Time for an Umbraco Upgrade? Here’s what you need to know

Time for an Umbraco Upgrade?

Here’s what you need to know:

In the ever evolving and fast-paced world of digital technology, staying up to date is no longer a luxury, it's a necessity. For businesses utilising Umbraco as their content management system (CMS), regular upgrades are essential for maintaining and improving website security, performance, and functionality. Understanding the importance of upgrading your Umbraco instance can make a significant difference to your website's success and longevity.  

First things first, let’s start with the why. Choosing to upgrade and invest in your Umbraco instance can offer several significant benefits. But if you’re questioning or trying to justify the ‘why’, it’s definitely worth remembering that the advantages of upgrading, certainly outweigh the risks of remaining on an older or unsupported version of Umbraco:  

• Security: Older versions of Umbraco may no longer receive security updates, leaving your website (potentially) vulnerable to attacks. Upgrading ensures you have the latest security patches and protections in place to mitigate against unwanted malicious activity. 

• Support: Once a version reaches its end-of-life (EOL) it no longer receives support from Umbraco HQ. This means no more bug fixes or technical assistance, which can be crucial for maintaining a stable website. 

• Performance: Newer versions often come with performance improvements, making your website faster and more efficient.  

• New Features: Upgrading allows you to take advantage of the latest features and enhancements, which can improve both the backend (from a content management perspective) and the user experience of your website. 

• Compatibility: Staying up to date ensures compatibility with the latest technologies, third-party integrations and plug ins, reducing the risk of future compatibility issues.  

• Future proofing: By upgrading, you ensure that your website remains relevant and capable of adapting to future changes and advancements in tech.  

There are occasions when an Umbraco upgrade is conducted as a prerequisite to other development work, which may not always be possible to be undertaken on a client’s current version of Umbraco if it’s deemed too old, is unsupported, or does not have the latest functionality and features that come with an upgrade.

An example of this can be seen with Cribbs Causeway - The heart of Bristol shopping. As part of an ongoing plan to update their digital estate, we upgraded their Cloud instance from version 8 to version 13 last year and then componentised around 75% of the CMS. This enabled their content editors much more flexibility due to moving away from a totally templated based back office. By performing the upgrade first, we could ensure the foundations and functionality were in place before implementing new flexibility via the use of components. 

What happens if you don’t upgrade?

Will your site magically stop working, turn off, and disappear into the ether? The short answer is no. However, it would have some detrimental effects and by choosing to not upgrade your Umbraco instance, could expose your business’s website to several risks in the long run:  

So, how does an upgrade happen? 

In theory, every upgrade is the same. We take an Umbraco instance from one version to another. However, the process varies CMS to CMS, depending on the setup, configuration etc. Every upgrade we undertake is tailored to meet the needs and immediate/ future requirements of our clients.

Here are a few factors that can influence the upgrade process: 

• Version Differences: The steps required can differ based on the version you are upgrading from and to. Some versions may have specific upgrade steps or breaking changes that need to be addressed.  

• Custom Code and Integrations: If your Umbraco instance includes custom code or third-party integrations, you may need to ensure these are compatible with the new version. This might involve updating or modifying custom components and other configurations.  

• Database Changes: Major upgrades might include changes to the database schema. You will need to ensure your database is backed up and that any necessary migrations are performed correctly.

• Hosting Environment: The upgrade process can also be influenced by your hosting environment. For example, upgrading an Umbraco Cloud project might have different steps compared to a self-hosted instance.

• Dependencies: Ensure that all dependencies, such as .NET versions and third-party libraries, are compatible with the new Umbraco version. This might require updating these dependencies as part of the upgrade process.

• Content and Media: Depending on the amount and complexity of content and media in your instance, you might need to take additional steps to ensure everything is migrated correctly and functions as expected after the upgrade. 

Two examples of how the upgrade process differs can be seen here:  

1. We recently conducted an upgrade for Bar2, going from version 8 to version 13, utilising the Umbraco content delivery API, we were able to migrate all content and media from the clients existing version 8 instance into the new solution.

2. We upgraded Aardman's existing Umbraco version 8 solution to version 13, coupled with a front-end upgrade, changing the version of Nuxt from v2 to v3, as well as updating the version of Node.js, for a total BE/FE upgrade. 

It’s crunch time, when do you need to decide on your Umbraco upgrade?  

Upgrading your Umbraco instance should be done strategically to ensure your site remains secure, efficient, and up-to-date. When determining the timeline of an upgrade, we often take any wider business decisions as well as the end-of-support and EOL dates of the client’s currently utilised Umbraco version into account.

Here are some key timings to consider when proceeding with an upgrade: 

• End-of-Life: Upgrade before your current version reaches its EOL date to continue receiving support and updates from Umbraco HQ.  

• LTS vs STS: Umbraco’s upgrade strategy broadly aligns to two types of support; Long-Term Support (LTS) and Standard-Term Support (STS). At true, we usually recommend LTS to our clients to maximise the length of time their CMS is in support for. However we regularly consider the merits of STS versions based on specific features/enhancements that are strategically relevant and unlock value for our clients - and will then recommend STS on that basis.

• New Major Releases: Consider upgrading to new major versions every 1-2 years, or when significant new features and improvements are introduced. It is possible to skip versions, avoiding the need for frequent upgrades which can be time consuming and resource intensive.

• Performance Issues: If you notice performance degradation or inefficiencies, upgrading to a newer version may improve site performance.

• Compatibility Needs: Upgrade when you need to ensure compatibility with new technologies, third-party integrations, or dependencies.  

• Feature Enhancements: Upgrade to take advantage of new features and enhancements that can improve your site's functionality and user experience.  

It’s important to mention that upgrading in stages is also an option based on your business’s goals and timelines. For example, back in 2023 Viridor expressed to us that their wider strategic objectives could impact the direction and requirements of the website. We collectively decided to upgrade their Umbraco solution (containing 3 multi-sites) from version 9 to version 10 on this basis. Two years later, we are planning to upgrade the same instance to version 13, before version 10 enters EOL this summer.

Upgrading Umbraco is a crucial step to ensure your website remains secure, efficient, and jam-packed with the latest features. By staying up to date with the newest versions, you’ll not only benefit from enhanced performance and security but also gain access to innovative tools that can elevate your content management experience. Remember, a well-maintained CMS is the backbone of a successful digital presence. So, embrace the upgrades and keep your Umbraco site running as smoothly as a baby’s bottom. Happy upgrading!

If you're unsure about your Umbraco upgrade pathway, need guidance on your next steps, or want to action a hassle-free upgrade for your website, feel free to get in touch.