Posted by: Adam Weston
14 February 2025
The topic of Umbraco's end-of-life (EOL) frequently arises in discussions with clients. Like all software, Umbraco goes through EOL as it continues to evolve and improve. However, it is important to recognise that using outdated software leaves your website vulnerable to security risks, performance problems and compliance issues. If your version of Umbraco is approaching EOL, now is the time to take action.
As a Platinum Umbraco Partner, GrowCreate has successfully assisted leading businesses, such as Flagstone, Mortgage Advice Bureau and Quintet Private Bank through complex upgrades. Our expertise guarantees a seamless transition, ensuring that your digital experience remains secure, scalable and ready for the future.
Don't leave your website's stability to chance. Let’s collaborate on your Umbraco upgrade so you can move forward with confidence.
What is Umbraco end-of-life (EOL)?
Umbraco end-of-life (EOL) indicates when a specific version of the Umbraco content management system is no longer supported, meaning it won't receive updates, security patches or bug fixes. An outdated version poses risks such as increased vulnerability to security breaches, compliance issues (like GDPR) and potential compatibility problems.
Once a version reaches EOL, it becomes a target for cyber threats, which could lead to financial and reputational damage—moreover, unsupported software limits access to new features and performance enhancements. Upgrading to a supported version is essential for maintaining security, performance, and compliance.
Without security updates, your website is vulnerable to hacks and attacks, which could compromise sensitive user data or even take your site down.
What does Umbraco's end-of-life mean for your business?
When a software version reaches its end-of-life, no more updates, security or otherwise, will be provided. Your website will no longer receive critical security patches, bug fixes or official support.
Ending support for a software version means more than just stopping updates. It can significantly affect businesses in several ways:
Security risks result in significant financial and reputational damage
Without regular security updates, your website becomes an easy target for hackers. As cyber threats evolve, older software versions become more vulnerable to attacks. You're risking sensitive user data and your brand's reputation by continuing to run an unsupported version of Umbraco. A single breach could result in significant financial and reputational damage.
Compliance issues and expose your business to potential fines and legal challenges
Without security patches, your site could fall out of compliance with regulations such as GDPR, PCI DSS, or HIPAA, exposing you to potential fines and legal challenges.
Compatibility and performance problems can affect conversion rates
As technology moves forward, older CMS versions like Umbraco 8 struggle to integrate with modern systems and plugins. Your website may experience broken functionality, slower performance or errors that negatively impact the user experience. Older CMS versions can directly affect your business's conversion rates and lead to lost opportunities.
Missed opportunities for engagement and innovation
By sticking with an outdated version, you miss out on the latest features, performance improvements and modern capabilities that newer Umbraco versions offer. From enhanced content management features to better SEO performance, upgrading delivers a world of possibilities that can help your business grow.
Why Umbraco's end-of-life is normal (and a good thing)
It's easy to view end-of-life announcements as frustrating or inconvenient, but this is a natural part of any software lifecycle. Technological advancements and evolving user needs drive the push for newer software versions. Here's why Umbraco's regular update cycle is a good thing for your business:
1. Security improvements
Upgrading means your website has the best security tools against cyberattacks and data breaches. New versions of Umbraco meet modern security standards and protect your business and customers.
2. Improved performance
As the web continues to grow, speed and performance are essential. Newer versions of Umbraco offer faster load times, optimised content delivery and better resource management. Upgrading enhances the user experience and your website's SEO, helping you rank higher and engage your audience more effectively.
3. New feature access
Modern CMS platforms like Umbraco have new features that improve content creation, personalisation and automation. By upgrading, you can access tools that streamline operations, enhance customer experiences and drive growth.
4. Compliance with regulations
Upgrading means that your website remains compliant with the latest data protection regulations. Unsupported software puts you at risk of violating industry standards, which could result in penalties or reputational harm.
What is the cost of delaying your Umbraco upgrade?
Many businesses believe delaying an upgrade to save costs is a smart move. However, the opposite is true. Here's why:
1. The cost of security breaches
Ignoring the need for an upgrade can lead to a security breach. When a website is hacked, the cost of recovery can be far greater than the cost of an upgrade.
2. The cost of reactive upgrades
Upgrading before you have issues is more cost-effective. A rushed, last-minute migration or rebuild can lead to unforeseen complications and increased expenses. Planning ahead ensures that the transition is smooth and cost-effective.
