Drupal is an open-source content management system and web application framework used to manage and create website content. Various versions of Drupal launched over the years. Drupal 7 was launched on January 05, 2011, and since then, it has undergone various extensions.
An official announcement by the company states Drupal 7 will have its final extension once and for all; a date has also been designated for Drupal 7’s end of life. It brings us to our next question: when is drupal 7 end of life? The answer is January 05, 2025. In this blog, we explore why Drupal 7 is approaching the end of its life.
Technological Advancements
With constant technological advancements taking place at a noticeably fast rate, upgraded versions of the same devices or systems are launched frequently to replace the previous ones. Similar is the case with Drupal. Drupal 7 was released back in 2011 and built on the technology of that respective time.
Since then, various changes have occurred in web development practices and technologies, and so, new versions of Drupal are required to adapt and stay relevant in the ever-evolving digital landscape. It is essential to keep up with these technological changes, maintain compatibility with modern systems, and improve performance. These new versions include Drupal 8,9, and Drupal 10. Drupal 7 can no longer keep up with these advancements, and thus, is destined to be replaced.
Security and Privacy Risks
For any management system, ensuring security and privacy is essential. Checks for regular security audits are necessary to ensure the system is up-to-date. With the current Drupal 7 security system and update, there are high risks for the system to be vulnerable to hackers and cyber threats. At such a time, adapting new versions of Drupal that are up-to-date with the new security protocols is a logical outcome.
Drupal 7 lacks official security updates and is vulnerable to security exploits. A downside of technological advancements can be the way they can be used to evolve cyber threats and hacking techniques. Websites with Drupal 7 can be exposed to regulatory penalties and legal liabilities. Any successful hacking efforts of the website and security threats can cause defamation of the website and the owner. It can also negatively impact user experience.
Conclusion
While Drupal 7 will be coming to an end, there are various latest versions of Drupal that you can explore and use. At the end of the day, it is important to keep up with the evolving technology and practices. In the case of content management systems, it is important to get the best user experience, avoid security risks, and ensure compatibility with modern systems.
