Imagine waking up one morning to realize that half your clients’ websites had suddenly gone dark, with no security patches, support, or quick means of resolving issues. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Hopefully, that sounds more like the stuff of nightmares than any real-life challenge facing your agency. But with the Drupal 7 end of life (EOL) quickly approaching<\/a>, that kind of \u201cdoomsday\u201d scenario may well become a reality for agencies caught unprepared. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Read on for a quick overview of what the Drupal 7 EOL will mean for agencies and businesses operating sites on the platform as well as next steps for those seeking an alternative.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n Since its release in 2011, Drupal 7 has become one of the most widely used CMS platforms, in part thanks to its flexibility, scalability, and community support. <\/p>\n\n\n\n So when Drupal decided to completely rewrite Drupal 8 from the ground up, many companies, agencies, and developers chose to stick with what they knew rather than learn what was essentially an entirely new CMS that didn\u2019t support the same modules and features used in Drupal 7. This made upgrading essentially a re-platforming exercise, and most companies decided it wasn\u2019t worth the squeeze.<\/p>\n\n\n\n However, after multiple extensions, brands and agencies relying on the system now face a hard stop, because official support for Drupal 7 will formally end on Jan. 5, 2025<\/strong>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n If your agency finds itself in this position, you\u2019ll need a plan moving forward to ensure your clients’ websites remain secure and functional. Dropping the ball now could expose not only your clients <\/em>to a wide range of serious risks, but also your agency.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Some of the risks of staying on an unsupported platform like Drupal 7 are: <\/p>\n\n\n\n After Jan. 5, Drupal 7 will no longer receive official security patches, updates, or bug fixes\u2014a vulnerability that many bad actors are not only aware of, but well-positioned to exploit<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Worst of all, these security lapses will only grow with time, as hackers continue to discover new points-of-entry into a post-support Drupal 7 instance. That means agencies delaying migration past the Drupal 7 EOL may find themselves grappling with escalating emergency costs, should a worst-case scenario arise.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n As the Drupal 7 community shrinks, so too will the number of developers familiar with the intricacies of its ins and outs. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Agencies that continue to rely on the platform will find themselves increasingly dependent on their own development team to maintain functionality and resolve technical issues\u2014conditions that could lead to a quickly swirling drain on your internal resources. As a result, this approach will become less and less sustainable over time. <\/p>\n\n\n\n A lack of formal support can also introduce compliance challenges for agencies, particularly regulations such as the EU\u2019s General Data Protection Regulation<\/a> (GDPR) or the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard<\/a> (PCI DSS). These frameworks explicitly require not only secure infrastructure but also comprehensive policies and processes for protecting and storing personal or financial data. That includes running websites only on supported platforms that receive regular security updates.<\/p>\n\n\n\n By continuing to operate on an unsupported platform like Drupal 7, agencies could face legal penalties or even reputational damage\u2014especially with clients in heavily regulated industries like finance or healthcare.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Heavily regulated or not, all clients rely on their agencies to provide reliable, up-to-date solutions. <\/p>\n\n\n\n As such, managing websites on a platform past its EOL can leave clients or prospects with the impression that your agency is behind the curve or doesn\u2019t care about their ongoing interests. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Of course, every agency\u2019s situation is unique\u2014the right solution<\/a> will ultimately depend on factors like existing infrastructure, timelines, and long-term goals. <\/p>\n\n\n\n While some may opt to stay within the Drupal ecosystem, others might see this EOL as an opportunity to explore more flexible platforms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n For agencies that might find immediate migration or upgrades challenging, relying on extended support for Drupal 7 could still technically work\u2014at least in the short-term. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Some third-party vendors offer paid extended support, providing critical security patches and limited maintenance that can help bridge the gap in the absence of official updates. <\/p>\n\n\n\n This option may buy your agency some time, but it has serious limitations. Sticking around too long after Drupal 7’s EOL will eventually lead to problems.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Agencies relying on this approach should treat it as a brief stopgap, using the additional time to carefully plan their next steps to another platform. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Upgrading to a later version of Drupal will keep your agency operating within a somewhat familiar ecosystem while unlocking newer, modern features. For agencies deeply invested in Drupal, this path might ensure a certain degree of continuity while avoiding the pending vulnerabilities of Drupal 7. <\/p>\n\n\n\n However, the migration process is complex\u2014moving from Drupal 7 a newer version requires a complete re-platforming, despite still having Drupal in the CMS name. This is largely due to a number of significant architectural changes that were introduced in later updates.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In other words, many custom modules, themes, and other important components will no longer be compatible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n All of this can lead to higher costs and extended project timelines\u2014especially for clients with highly customized sites. Managing these longer timelines and ensuring that projects stay within budget will require careful planning and close coordination with clients.<\/p>\n\n\n\n As migrating away from Drupal 7 will require a complete re-platforming (yes, even if you decide to remain within the Drupal ecosystem), it could be an ideal time to consider a platform with greater flexibility and a larger, more active user base.<\/p>\n\n\n\n WordPress offers a user-friendly interface, which can make it easier for both technical and non-technical users to manage content\u2014often without the need for ongoing developer support.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Beyond its accessibility, WordPress is designed with long-term scalability in mind, offering updates that are often much more straightforward than its Drupal counterpart. Its extensive, problem-solving developer community\u2014which has created more than 59,000 free plugins, like WP Engine’s own Advanced Custom Fields<\/a>\u2014also provides nearly limitless customization options, making it highly adaptable for users of any size or complexity. