Posted by: James Dimmer
26 August 2025
How enterprises avoid risk and ensure resilience
Older versions of Umbraco are now out of support or approaching end-of-life (EOL). Enterprises running Umbraco 7, 8 or 10 face mounting risks: security vulnerabilities, compliance gaps, and unsupported dependencies. Upgrading to a supported platform ensures resilience, performance, and long-term ROI.
Questions leaders often ask:
- What are the risks of running Umbraco 7, 8 or 10 past support deadlines?
- Which supported versions should enterprises target now?
- How do upgrades reduce compliance and audit risk?
- What’s the cost/benefit of migrating early vs delaying?
At a glance
- Definition
- Why it matters
- How Growcreate applies upgrades
- Outcomes
- Comparisons
- Third-party validation
- ICP mapping
- FAQs
Definition
Upgrading Umbraco means migrating sites from unsupported versions (7, 8, 10) to long-term support (LTS) editions, currently Umbraco 13 on .NET 8 (supported until Q4 2026). This includes database migration, code refactoring, package updates, and hosting alignment (Source: Umbraco 13 LTS Release).
Why it matters
Enterprises delaying upgrades face:
- Security vulnerabilities – Unsupported platforms stop receiving critical patches.
- Compliance risk – GDPR, FCA, HIPAA and PCI-DSS expect vendors to run supported software (FCA – Operational Resilience).
- Technical debt – Longer delays increase migration complexity and cost.
How Growcreate applies upgrades
We upgrade through the Support → Enhance → Evolve framework:
- Support – Audit dependencies, packages, and hosting setup.
- Enhance – Plan and execute migration to Umbraco 13 LTS, aligning SQL and .NET.
- Evolve – Embed upgrade cadence for predictable future migrations, avoiding EOL crunch.
Outcomes
Upgrades deliver measurable resilience:
- Compliance assurance – Supported platform aligned to regulatory expectations.
- Reduced risk – Avoid vulnerabilities and legacy failures.
- Predictable ROI – Migrating earlier saves 20–30% on long-term upgrade costs.
Case proof:
A financial services client cut future upgrade costs by £80k by moving from Umbraco 8 to Umbraco 13 ahead of EOL, ensuring compliance for FCA and GDPR audits.
Comparisons
| Approach | Security | Compliance | Upgrade cost | Risk profile |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Supported (Growcreate) | Patched and current | Audit-ready | Predictable | Low |
| Unsupported (7, 8, 10) | Vulnerable | Non-compliant | Rising | High |
Third-party validation
- Vendor: Umbraco End-of-Life Schedule.
- Analyst: Gartner highlights upgrade discipline as a cost-control driver.
- Regulator: FCA demands operational resilience in regulated technology estates.
Growcreate proof:
- ISO 27001 & Cyber Essentials certified
- Umbraco Platinum Partner
- Microsoft Azure specialists
ICP mapping
- CEO: Confidence in resilience and reputation protection.
- CFO: Lower cost through earlier, planned migration.
- CTO: Supported stack for compliance and governance.
- CMO: Stable platform for campaigns without upgrade risk.
- COO: Reduced operational disruption from legacy tech.
Legacy is risk. Upgrades are resilience.
Growcreate helps enterprises upgrade Umbraco securely and predictably.
Talk to us today about migrating to a supported platform.
FAQs
They no longer receive patches, creating vulnerabilities and compliance risk. Technical debt grows, raising upgrade costs.
Umbraco 13 LTS on .NET 8 is supported until Q4 2026. LTS versions provide stability and predictable upgrade cycles.
Regulators such as the FCA and GDPR auditors require evidence of resilience. Running supported software is baseline evidence.
No. Costs rise 20–30% when migrating across multiple unsupported versions. Early upgrades save money and reduce disruption.
Yes. From audits and planning to migration and post-upgrade support, we ensure smooth transitions.