Thinking /

Umbraco 8 EOL: What your business needs to know

Umbraco 8 EOL: What your business needs to know

As Umbraco have continued working on newer versions, each release has gone from strength to strength, and the retiring of version 8 is a great opportunity to upgrade older versions to future-proof your website.  If your business relies on Umbraco 8, it’s time to start talking about your website’s future and understand the timeline to begin planning ahead. 

Why is Umbraco 8 being retired?


Like all software, Umbraco 8 has a lifecycle. And it’s end of life is near. The last minor update for Umbraco 8 rolled out in February 2022, and full version support has ended as of February 2024. Security updates are expected only until February 2025. No further support means no more patches and no more updates. The good news is, we’ve been developing on version 13 and have begun looking at the newly released version 14. With these newer versions comes added features, impressive functionality and robust security.

The implications of End-of-Life for Umbraco 8 users


EOL will have real consequences for websites that haven’t upgraded. It means it becomes more complicated to support, extend and develop on. This includes security patches, which means your website could become vulnerable to new security threats, leading to potential breaches and a not-so-ideal user experience. 

The upgrade decision


Umbraco has shared which versions will have Long-Term Support (LTS) and you can check it out here. Upgrading to the latest version might seem like the obvious choice, but before you jump straight in, there are a few key questions that need to be answered.


What does your Umbraco CMS platform do well for you right now?

What's on your development roadmap?

What does your business need from its CMS platform in the future?

Which upgrade will provide you with the best-fit features and bug fixes?


These are some of the important questions that need to be answered to ensure your upgrade aligns with your business goals. It’s important to take a step back and assess. Consider your dev roadmap and release plan. Upgrading is not a straightforward process, and our team is offering free consultations to help you make an informed choice by determining your needs and charting the best path forward.

Support and resources


Umbraco offers a multitude of resources to assist with the upgrade process. From detailed documentation and community forums to partner support, there’s plenty of information to assist in your planning. As a certified Umbraco Gold partner, we’re offering our expert guidance to ensure you make the right choice with a smooth transition. Whether it’s managing your upgrade project to full-scale migration, we've got you covered.

Mark your calendar: February 2025


With support ending in February 2025, upgrading is an opportunity for you to assess your future business needs and ensure you’ve planned ahead. Newer versions offer better performance, better security, and better features to enhance your web presence. Updating ahead of time ensures ongoing support and keeps your site secure and competitive for the future.
 

Ready to upgrade or rebuild? Let’s talk.


Don't wait until the last minute. Reach out to us for a free consultation to begin planning now. As an Umbraco Gold partner, we can discuss your upgrade and the best steps forward today.

Back to top