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  • Understanding the upgrade path from umbraco 8 to 13 guide technical decision makers

Umbraco 8 reaches its end of life on 24th February 2025, after five years of service. Following this date, Umbraco will no longer support this version with security patches. Any websites that remain on Umbraco 8 will be at risk of security vulnerabilities. Additionally, from 24th February 2024, Umbraco 8 enters the security phase, meaning that only security issues will be fixed.

Delaying an upgrade or rebuild to Umbraco 13 can expose your website to security vulnerabilities and compatibility issues, potentially hindering performance and leaving you susceptible to attacks.

Upgrading to Umbraco 13, the latest Long-Term Support (LTS) version, is crucial for ongoing website security, compliance, and efficiency. This comprehensive guide empowers technical decision-makers, including website managers, IT directors, and developers, with the knowledge needed to make an informed decision about upgrading or rebuilding to the latest version, covering each option's nuances, challenges, and benefits. 

As an Umbraco Platinum partner,  1 of only 50 in the world, and with extensive experience building Umbraco websites, our experts have offered insight into the best options and their implications for upgrading or rebuilding your Umbraco website.

In this guide, we will cover:

Option 1: Upgrading Umbraco 8 to Umbraco 13 – This involves a two-step process with substantial technical considerations, mainly due to the shift from .NET Framework to .NET Core, changes in the templating system, and potential complexities related to bespoke code and third-party plugins.

Option 2: Rebuilding Your Site in Umbraco 13 – Often the preferred strategy, this method offers a fresh start, allowing for improvements in design, user experience, SEO, and overall performance. While this option may take longer and require a more significant initial investment, it often delivers better value in the long run.

By the end of this guide, you will have a clear understanding of:

- The specific challenges and requirements of upgrading versus rebuilding.
- How to evaluate the complexity and risks associated with each option.
- The potential benefits of transitioning to Umbraco 13 effectively.

Two people talking at work

Umbraco 8 End-of-Life

With Umbraco 8 reaching its end-of-life, the implications are far-reaching for organisations relying on this version. End of life (EOL) signifies the end of Umbraco's updates, security patches, or technical support, making your current setup increasingly vulnerable to security threats, compliance issues, and performance degradation. 

It also limits your ability to leverage new features and integrations, ultimately hampering your digital strategy and competitive edge. Ignoring the end-of-life status can expose your organisation to significant risks:

Security Vulnerabilities: Unsupported software is a prime target for cyber-attacks, putting your data and customer information at risk.

Compliance Issues: Without updates, maintaining compliance with standards like GDPR becomes increasingly challenging, potentially resulting in legal and financial penalties.

Operational Inefficiencies: As your system ages without updates, performance issues can arise, leading to slower load times and a degraded user experience.

Missed Opportunities: The latest versions of CMS platforms offer enhanced features and capabilities that can drive business growth and innovation. Sticking with an outdated version means missing out on these advancements.

Understanding the Upgrade Path: Upgrade vs. Rebuild

When considering the transition from Umbraco 8 to 13, it is essential to weigh up the differences between upgrading and rebuilding. Each path has its own set of challenges, timelines, and short—and long-term implications. 

Option 1: Upgrading

Upgrading your existing site is a two-step upgrade process:

1.  Upgrade from Umbraco 8 to 10
2. Upgrade from Umbraco 10 to 13

Umbraco 13_ upgrading

Technical Considerations

The upgrade path isn't straightforward due to significant changes in the underlying technology. Moving from .NET Framework to .NET Core introduces new front-end templating systems, necessitating a rebuild of content structures and data migration. For sites with custom or bespoke functionalities, the complexity increases, making the upgrade more resource-intensive and potentially risky.

New Templating System: Umbraco 10 and beyond use a different front-end templating system. All your site's templates will need to be updated or completely rewritten. This task is more than just technical tasks; it requires careful planning and testing to ensure a positive user experience post-upgrade.

Data Migration: Data has to be migrated between versions. Migrating can be complex, particularly if your site has a large content volume or intricate data structures. Ensuring data integrity and minimising downtime during this migration is crucial. The migration will also need to happen twice due to the two-step upgrade process, which increases the risk of data loss and other complications.

Custom Code: If your existing site includes custom-built features or bespoke integrations, they must be reviewed and possibly re-engineered to function correctly on the newer platform.

Potential Challenges

Various factors can complicate the upgrade process:

Third-party Plugins/Modules: Dependencies on outdated plugins or modules may not transition smoothly to the latest version. Many third-party plugins developed for Umbraco 8 may still need to be updated for Umbraco 13, necessitating finding alternatives or custom development.

Custom / Bespoke Code: Sites with extensive custom development could face compatibility issues. Custom code often relies on specific features or behaviours of the underlying platform version. As the platform evolves, these dependencies can break or require significant rewriting.