3. The cost of missed opportunities
Upgrading is an opportunity to enhance your website's performance and functionality. Newer versions of Umbraco include modern features that improve scalability, ease of content management and integration with other systems. These improvements can help you grow your business by providing better customer experiences and expanding your digital capabilities.
How can Growcreate help you upgrade to the latest Umbraco and beyond?
For Growcreate, upgrading your CMS is not just a technical task—it's a strategic decision that impacts your business's digital future. As an Umbraco Platinum Partner, we are experts in delivering seamless upgrades and rebuilds. Here's how we can help:
Support
We review your current Umbraco setup to understand its configuration and identify potential issues. From there, we help you plan a smooth, risk-free migration or rebuild, ensuring no functionality is lost during the transition.
Enhance
Our team will help you optimise your website by upgrading its architecture, improving security and ensuring compatibility with the latest Umbraco version. We also offer enhanced integrations and features to ensure your platform runs at its best.
Evolve
We don't just want your website to survive the upgrade—we want it to thrive. Our goal is to future-proof your website by aligning it with your long-term digital strategy.
Key considerations for your Umbraco upgrade
When upgrading from Umbraco, there are several key points to consider:
1. Design Refresh
Use this upgrade to refresh your website's design and improve user experience. Our UX design team can help you create an intuitive, visually appealing site that drives engagement and revenue.
2. Component library
Build a component library to ensure consistency across your digital platforms. A component library makes future updates easier and helps maintain a cohesive brand experience.
3. Content Strategy
Evaluate your website's content and structure. We can help you analyse user metrics, improve your content strategy and enhance user engagement across your site.
4. Migration approach
Decide on the best approach for migrating your content—through manual transfer or automated scripts. We'll guide you through the best method based on your needs and timeline.
If your solution is on an older version of Umbraco and end-of-life is fast approaching, don't wait until the last minute to address this critical issue. Schedule a free consultation with GrowCreate to explore your upgrade options and ensure a smooth transition to a more secure, efficient and future-ready CMS.
In this consultation, we'll:
- Review your current Umbraco setup
- Discuss your business goals and needs
- Provide recommendations for upgrading or rebuilding
- Answer any questions you have about the process
Contact GrowCreate today to book your free consultation and start your upgrade journey.
Do you have a question about Umbraco upgrades or migration?
GrowCreate has been an Umbraco Partner since 2014 and is available to support web managers and marketers with free advice on upgrading Umbraco. Contact Ainsley McWilliams with any questions.
Take the next step.
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FAQs
If you're running a website on Umbraco 7, 8 or 10, you may have heard that its end-of-life is approaching or has already passed. EOL for Umbraco means that it will no longer receive security updates, bug fixes or support from the Umbraco team at HQ.
Umbraco 8 end-of-life (EOL) refers to the date when Umbraco will cease providing support and updates for version 8 of its content management system.
Organisations still using Umbraco 8 after the end-of-life date will run unsupported software, potentially exposing themselves to security risks and compatibility issues.
Umbraco 8 has served businesses well since its release and is reaching the end of its supported lifecycle. Here are the dates for Umbraco 8 end of life:
- The final minor version, Umbraco 8.18, was released in February 2022.
- Full version support ended in February 2024.
- Umbraco HQ will provide security updates until February 2025.
- After February 2025, all updates and support for Umbraco 8 will cease.
When software reaches its end-of-life (EOL), it is a normal part of its development. Here's why this happens:
Technology changes quickly, and older software versions can become outdated and less efficient than newer ones. Software companies work on newer versions to stay competitive and offer better solutions.
New versions usually have improved security features to protect against new threats, which makes it important to stop using older, more vulnerable versions. The updated software also performs better and is more stable.
Older software can become incompatible with the rest of the tech world as other technologies change. By setting EOL dates, software providers let users know it's time to upgrade, which helps keep the digital landscape secure and efficient. This practice also encourages ongoing innovation and improvement in the software industry.
Ending support for a software version means more than just stopping updates. It can greatly affect businesses in several ways:
- Security risks: Without security patches, your website becomes more vulnerable to new threats.
- Compliance issues: Not receiving updates may risk your compliance with data protection laws.
