Umbraco 8 End-Of-Life: Actionable next steps, and top-tips for a successful upgrade

What You Need to Know About Umbraco 8 End-of-Life.

Umbraco 8 will officially reach End-of-Life (EOL) on Monday 24th February 2025. After this date, Umbraco 8 will no longer receive security updates, bug fixes, or official support from Umbraco HQ. Whilst your website won’t suddenly stop working, the risks of staying on an unsupported platform will only grow over time. 

Security vulnerabilities, compliance concerns, and performance issues will become pressing challenges. Without regular patches, your site could be more susceptible to cyber threats, while missing out on the latest advancements in content management and performance optimisation. 

Our advice: If your website still runs on Umbraco 8, now is the time to upgrade. The longer you delay, the more complicated the transition can become. 

What You Should Consider Before Making a Decision.

Before choosing your path forward, it’s important to fully understand the implications of staying on an unsupported version and the benefits of upgrading. 

Security and Compliance Risks:

One of the biggest concerns with running an outdated CMS, is possible security vulnerabilities. Without ongoing updates, known vulnerabilities won’t be patched, making your website an easy target for cybercriminals. This not only puts your business at risk but could also lead to non-compliance with data protection regulations such as GDPR, exposing you to potential legal and financial repercussions. 

Performance and Scalability:

As websites grow, they demand more from their CMS. Umbraco 8, built on an older framework, may struggle with speed and efficiency, particularly for high-traffic sites or those with complex integrations. Legacy code and outdated libraries can lead to slower load times, negatively affecting user experience and even SEO rankings. By upgrading, you can take advantage of improved database handling, faster caching mechanisms, and better scalability to keep your website performing at its best. 

Long-Term Viability and Future Upgrades:

In an ever-changing technological landscape, outdated systems quickly become a burden. Over time, your website may encounter compatibility issues with modern browsers, third-party tools, and plugins. Without future updates, maintaining an Umbraco 8 site will only become more costly and time-consuming. The longer you wait, the more technical debt builds up, making future upgrades even more complex. 

What’s New in Umbraco 13? 

If you’re considering upgrading, Umbraco 13 is the latest Long-Term Support (LTS) version and a strong choice for the future. Built on .NET Core, it offers a range of improvements, including a more user-friendly backoffice, enhanced content management workflows, better multi-language support, and API-first headless CMS capabilities. With a modernised framework, it ensures better security, stability, and long-term sustainability. 

Your Options: What Should You Do Next? 

With Umbraco 8’s end-of-life fast approaching, there are two main paths you can take: upgrading, extending support, or staying put—but each comes with its own considerations. 

Option 1: Migrate to a Supported Version (We Highly Recommended this Option) 

The most future-proof option is to upgrade to a supported version, such as Umbraco 13 (LTS). Moving to Umbraco 13 ensures your site remains secure, compliant, and up to date with the latest technology. Since it’s built on .NET Core, the migration will require some restructuring, but future upgrades from this version onward will be much smoother. 

Upgrading not only protects your site but also gives you access to new features that improve content management, developer workflows, and overall website performance. While we understand that it’s an investment, it’s one that will save you from the growing costs and risks of maintaining an unsupported CMS. This option will benefit you long term. 

Option 2: Extended Long-Term Support (XLTS) (Second-best Option in Our Opinion) 

If migrating right away isn’t feasible, Extended Long-Term Support (XLTS) can serve as a temporary bridge. XLTS provides an extra 12 months of security patches and critical updates, helping you maintain compliance and reduce immediate risks while preparing for a full upgrade. 

However, it’s important to note that XLTS is only a short-term measure. It won’t include new features or major improvements, and once the 12-month period ends, you’ll still need to transition to a supported version. This option is best for organisations that need more time to plan their migration but should not be seen as a permanent solution. 

How We Can Help. 

As an Platinum Umbraco Partner, we have extensive experience in Umbraco migrations, security enhancements, and performance optimisation. Regardless of which path you take, we can guide you through the process from start to finish, with minimal disruption to your site. We can help you decide which supported version of Umbraco is right for you, and what an upgrade timeline will look like. 

Our expertise includes:

• Seamless Umbraco migrations, ensuring a smooth transition.
• Security and compliance support, helping you stay protected from vulnerabilities.
• Technical consulting, optimising performance and future-proofing your website.
• A dedicated project management approach, with a clear roadmap and ongoing support. 

We’ve developed a proprietary Umbraco migration tool to streamline the transition from Umbraco 8 to newer versions, saving time and effort. With deep expertise in public sector, membership organisations, homebuilders, and travel, we understand the unique challenges of your digital ecosystem and can tailor the best approach for your needs. 

If you’re unsure about the best path forward for you, get in touch with our team today. We’ll help you navigate your options and develop a strategy that ensures your website remains secure, scalable, and future-ready.

Frequently Asked Questions: