The Greater Risks of Staying on Drupal 7

The swift move into an evolving digital landscape demands that an organization’s website is secure, functional, and relevant. Implementing a content management system was a step forward for many companies seeking that upgrade. An organizational favorite, Drupal 7 paved the way with improved usability enhancements and several other upgrades. However, since its release in 2011, Drupal has continued to innovate its systems’ functionality, so it is time to bid farewell to Drupal 7 on January 5, 2025.

In this article, we’ll explore why the risks of staying on Drupal 7 are greater than ever and why upgrading to a newer version is not just advisable but imperative.

• Key Aspects of Drupal CMS
• The End of Life for Drupal 7
• Benefits of Migrating to Drupal 10

Key Aspects of Drupal CMS

Drupal is a powerful and flexible content management system (CMS) that is widely used to build complex websites and applications. It is an open-source platform, which means it is free to use, modify, and distribute released under the GNU General Public License. This ensures a large developer community contributes to its continuous improvement and security. The modular architecture allows users to extend its core functionalities through thousands of available modules, making it suitable for a wide range of applications, from simple blogs to complex enterprise websites. Users can create custom content types, views, and layouts without needing to write custom code, though the option to add custom code is always available.

In addition, Drupal’s robust API allows developers to create custom modules and integrations, enhancing the CMS’s capabilities and ensuring it can interact with other systems. They offer a user-friendly interface for content creation and management and its WYSIWYG editor and flexible content workflow make it easy for non-technical users to manage content. Drupal has built-in support for multiple languages, making it an excellent choice for global organizations that need to deliver content in various languages.

Drupal is known for its strong focus on security. The Drupal Security Team regularly releases updates and patches to address vulnerabilities, ensuring that Drupal sites remain secure. The system is highly scalable and capable of handling high-traffic websites and large volumes of content. It is used by some of the world’s most visited websites. Just a few years ago when Drupal 9 was released, we broke down some of the great benefits. You can read the post here. 

The End of Life for Drupal 7

The end of life for Drupal 7 marks a critical juncture for site owners. While it has been a robust and reliable CMS, continuing to use an unsupported version poses significant risks. Migrating to Drupal 10 not only mitigates these risks, but also leverages the latest advancements in the platform, ensuring your site remains secure, performance, and future-ready. Planning and executing a well-considered migration strategy is essential to navigate this transition smoothly.

The Security Quandary

Drupal 7 has served countless websites admirably over the years, but its end-of-life status has introduced a pressing security concern. With the cessation of security updates and patches from the Drupal Security Team, websites running on Drupal 7 are left vulnerable to emerging threats. Hackers are quick to exploit known vulnerabilities, making sites on Drupal 7 prime targets for cyber-attacks. The longer organizations delay upgrading, the greater the risk of falling victim to security breaches and data compromises.

Community Support Dwindles

One of Drupal’s greatest strengths has always been its vibrant and supportive community. However, as Drupal 7 nears its end of life, community support for this version is waning. Developers and contributors are shifting their focus to newer iterations, leaving Drupal 7 users with dwindling resources and assistance. Without access to timely support and updates, website owners may find themselves stranded in a digital desert, unable to navigate emerging challenges or implement necessary fixes.

Compatibility Conundrum

In a rapidly evolving digital ecosystem, compatibility is key. Yet, Drupal 7 risks becoming increasingly incompatible with modern web technologies, server environments, and third-party integrations. As newer versions of PHP, databases, and web servers emerge, Drupal 7’s compatibility may falter, leading to performance issues and functionality gaps. Organizations that opt to remain on Drupal 7 may find themselves isolated from the broader digital landscape, unable to leverage the latest tools and innovations.

Performance Peril

The performance gap between Drupal 7 and its successors continues to widen. Without optimization for modern web standards and technologies, Drupal 7 sites may experience sluggish loading times, inefficient resource utilization, and diminished user experiences. In an era where every second counts, websites that fail to deliver optimal performance risk losing visitors, conversions, and revenue.

SEO Setback

Search engine optimization (SEO) is the lifeblood of online visibility, yet Drupal 7 sites face mounting challenges in this arena. Search engines prioritize websites that adhere to best practices and embrace current technology standards. By remaining on Drupal 7, organizations risk falling behind competitors who have upgraded to newer, more SEO-friendly platforms. Over time, this disparity can result in diminished search rankings, reduced organic traffic, and lost opportunities for growth.

Recommended Actions for Drupal 7 Site Owners

Leaving your site and company vulnerable is a huge risk. One that you should never leave to chance or inexperience. WDB Agency has been a Drupal partner for over 15 years with the knowledge and expertise to help you and your organization make the right decisions. If you do not have an internal team, partnering with the right people can help you alleviate the obstacles that you might face remaining on Drupal 7. Let us help you.

Here are some of the recommended actions we believe you need to take to get your site updated before you no longer have the support you need. 

1. Plan for Migration

The most crucial step for Drupal 7 site owners is to plan and execute a migration to a newer, supported version of Drupal. Drupal 10 is the recommended target for migration.

2. Assess Current Site

Conduct a thorough assessment of your current Drupal 7 site, including an inventory of installed modules, custom code, and content types. This will help in planning the migration process.

3. Opportunity to Realign Your Online Presence with Your Business Objectives

If your website is still operating on Drupal 7, it’s likely been in use for quite some time. Over the years, your company has likely evolved and undergone transformations. As a result, your current website might not fully align with your current business needs and goals. Migrating to a newer platform presents an opportunity to realign your online presence with your business objectives, ensuring that your website effectively supports and reflects your company’s growth and direction.

4. Hire Expertise

Consider hiring experienced Drupal developers or consulting firms specializing in Drupal migrations. This can help ensure a smooth transition and address any complex requirements. As mentioned before, our ongoing relationship with Drupal and Acquia, puts you and our team in a secure partnership. Schedule a call with our team to start your migration.  

5. Update Skills and Training

If your team is responsible for managing the website, consider investing in training sessions to familiarize them with the latest features and best practices of the new Drupal version. Equipping your team with the necessary skills and knowledge will ensure they can efficiently leverage the capabilities of the upgraded platform, maximizing its potential to effectively meet your organization’s needs.

While these are some basic recommendations, they will get you on the right track. Here are some benefits to upgrading to Drupal 10. 

Benefits of Migrating to Drupal 10

With adopting modern frameworks and practices, Drupal 10 maintains its reputation for robust security. The updated Symfony and PHP versions also contribute to a more secure platform. Drupal 10 benefits from Drupal’s mature security release process, ensuring timely patches and updates to address vulnerabilities. Drupal 10 introduces experimental support for automatic updates, simplifying the process of keeping your Drupal site up to date with the latest security and feature releases.

The Project Browser is an initiative to make it easier to discover and install contributed modules and themes directly from the admin interface, streamlining the site-building process.

The risks of staying on Drupal 7 are too great to ignore. From security vulnerabilities to compatibility concerns, the longer organizations delay upgrading, the greater the peril becomes. By embracing the latest iterations of Drupal, website owners can fortify their digital presence, safeguard their data, and position themselves for long-term success in an increasingly competitive marketplace. The time to upgrade is now – tomorrow may be too late. Drupal 7 will end on January 5, 2025. Schedule your call with WDB agency to begin your migration journey.

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