Federal agency — upgrading four websites to Drupal 10

Overview

The challenge

A federal agency (that can’t be named for corporate communication reasons) had several websites operating on Drupal 9 with varying PHP versions — all were facing imminent end-of-life for Drupal 9 support. This posed potential security risks and limited the sites' ability to leverage the latest Drupal 10 features and performance improvements. The agency had identified three higher priority sites for upgrade.

The transformation

Salsa updated all three websites to Drupal 10 and PHP 8.1. This process included updating all modules, addressing vulnerabilities identified in the Drupal security report, and resolving errors highlighted by the Drupal status report.

While the original proposal was for the upgrading of three sites, Salsa was able to complete the upgrade well under budget, so, the agency requested that a fourth site be upgraded.

The outcomes

• Ensured continued security and support

• Enhanced website performance and user experience with updated modules and PHP version

• Improved maintainability and future-proofing of the websites, allowing for easier updates and feature additions

• Completed all four upgrades significantly under the proposed budget

It was a pleasure to work with the team from Salsa Digital. The Drupal upgrades ran very smoothly and were very well organised.

Considering the number of variables that are involved in any Drupal upgrade, this was quite an achievement.

I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend Salsa to any organisation that needs Drupal expertise and support.

Digital Content Manager

Detailed case study

Below is detailed information on the challenge, transformation and final outcomes/benefits.

The federal agency’s challenge — outdated websites

The government agency was facing a critical challenge with three of its Drupal websites. These sites were operating on Drupal 9, which was approaching its end-of-life, posing potential security and functionality risks. Each site had its unique set of complexities:

• The first site was the closest to being ready for an upgrade, already running on Drupal 9.5 and PHP 8.1.

• The second site was operating on an older version of Drupal 9 and PHP 7.4, requiring a more comprehensive upgrade process.

• The third site, while running on PHP 8.0, used premium themes and a suite of modules that needed major version upgrades.

The agency needed a quick, yet cost-effective way to update and refresh these websites, improve their information architecture, and ensure they remained secure and efficient in their functionality. The solution also needed to be easy to maintain and support future enhancements.

The agency’s transformation — comprehensive website upgrades

Salsa embarked on a comprehensive rebuild and upgrade of the agency's three websites. The transformation process included:

1. Upgrading all sites to Drupal 10 and ensuring compatibility with PHP 8.1

2. Updating all modules on each website to their latest versions

3. Addressing any vulnerabilities identified in the Drupal security report

4. Resolving errors or warnings highlighted by the Drupal status report

5. Conducting comprehensive regression testing to ensure key functionalities like form submissions and internal search operated flawlessly post-upgrade

For the site closest to the upgrade threshold, Salsa quickly addressed a limited number of non-compatible modules with Drupal 10-ready updates or patches, ensuring a smooth upgrade process.

The second site underwent a more comprehensive upgrade due to its reliance on Bootstrap 5 and various custom modules. Before tackling Drupal 10, it was first transitioned to Drupal 9.5 and PHP 8.1.

For the third site, given its use of premium themes and modules, Salsa recommended procuring upgraded, Drupal 10-compatible versions from the vendors to streamline the process. Where this wasn't feasible, Salsa approached the upgrade adhering to Drupal 9-to-10 best practices, committing to exhaustive testing to ensure full functionality.

Throughout the process, Salsa worked closely with the agency's in-house developer, ensuring a smooth transition and minimal disruption to the websites’ operations.

By following these best practices, Salsa was able to complete the website upgrade for these sites well under the proposed budget. This then led the agency to request an upgrade for an additional site, bringing the total number of sites upgraded to four.

The outcomes — modernised, secure and efficient websites

The transformation led to several positive outcomes for the federal agency:

1. Modernised websites: All four sites were successfully upgraded to Drupal 10, ensuring they remain current and supported.

2. Enhanced security: The websites' security was significantly improved by addressing vulnerabilities and updating to the latest versions of Drupal and PHP.

3. Improved performance: The upgrades resulted in more efficient websites, enhancing the overall user experience.

4. Future-proofed systems: The upgrades ensure the websites are well-positioned for future enhancements and continued support.

5. Seamless transition: Despite the complexity of the upgrades — particularly for the sites with custom modules and premium themes — the transition was managed with minimal disruption to the agency's operations.

6. Maintained functionality: Comprehensive testing ensured that all key functionalities, including form submissions and internal search, continued to operate flawlessly post-upgrade.

7. Cost-effective upgrades: By leveraging Salsa's expertise in Drupal upgrades and experience with government websites, the agency successfully modernised its digital presence, ensuring its websites remain secure, efficient, and ready to serve its users effectively.