The Pitfalls of Staying on Drupal 7 After Its End of Life

What does Drupal 7 end of life mean?

On January 5, 2025, Drupal 7 will officially reach its end of life. This means the Drupal community will no longer provide support for this version, including bug fixes, security updates, as well as new module releases and enhancements. While your Drupal 7 website will continue to function, it will pile up with security breaches, bugs, and errors due to the lack of support.

Here’s what you need to know about Drupal 7 eol:

• No new Drupal 7 packages will be released after the end of life date.
• You will see a notification about using an unsupported version in the admin interface.
• All D7 branches for products will be marked as unsupported.
• Drupal 7 issues may become public without fixes or prior notice.
• Third-party services may flag Drupal 7 sites as unsupported.

The risks of staying on Drupal 7 after official end-of-life

Staying on Drupal 7 after its eol comes with significant risks. We want you to be fully aware of these challenges so you can prepare for what lies ahead. While your site won’t stop working immediately, it’s crucial to understand the hidden risks.

Staying on Drupal 7? Here’s why end-of-life could cost you more than you think:

1. Security risks: It’s open season for hackers

When Drupal 7 reaches its end of life, the Drupal Security Team won’t release any security updates. If vulnerabilities pop up, they won’t just be ignored; they might be published publicly on forums on the dark net.

Without security patches installed timely, hackers will have an opportunity to break your code. Data leaks might become a reality. And don’t forget, Drupal 7 relies on other software libraries that might also be out of date. It’s like building a fortress… out of papier-mâché.

2. Server Incompatibility

Hosting providers evolve as any other technology. Drupal 7 might not be compatible with these upgrades. You may end up forcing your vintage 1990s flip phone to work with a 5G network—some things just weren’t made to last forever.

3. No more new features

Remember all those cool new Drupal modules and features that can be installed within a few clicks? Forget about any new contributed features or functionalities if you are staying on Drupal 7 after its end of life. And if you need something to get fixed in a module you already use, congrats, you’re now the developer—or you’ll need to hire one with a solid knowledge of custom PHP coding.

4. Lack of APIs for third-party integrations

If your site integrates with other platforms (APIs, payment gateways, shipping methods, or CRMs), those external systems will keep evolving. And when they do, your Drupal 7 API modules won’t remain compatible. Any 3rd-party integrations could stop working overnight if your website operates on Drupal 7 after it reaches end of life.

5. Poor user experience

Without updates, Drupal 7 sites will lag behind competitors, struggling with the lack of intuitive layouts, usable features, and state-of-the-art features, like AI tools. Thus, your website visitors will easily become frustrated, resulting in lower engagement rates.

6. Slow web performance

Every extra second your site takes to load costs you visitors, conversions, and revenue. In today’s world, patience is not a virtue—customers will bounce faster if website performance is low.

Never-ending support for Drupal 7: Why it might not work for you

Never-ending support (NES) for Drupal 7 is a challenging, time-consuming, and costly process. It means that you hire a dedicated Drupal team that provides extended Drupal support services after the D7 official end of life. Specialists will continuously monitor your website, delivering vital security updates, fixing bugs, and ensuring compatibility with 3rd party services.

Although sounding tempting, never-ending support for Drupal 7 has its pitfalls. It is crucial to understand all the challenges related to staying on outdated platforms before making the decision.

• Lack of innovation: Sticking with Drupal 7 means missing out on the exciting new features and enhancements that newer versions offer. It’s like clinging to an old phone while everyone else is upgrading to the latest tech—you’re left struggling to keep up in a fast-moving digital world.
• High maintenance costs: Keeping Drupal 7 running can feel like patching up an old car. You’ll likely need to invest heavily in specialized developers or agencies to keep things working smoothly, and those costs can add up quickly—sometimes even more than upgrading would.
• Limited developer availability: As the community focuses on the latest versions, finding developers who are both skilled and willing to work with Drupal 7 could become a real challenge. This shrinking talent pool could make it harder to improve your site or resolve issues down the road.
• Lack of scalability: If your business is growing, Drupal 7 might struggle to keep up. Think of it like trying to squeeze into a pair of shoes you’ve outgrown—it just won’t fit your needs anymore. Upgrading to a newer version ensures your digital presence can expand effortlessly alongside your business.

Good news! The Drupal Association has officially created the Extended Security Support Provider Program which allows you to purchase extended security support for Drupal 7. If you have considered all the challenges related to Drupal 7 eol and are ready to address them, you can choose extended security support for your website, provided by certified vendors: HeroDevs, Tag1 Consulting, and DropSolid.

