Umbraco 8 has served as a reliable partner for many websites, providing a robust and adaptable CMS. However, having served us well since 2019, come February 2025, Umbraco 8 will reach its end-of-life (EOL) stage and be without active support from Umbraco HQ
If your website is currently running on Umbraco 8, it’s really important to start thinking about your next steps, whether that includes an upgrade, migration or a rebuild. As an Umbraco Gold Partner, we can help you every step of the way.
What does EOL mean?
At its core, end-of-life (EOL) essentially marks the end of active support from Umbraco’s development team. EOL is the final stage in the life cycle of an Umbraco product, and following the EOL date in February 2025, there will be no further minor releases, patch releases or security fixes for Umbraco 8, leaving the software exposed to vulnerabilities and bugs.
While you can technically continue to use Umbraco 8 after the EOL date, this choice comes with a caveat. By using software that has reached its EOL, you open the door to potential security risks, outdated functionality and a less reliable and unsecure website, and nobody wants a broken website, so choosing this option is not something we would recommend to our clients.
Next steps
Upgrading, migrating or rebuilding your CMS are all options after EOL. The best option for you will depend on the availability of a direct upgrade path to a newer version of Umbraco, the complexity of your website, and the current circumstances of your business.
An Umbraco upgrade is also the perfect time to review your website as a whole, and give your website a full MOT to make sure it’s performing at its very best.
Tips to give your website a boost:
After the mandatory upgrade, Google automatically shifted Universal Analytics properties to GA4 with default configurations. It’s crucial to ensure your GA4 property aligns with your specific business goals and objectives. This ensures accurate tracking of your website’s ins and outs.
Recent updates, like the publication of WCAG 2.2 in October 2024, with nine additional success criteria since WCAG 2.1, may impact your website. Conduct a thorough assessment to identify areas that might need improvement or modification to meet the updated standards.
Use an Umbraco upgrade as an opportunity to give your website design a facelift. Ensure your design reflects your business now, and not the one you were a few years ago. This is the perfect time to showcase the evolution of your brand.
Why we love Umbraco
Sticking with Umbraco is a strategic decision rooted in the platform’s strengths and its consistent delivery of seamless experiences. One standout feature is the freedom it gives users in managing their websites. Umbraco provides complete control over customisation, allowing users to shape their online presence according to their creative vision without relying on constant developer assistance – a level of autonomy that sets Umbraco apart.
Earning its reputation as the #1 CMS in the UK and Europe, Umbraco is backed by a comprehensive set of features and functionalities, not to mention the support of the Umbraco community. This makes it a reliable choice across diverse sectors, from Housing Associations to Professional Services, for creating and maintaining high quality, modern websites.
In our experience, Umbraco has proven to be incredibly effective, flexible and most importantly, a well-supported product. Having such an editor/user-friendly CMS at our disposal is wonderful, empowering us to meet our clients requirements with ease
The advantages of working with an Umbraco Gold Partner
Choosing to work with an Umbraco Gold Partner like Spindogs ensures your project has the right Umbraco expertise to suit your needs, and a proven track-record in delivering successful Umbraco implementations. We have a team of certified Umbraco developers well versed and experienced all the way from Umbraco 7 to the latest version of Umbraco.
Depending on your specific website capabilities and needs, we can advise on the next steps, and help plan out a future roadmap for your website that aligns with your business strategy, objectives, future growth and budget.
Ensuring a seamless transition
The migration process can be time-consuming and we cannot stress enough how important it is to have a plan in place as soon as possible.
If your website is currently running on Umbraco 8, or if you have any questions about the EOL process, we’re here to help. Please get in touch with us or fill in the form below to discuss your options.