- Compatibility challenges: Older plugins and third-party integrations might break, causing issues with your website's functionality.
- Performance degradation: An outdated content management system (CMS) can slow performance and lead to a poor user experience as the web changes.
- Feature limitations: You will miss out on new features and improvements in newer Umbraco versions.
For now, we still suggest upgrading to Umbraco 13, the newest stable long-term support (LTS) version, to keep your website running smoothly and securely. Here are the main benefits:
- Better Performance: WebP image support and faster speeds improve SEO and user experience.
- Easier Content Management: The new block grid editor allows you to drag and drop, making content creation and marketing campaigns more straightforward.
- Improved Forms: The enhanced form builder gives you more flexibility and features.
- Stronger Security: You get better protection against cross-site scripting (XSS) and other security threats.
- Modern Architecture: You'll have headless capabilities through APIs for delivering content and media across multiple channels.
As Platinum Umbraco partners, we have the expertise you need for your project:
- We understand Umbraco's ecosystem and best practices well.
- Our team includes certified Umbraco developers and Umbraco Masters with plenty of experience.
- We have a strong record of successful upgrades and rebuilds.
- We take a comprehensive approach that covers design, development, and strategy.
We start by thoroughly reviewing your Umbraco website. This review helps us understand how your website is set up and decide whether we should upgrade it or do a complete rebuild. After this evaluation, we will give you a clear plan and budget based on your needs.
As Umbraco’s support comes to an end, you may start to notice some limitations in security, performance and updates. EOL can impact your website’s efficiency and ability to make the most of new tools and integrations. We’re here to help guide you through this and ensure you’re equipped for the future so your marketing efforts stay strong and secure.
Continuing with an unsupported version can expose your website to security risks, performance issues and missed opportunities for optimisation. An unsupported version could also be a compliance risk if you handle sensitive customer data. GrowCreate will support you in making a smart, proactive choice to keep your website safe and aligned with your business goals.
We know how important consistency is for your brand. We’ll work alongside you to ensure the upgrade or migration happens seamlessly. By sticking to a solid plan and testing everything in a staging environment, we can ensure the user experience and content stay true to your brand, even while we evolve your platform.
Yes, we’re committed to ensuring the process is as smooth as possible. GrowCreate takes a thoughtful approach to migrations, minimising downtime or disruptions. With a well-planned strategy, we can handle the transition with care, ensuring your customers continue to have a positive experience throughout.
We’re here to help you plan the transition. Depending on your website’s size and complexity, the migration process can take a couple of weeks to several months. We’ll work with you to map out a timeline that ensures minimal disruption and plenty of time for testing and refinement before the switch.
Smooth migrations start with a clear plan. GrowCreate will guide you through each step, from selecting the right CMS to ensuring the content and data migrate seamlessly. We use the latest tools and techniques to ensure everything is in place while testing it thoroughly to avoid surprises.
SEO is crucial, and we’ll make sure that migrating doesn’t impact your rankings. From implementing 301 redirects to maintaining your metadata and images, we’ll ensure that all your SEO best practices are in place. You’ll have visibility into every step of the process, so your traffic stays steady.
Even if Umbraco is functional now, migrating to the latest version of the platform can offer significant benefits, from better scalability and security to future-proofing your digital strategy. GrowCreate helps you evaluate the options and ensures that the switch brings value, setting you up for success in the long term.
Without continued support, your content management system may become less reliable and more complicated. EOL could lead to performance issues and a slower workflow for you. At GrowCreate, we’re here to make sure you’re equipped with a solution that makes content creation and publishing easier and more efficient, both now and in the future.
We've got the process covered. We'll carefully migrate your content and media, ensuring everything is correctly formatted and transferred. You'll have complete visibility into the process, and we'll work closely with you to make sure everything is organised and ready to go.
We'll take care of most of the heavy lifting for you. GrowCreate uses tools and techniques designed to simplify content transfer, and we'll be on hand to ensure the process goes smoothly. Manual adjustments may sometimes be needed, but we'll guide you through that every step of the way.
We're pleased to inform you that there will be no downtime during the migration process. Our team has carefully planned every aspect to ensure your content management processes remain uninterrupted. You can continue your work without any interruptions, and we're committed to making this transition as smooth as possible.