Benefits and Considerations

The result of an upgrade is a site functionally similar to its predecessor. You're on the latest stable version of Umbraco, which brings security and compliance benefits. However, this approach may add little new value, and the cost and effort required might make it less appealing. 

Security and Compliance: Staying on the latest version ensures you benefit from the latest security patches and compliance with current standards and regulations, reducing vulnerabilities.

Minimal Initial Disruption: An upgrade involves less upfront disruption than a rebuild, as the site's framework and structure remain unchanged.

Cost vs. Value: While the cost might be lower than a complete rebuild, the value added is also minimal, as the upgrade does not inherently enhance the site's functionality or performance.

Limited Access to New Features: Upgrading doesn't enable full access to the innovative features and improvements introduced to Umbraco 13. An upgraded site often retains the structure and limitations of its previous version. Newer features may require additional development work to integrate, which might not be feasible within the scope of a simple upgrade.

Option 2: Rebuilding

Rebuilding your site from the ground up in Umbraco 13, although more time-consuming, offers a clear path around many of the upgrade-related risks and unknowns. More importantly, it allows for significant enhancements and optimisations.

Person smiling and working

Strategic Advantages

Enhanced Performance and User Experience: A rebuild provides the opportunity to reassess and improve the site's design, UX, and overall functionality where budget and time permits. Modern coding practices and design principles can be employed to create a faster, more engaging user experience.

SEO and Content Optimisation: Our Growth and Experience teams can offer a full review of your current site's performance, recommending improvements in SEO, content, and other crucial elements. This holistic approach ensures that your new site is not just a replica but an improvement in every aspect.

Future Proofing: A clean build ensures modern coding standards, making the site easier to maintain and extend in the future. You can implement the latest best practices in security, scalability and performance.

Content Migration

While a rebuild is not a simple 'lift and shift', it still includes migrating valuable, high-ranking content from the old site to the new one. This ensures continuity while providing a chance to update and optimise content for better performance and user engagement.

Selective Migration: Not all content needs to be migrated. This rebuild is a great opportunity to audit and streamline your content, removing outdated or redundant information and improving content quality and relevance.

SEO Considerations: Careful handling of URL structures, metadata, and other SEO elements can minimise the transition's impact on search rankings. This is essential to maintaining your site's visibility and traffic.

Long-term Benefits

While initially more demanding in terms of time and resources, choosing a rebuild offers several long-term benefits that can outweigh the upfront costs.

Customisation and Flexibility: By rebuilding, you can tailor the site precisely to current and future needs, incorporating new features and integrations more seamlessly.

Improved Maintainability: A newly rebuilt site using modern technologies and coding practices is typically easier to maintain and extend, reducing long-term technical debt.

Higher ROI: While the initial investment is higher, the improvements in performance, user experience, and maintainability can lead to a higher return on investment over time.

New Features and Enhancements

Rebuilding your site with Umbraco 13 is more than keeping it secure and operational. The new platform offers a range of new features and enhancements.

Optimised Resource Management: Enhanced handling of server resources ensures faster load times and a more responsive user interface.

Improved Scalability: Umbraco 13 can better handle large volumes of traffic and data, ensuring seamless user experiences even during peak usage times.

Intuitive UI: The refined content management interface is easier to navigate, reducing the learning curve for new users and boosting overall team efficiency.

Advanced Workflow Tools: Enhanced workflow management tools make it easier for teams to collaborate and maintain high content quality and governance standards, which is particularly important in a large organisation.

Advanced API Support: Easier and more secure integrations with third-party applications and services, enhancing your setup.
Interoperability Improvements: Better compatibility with modern systems, facilitating smoother operations and data flows.

Headless capabilities: The content and media delivery API allows you to distribute your content across multiple platforms and channels with ease. 

Choosing the Right Path

Transitioning from Umbraco 8 to 13 is a significant step for any organisation, presenting challenges and opportunities. As we have explored, the decision is pivotal in maintaining your website's security, performance and compliance as Umbraco 8 reaches end-of-life. The choice between upgrading and rebuilding your site hinges on various factors, including your current setup, long-term goals, and available resources or budget.

Ultimately, the decision to upgrade or rebuild should align with your organisation's strategic objectives and technical landscape. Engaging with experienced technical partners can provide valuable insights and support throughout the move. You can ensure a successful and future-proof move to Umbraco 13 by carefully evaluating each option's specific challenges and requirements.

Looking for a technical partner to guide you through your Umbraco upgrade or rebuild? 

CTI Digital is here to help. As an Umbraco Platinum partner, our expert team offers comprehensive services tailored to your needs, ensuring a smooth and effective move.
Contact us today to discuss your project and find out how we can help you make the best choice for your organisation's digital future.

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