With Drupal 7 officially reaching its End-of-Life (EOL) on 5 January 2025, organisations still reliant on this platform face pressing questions about their next steps. The shift away from Drupal 7 is not just a technical necessity but a strategic opportunity to modernise digital infrastructure. Below, I address the most common concerns, challenges, and steps involved in transitioning from Drupal 7 to newer versions like Drupal 10 or 11.

What Is Involved in Upgrading from Drupal 7?

Upgrading from Drupal 7 to Drupal 10 or 11 is a complex process due to the fundamental architectural changes introduced in Drupal 8 and carried forward into later versions. Unlike traditional updates, this transition requires rebuilding your site. The following high-level steps outline the process:

1. Assessment: Evaluate your current Drupal 7 site, its architecture, and the customisations it includes.
2. Planning: Develop a comprehensive migration plan, accounting for modules, themes, and data structures.
3. Module Review: Determine which contributed modules are compatible with Drupal 11 and identify replacements for unsupported ones.
4. Rebuilding: Set up a new Drupal 10 instance with necessary contributed modules.
5. Custom Code Updates: Rewrite or refactor custom modules to align with Drupal 11’s APIs.
6. Content Migration: Use automated tools to migrate content into Drupal 11, ensuring data integrity.
7. Theming: Rebuild your site’s theme using the Twig templating engine, as Drupal 7 themes are incompatible.
8. Testing: Perform rigorous testing to identify and resolve issues.
9. Launch: Deploy your new Drupal 11 site and ensure all systems function seamlessly.
10. Training: Educate your team on the new platform’s features and workflows.

For a detailed breakdown of these steps, see our blog: Upgrading from Drupal 7 to Drupal 11.

Compatibility of Drupal 7 Modules with Drupal 9/10

Drupal 7’s architecture differs significantly from its successors, meaning most modules require updates or replacements. Fortunately, many popular Drupal 7 modules have been redeveloped for Drupal 10 and 11, or their functionalities are now built into the core. Tools like the Upgrade Status module can help evaluate your existing modules’ compatibility and streamline the transition.

Content Migration

Migrating content from Drupal 7 is a critical aspect of the upgrade process. For smaller sites, content can be manually moved. However, for larger sites, automated migration tools provided by Drupal’s migration module are essential. Before migration, your new Drupal 11 content structures—such as content types, taxonomies, media types, and menus—must be configured to ensure the data is transferred accurately.

Theming Challenges

One of the most significant challenges is the incompatibility of Drupal 7 themes with Drupal 11. Drupal 7 used PHP templates, whereas newer versions use Twig, requiring themes to be rebuilt from scratch. This can be resource-intensive, but using modern design systems can reduce development time and ensure accessibility and responsiveness.

Why Upgrading Matters: Key Differences Between Drupal 7 and 9/10/11

The transition from Drupal 7 to newer versions is more than a simple update; it represents a shift to a modern, API-first architecture. Notable improvements include:

• Enhanced Theming: Twig provides a more secure and flexible templating system.
• API-First Approach: Easier integration with headless and decoupled architectures.
• Out-of-the-Box Features: Built-in multilingual capabilities, responsive images, dynamic page caching, and a better text editor (CKEditor).
• Performance: Faster loading times and improved scalability.

These enhancements make Drupal 9/10/11 more powerful and future-ready compared to Drupal 7.

Addressing Security During Migration

An upgrade can inadvertently introduce security vulnerabilities if not executed correctly. Following Drupal best practices is essential, including:

• Updating all modules and opting into Drupal’s security advisory coverage.
• Reviewing custom code for vulnerabilities.
• Installing hardening tools like the Security Kit module.
• Testing rigorously before going live.

For those unable to migrate immediately, solutions like static site generation can keep your content accessible while mitigating security risks.

Handling Unsupported Contributed Modules

Contributed modules that lack Drupal 11 support present a common challenge. Organisations must:

1. Evaluate alternatives that offer similar functionality.
2. Develop custom modules to replicate critical features if no alternatives exist.
3. Reassess whether the module’s functionality is still necessary.

Prioritising essential modules during the migration process can help manage time and resources effectively.

Hardware Requirements for Drupal 11

Upgrading to Drupal 11 requires ensuring that your hosting environment meets its hardware and software specifications. These include:

• Modern database servers (e.g., MySQL, PostgreSQL).
• Web servers like Apache or Nginx.
• PHP version 8.1 or later.

Managed hosting providers typically meet these requirements. However, self-hosted solutions require careful configuration to avoid performance bottlenecks.

Timeframes and Costs

The duration and expense of upgrading from Drupal 7 depend on the complexity of your site. Traditional rebuilds often require significant investment.

Common Challenges in Upgrading from Drupal 7

Six primary obstacles organisations face include:

1. Compatibility Issues: Many modules and themes are incompatible with Drupal 11.
2. Content Migration: Moving data requires careful planning and execution.
3. Custom Code: Custom modules often need extensive rewrites.
4. Technical Debt: Legacy code and practices can complicate upgrades.
5. Learning Curve: Adapting to the architectural changes in newer Drupal versions can be challenging.
6. Costs: The time and resources required for a traditional upgrade can be significant.

Future-Proofing Your Digital Presence

Drupal 11 offers a modern, flexible architecture that supports future innovations like headless CMS solutions and advanced integrations. By upgrading, organisations can enhance their digital capabilities and remain competitive in an ever-evolving landscape.

Conclusion

The impending End-of-Life for Drupal 7 signals an urgent need for organisations to act. Upgrading to Drupal 11 is not just a technical necessity but an opportunity to adopt a modern, scalable, and secure platform that meets today’s digital demands. By planning carefully, organisations can streamline the transition, future-proof their infrastructure, and unlock the full potential of their digital presence.

Now is the time to take the leap—waiting until the last minute could mean increased costs, risks, and missed opportunities. Let’s future-proof your digital experience together.