Drupal 7 End of Life & What It Means for Your Website
In the ever-evolving landscape of content management systems (CMS), Drupal has been a dependable choice for businesses seeking robust and flexible website solutions. However, with progress comes change, and it’s crucial for website owners to stay ahead of the curve – particularly with those still using Drupal 7 as their CMS, as its end of life is fast approaching. In this blog post, we’ll delve into the implications, challenges, and opportunities that accompany Drupal 7’s end of life (EOL), as well what this impending transition means for your website.
When Was Drupal 7 End of Life Announced?
In February 2019, Drupal first announced that Drupal 7’s end of life would be in November 2021. This advance notice was intended to allow businesses and website owners to plan accordingly and migrate to a more current version of Drupal. However, thanks to multiple delays and extensions, Drupal 7 has continued on as a dependable CMS for the last few years. In February 2022, Drupal released a statement saying that since many organizations still heavily relied upon Drupal 7 as their CMS, it would be irresponsible to leave them high and dry, and that the Drupal 7 EOL date would be pushed to November 2023 and re-evaluated annually.
When is Drupal 7 End of Life?
However, since all good things must eventually come to an end, Drupal officially announced in June 2023 that the final Drupal 7 End of Life date is January 5, 2025. This is also the official Drupal 7 support end date as well. This date will be the final extension, fourteen years after Drupal 7’s initial release. All Drupal 7 website owners strongly advised to upgrade to the current version of Drupal or switch to a new CMS such as WordPress before this date.
How Long Will Drupal 7 be Supported? Is Drupal 7 Still Supported?
After its official end of life date in January 2025, Drupal 7 will no longer receive official support or updates from the Drupal community, making it imperative that website owners take action as soon as possible. Until this time, Drupal 7 will still be supported, albeit at a decreased rate. Going forward, Drupal has stated that there will be little to no support for the following items with relation to Drupal 7: moderately critical issues, PHP 5.5 and below, Windows-only issues, and more.
Is Drupal 7 Vulnerable?
With dwindling functionality and support, Drupal 7 websites may become susceptible to security vulnerabilities. The absence of security updates increases the risk of potential exploits, making it imperative for website owners to take proactive measures.
While Drupal 7 has been a reliable CMS, its features, and capabilities are becoming outdated in comparison to the advancements in newer versions. Migrating to a supported version, such as Drupal 9 or 10, or switching to a new CMS such as WordPress is the recommended course of action to ensure the ongoing security of your website.
Don’t Want to Upgrade? Here is the Best Alternative to Drupal:
If you’re not loving the idea of upgrading your Drupal 7 website to the latest version, consider switching your CMS to a different platform. There are a wide variety of Drupal alternatives, though the best one by far is WordPress due to its user-friendly interface, extensive plugin ecosystem, and widespread community support.
WordPress excels in providing an intuitive and easy-to-navigate platform, making it accessible for users with varying technical expertise. The vast array of plugins available for WordPress allows users to effortlessly customize their websites, adding functionality without requiring extensive coding knowledge. Additionally, the extensive WordPress community ensures that users have access to a wealth of resources, tutorials, and forums for troubleshooting and support.
While Drupal is a powerful CMS with a focus on flexibility and scalability, its steeper learning curve and more complex architecture make it less approachable for beginners and small to medium-sized businesses. Overall, WordPress stands out as the preferred choice for those seeking a user-friendly CMS with robust features and a supportive community.
It’s Time to Upgrade Your Drupal 7 Website
Upgrading your Drupal 7 site to the latest version is not just a matter of keeping up with technological advancements; it’s a strategic move to ensure the long-term health, security, and functionality of your website. Alternatively, if you’re looking for a change of pace, consider moving to a new CMS such as WordPress for a platform that prioritizes ease of use, flexibility, and versatility.
As your trusted web development agency, we’re here to help guide you through this transition on whichever path is best for your business. If you have any questions or require assistance with migrating to the latest version of Drupal, or about switching to WordPress or another CMS, please don’t hesitate to reach out.