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Migrating to WordPress still requires careful planning\u2014especially for complex sites with custom content types. But the platform\u2019s tools, resources, and scalability make it an ideal choice for future-proofing agencies and client sites, making it easier to build dynamic sites that can grow with their clients\u2019 needs. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Whichever direction your agency decides to go, successful migrations require careful planning and execution\u2014especially if you\u2019re moving dozens of different client sites at once. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The following process outlines the steps you’ll want to take when undergoing a mass migration to a new CMS.<\/p>\n\n\n\n First, identify any and all Drupal 7 sites in your agency\u2019s portfolio. This way, you\u2019ll have a clear understanding of the scope of the migration and ensure no site is overlooked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Then, determine the relative complexity of each migration so you know which sites require less complex migrations and which need a complete overhaul\u2014say, due to custom functionality or intricate configurations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n From there, prioritize clients based on key factors such as business needs, security risks, and any other migration deadlines. For example, some clients may face regulatory pressures or heightened security concerns, calling for greater urgency. <\/p>\n\n\n\n With a prioritized list, your agency can feel confident about addressing the most critical sites first.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A structured migration playbook can streamline the transition process and establish clear expectations\u2014for both your team and <\/em>clients. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Start with a content review, inventorying and auditing all existing content to determine what should be migrated, updated, or archived. This can ensure only accurate, relevant content makes it to the new platform, while simultaneously helping improve site performance post-migration.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you plan to switch to WordPress, identify any needed replacements for Drupal-specific modules and match them with equivalent WordPress plugins or third-party tools. Many Drupal features have WordPress counterparts, though some custom functionality may require alternative solutions. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Finally, identify any APIs or third-party tools that may be disrupted during the migration. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Of course, you\u2019ll also want to create a compelling pitch for your clients. Migrating away from Drupal 7 is no small investment\u2014it will require an overhaul of their entire digital infrastructure\u2014so you\u2019ll need to make a compelling case for the change. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Take advantage of these discussions to not only outline the risks of staying on Drupal 7 after its EOL but also share how migration can help modernize your client\u2019s site with new features, enhanced security, or other performance boosts.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n WP Engine\u2019s Agency Partner Program<\/a> also offers helpful resources for these conversations, including dedicated account managers and co-selling support. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Once you\u2019ve established a game plan, it\u2019s time to create a development environment on your target platform. This will serve as your testing ground as you build, so you can avoid any potential disruptions to the live site as you experiment. <\/p>\n\n\n\n There, you can start to create the new site\u2019s basic structure, including elements like core pages, navigation menus, and template designs. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Once the dev environment is created and the site\u2019s core features are built out, it\u2019s time to start migrating content. <\/p>\n\n\n\n For WordPress migrations, you can simplify the process by using tools like FG Drupal to WordPress<\/a><\/strong> and WP Migrate<\/a><\/strong>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n For Drupal-to-Drupal upgrades, Drupal Migrate API<\/a><\/strong> can smoothly move content and settings along to updated builds, adjusting data mappings as needed to ensure compatibility.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Sites with custom modules or complex functionality will require those elements to be rebuilt on the new platform. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Finally, confirm that all content has migrated accurately by checking for problems like missing fields, layout issues, or other asset issues. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Once fully migrated and cloned to a staging environment, both you and your client can begin comprehensively testing the site\u2019s functionality, content, and performance. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Keep a close eye on core functions, interactive features, and page load speeds. Run tests across multiple browsers and devices to ensure a consistent user experience. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Once testing is complete, finalize launch preparations by setting up redirects (if URLs have changed), configuring SEO settings, and scheduling the launch during off-peak hours to minimize disruption.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Properly emphasizing post-migration support to your clients can help position your agency as a long-term partner and engender trust. After launch, offer your clients post-migration support packages, including managed hosting, security updates, performance monitoring, and regular backups. <\/p>\n\n\n\n This will both reassure clients about your reliability and potentially open up new streams of recurring revenue for your agency. Platforms like WP Engine<\/a> provide built-in tools for optimization and security, which can add further value to your support offerings.<\/p>\n\n\n\nUnderstanding the risks<\/strong> of the Drupal 7 end of life<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Security vulnerabilities<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Maintenance difficulties<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Compliance issues<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Loss of client trust<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
What\u2019s an agency with Drupal 7 client sites to do?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Ignore the Drupal 7 end of life\u2014for now<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Upgrade to a newer version of Drupal<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Migrate to other platforms<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Steps to prepare for a successful migration <\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
1. Audit all existing sites<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
2. Create a migration playbook<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
3. Set up and configure the new environments<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
4. Migrate content and recreate core features<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
5. Conduct quality assurance and finalize launch preparations<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
6. Plan for post-migration support and maintenance<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n