stay on Umbraco 7 if you want to, Umbraco recommends that users no longer host websites on this version of the platform.
What are your options if you currently use Umbraco 7?
Firstly, double-check which version of Umbraco your website or application uses. If you’re confident that you’re on Umbraco 7, now is the time to think about your next move.
So what are the options? Essentially, you can either:
Stay on Umbraco 7 but know that you’re open to security vulnerabilities
OR
Migrate to a newer version of Umbraco
OR
Use this as an opportunity to undertake a complete website redevelopment project
The benefits of using Umbraco 11
At the time of writing this article, the latest version of Umbraco CMS is Umbraco 11.
If you’re going to move to a different version of Umbraco, it makes sense to choose the newest version, accessing the latest features and updates.
Some of the impressive benefits of Umbraco 11 include:
The latest version of .Net
Umbraco 11 is written in .Net 7 - the fastest .Net ever.
This updated framework makes development much easier and faster than it is with Umbraco 7 (which is written in .Net 4.8). Whether you manage your site internally or work with an agency, you’ll likely benefit from reduced development costs.
As with Umbraco 10, you’ll also get access to the latest #C version and have the capability to write cleaner and more readable code.
Better security and more support
It almost goes without saying that Umbraco 11 is miles more secure than Umbraco 7 will be when it reaches end-of-life in September.
By migrating to or rebuilding on Umbraco 11 now, you can avoid facing security breaches, performance drops or non-compliance issues later in the year.
Improved content capabilities
The Block Grid Editor is a brand-new Property Editor in Umbraco 11. This new feature gives editors better control over content structure and layout.
It is modelled after Umbraco's well-known Grid Layout editor, which has been offering layout capabilities for content editors since Umbraco 7.
Block Grid Editor is built on cutting-edge and future-proof technology and offers freedom, flexibility and time-savings when producing and managing website content.
A revamped Umbraco marketplace
A new home for Umbraco packages has been launched alongside Umbraco 11. Accessible both in the Umbraco back-end and directly on marketplace.umbraco.com, you’ll easily be able to find the information you need to extend your Umbraco CMS.
The new marketplace is your go-to source not only for Umbraco 8+ integrations but also to learn more about Umbraco’s third-party technology partners.
It’s worth noting that new plugins or marketplace packages are only being written to support new CMS versions. If you stick with Umbraco 7, it will become increasingly difficult to find the latest packages to work with it.
Start planning now for Umbraco 7 EOL
Whatever route you decide to take, now is the time to start thinking about taking those first steps away from Umbraco 7.
Whether you’re looking to migrate to a newer version of Umbraco, or decide to rebuild your website entirely, the expert Umbraco team at Bravo can assist.
As a certified Umbraco partner agency with over 12 years of experience in Umbraco projects, we’ll support and advise you on the best way forward for you and your business.
Need help with Umbraco 7 End-Of-Life? Get in touch today via our Contact Page.
