Drupal 7 End of Life: How We Help

Friends of the Drupalverse! Drupal 7 end of life is near. If you haven’t yet started, it's time to hatch a Drupal 7 plan that spans migration, maintenance, security, and support. Read along for some things to remember and details on how we can help you.

Drupal 7 to 10 - A quick look back

On January 5, 2011, Drupal 7 made its grand entrance after a colossal development effort involving nearly a thousand contributors, marking a new era over Drupal 6 with its swanky admin interface and a suite of enhancements like flexible content handling and built-in image support that jazzed things up for developers and content managers. If Drupal 7 was a leap, then Drupal 8 was a moon landing, introducing the snazzy Symfony framework and Twig, streamlining everything from theme crafting to multilingual site creation. Fast forward to 2024, and here comes Drupal 10, strutting onto the scene with even sleeker upgrades to revolutionize digital experiences with its ultra-modern platform, making everything from usability to integrations smooth… like a jazz solo. With Drupal 10, you can look forward to enhanced performance, improved security, and a more user-friendly interface, all designed to elevate your digital experiences.

Drupal 10 is not just an upgrade; it’s a transformation to a more dynamic, scalable digital platform.

However, as Drupal 7 stares down the barrel of its end of life (EOL) on January 5, 2025, it's a crucial time for website owners and developers to take stock. Picture this: a grand, slightly melodramatic finale where Drupal 7 takes a bow, leaving the stage after numerous encores for all its years of service! But this isn't just a curtain call as one of the most widely used software on the Internet. 

No! It's a rallying cry for its remaining users. Friends of the Drupalverse - if you haven’t yet started - it's time to hatch a Drupal 7 plan that spans migration, maintenance, security, and support to ensure your transition from Drupal 7 is more of a graceful pirouette than a clumsy stumble off the stage. The clock is ticking, and the end of Drupal 7's lifecycle is approaching rapidly. Don't wait until the last minute. Start planning your migration now to avoid any disruptions to your website's performance and security.

So what does Drupal 7 end of life mean?

This means the Drupal Security Team will no longer provide support or security advisories for core or contributed modules and themes. Public disclosure of security issues for Drupal 7 may still occur, potentially leading to zero-day vulnerabilities seen in the wild. Additionally, Drupal.org will cease support for Drupal 7-related tasks, including documentation, automated testing, packaging, and more. It's crucial for website owners and developers to take stock and start planning their migration to Drupal 10.

🧿 See https://www.drupal.org/psa-2023-06-07

🧿 See https://www.drupal.org/security-team/d7es

In light of the challenges posed by Drupal 7's end of life, the Drupal Association has rallied the troops and certified several elite squads of Migration Partners. These wizards and ninjas are equipped and ready to whisk Drupal 7 site owners off to the greener pastures of Drupal 10, ensuring a transition as smooth as a perfectly coded slider. This noble effort includes a treasure trove of resources and a spotlight on heroes-in-waiting, all offering a solid support system for any digital denizen needing migration magic.

🧿 See https://www.drupal.org/security-team/d7es

So you haven't updated yet, and you have no plans... What should you do?

To invoke the infamous Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy… Don’t Panic! 

We understand that in the vast and often confusing universe of software updates, finding yourself adrift with an outdated system might seem like being stuck in the Vogon constructor fleet's cafeteria without a clear escape plan.

But don't panic!

Just as the Hitchhiker's Guide has friendly advice on its cover, there is also a beacon of hope for your digital dilemma. First, take a deep breath (preferably not near Vogon poetry readings).

Now, we suggest you take a strategic approach: assess your current digital ecosystem where Drupal 7 EOL may impact, consult with knowledgeable beings (or Drupal Slack, drupal.org, and LinkedIn folks), and devise a strategic plan. 

Regarding hosting and security, here at amazee.io, we're the go-to-get-it-done-right crew for many navigating the Drupal 7 end of life crunch time. We get it —  migrating and re-platforming can be as tricky as herding cats at a laser show. That's why we offer a comprehensive hosting solution that includes deep dives into the complexities of our customers’ Drupal hosting environments and ownership of the security of your platforms. We ensure your sites are nicely categorized to keep the old software gremlins at bay, making your migration to Drupal 10 a smooth and secure process.

Drupal holds a special place in our amazee.io hearts. We are proud to offer hosting solutions to the Drupal community. Backed by our passion for Drupal, we are deeply committed to serving the Drupal community with the same enthusiasm and commitment that inspired us from the very beginning. Drupal is more than just a CMS for us. It's a deep part of our daily life.

As a hosting platform dialed into the needs of supporting, sustaining, and migrating legacy sites, we are linked to the Drupal ecosystem. We have a network of professional resources who know how to get the most out of our platform, which is designed for developers and emphasizes flexibility, security, and the ability to manage complex migrations efficiently. 

With our deep connection as a trusted partner in the global Drupal community, part of our mission is to support our clients and the general Drupal community through significant transitions like the Drupal 7 EOL era. The end of Drupal 7's lifecycle is not just a technical challenge but an opportunity for growth and modernization. With the proper preparation and partners, organizations can navigate this transition effectively, leveraging newer Drupal versions for improved performance, security, and functionality.

At amazee.io, we're plugged into the Drupal ecosystem, driven to support and help streamline your migrations from legacy systems with our developer-centric platform, which is all about flexibility, security, and managing complex migrations with ease. We’re here to see you through the Drupal 7 EOL transition and turn this challenge into an opportunity for growth and modernization together. 

Contact our team if you are facing a Drupal 7 EOL issue. We are happy to help and point you in the right direction!