Migrate to Drupal 11

Drupal 11 is the latest core version available today. Keeping your website updated isn’t just about staying secure but also about delivering a better experience for your users and ensuring customer satisfaction. Timely updated website means you can maintain it at minimal effort and access open-source resources from the Drupal Community, such as security patches, modules, and APIs.

Is your website ready for Drupal 11? Discover in our latest blog post.

Benefits of migrating to Drupal 11

The benefits of Drupal 11 update cannot be overestimated. Let’s take a closer look at some of them:

• Timely security patch releases and module updates.
• Simplifies content editing features.
• Enhanced User Experience (UX).
• Better performance.
• Allows for scalability.

Migrate to Drupal CMS

Although not live yet, the new Drupal CMS 1.0 release is planned for January 15, 2025, which is also Drupal's 24th birthday. This is a revolutionary release aimed at users with no coding skills. It facilitates site building, allowing marketers or web designers to set up a platform via a browser utilizing the set of predefined ‘recipes’. Although migrating to the new Drupal CMS will not fit complex sites with custom business operations, it is still a great solution for content-based platforms. And in the near future, we anticipate Drupal CMS to fully substitute Drupal Core.

Learn more about the new Drupal CMS in our recent blog post.

Benefits of migrating to Drupal CMS

• No coding skills are required for site building and maintenance.
• AI-driven tools like AI-assisted content migration, page building, and SEO-friendly content generation.
• Pre-built ‘recipes’ include all the necessary functionalities required for a certain type of website.
• User-friendly content editors and interfaces.

Migration vs never-ending-support: Thing to consider

Extended support for Drupal 7 is not a one-size-fits-all option for website owners. Make an informed decision based on your budget, objectives, and long-term business goals. Here are the main things to consider when choosing between migrating from Drupal 7 to 11 and NES.

1. Budget

Making the leap to Drupal 11 can feel like a big-ticket item upfront, especially if your website needs a redesign or new architecture. But think of it as an investment rather than an expense. That initial cost sets the stage for long-term savings because keeping an updated platform running smoothly is easier and more cost-effective than sticking to an aging one.

Now, sticking with Drupal 7 under never-ending support might sound like a safer bet, but it’s really a wallet-drainer in disguise. Maintaining an officially outdated system demands niche expertise, and those experts don’t come cheap. As time goes on and fewer developers specialize in Drupal 7, maintenance costs will only increase.

2. Features and functionalities

Drupal 11 isn’t just an upgrade. It’s a gateway to a world of modern features. From advanced APIs to better media handling and integration with today’s must-have tools, it’s all about delivering a slicker, more competitive user experience.

With the NES for Drupal 7, you’re stuck in the tech equivalent of a time capsule. No new modules. No cutting-edge tools. And certainly no edge over competitors who’ve embraced the future. Why risk being left behind?

3. Drupal maintenance

Switching to Drupal 11 makes life so much easier. With a vibrant community, regular updates, and developers who actually want to work on your platform, maintenance becomes less of a headache and more of a routine. Plus, newer versions mean fewer surprises when things need fixing.

Sticking with Drupal 7 under NES? That’s a different story. Maintenance gets messy: think custom patches, endless workarounds, and rising costs. As developers move on to newer systems, finding someone to keep your old site afloat could feel like searching for a unicorn.

4. Website security

In today’s online landscape, security is everything. Drupal 11 shines here with constant updates and a proactive community that stays ahead of cyber threats. An updated platform isn’t just safer, it’s peace of mind.

Now, the NES for Drupal 7 might keep the lights on, but security coverage depends on your provider, and let’s face it: a legacy system is always playing defense against new vulnerabilities. If you’re not careful, your site could be a sitting duck.

5. Web performance

Drupal 11 is built for speed and scalability, meaning faster load times, better handling of traffic spikes, and smoother user experiences. Whether you’re growing your audience or adding new features, it’s a platform that can keep up with your ambitions.

Meanwhile, Drupal 7 lags behind. Performance bottlenecks and expensive custom fixes are par for the course. Over time, those limitations could put the brakes on your digital growth when you can least afford it.

Avoid risks and migrate Drupal 7 now

Invest some time and budget into Drupal 7 migration now and forget about risks and issues related to Drupal 7 end of life later.

We at Drupfan are seasoned Drupal developers with proven expertise in web development. We address the migration projects with all the precision and attention to detail they require, updating websites at zero downtime and no data loss.