The #1 Mistake US Businesses Make With Drupal Migration

Migrating to the latest version of Drupal offers businesses in the U.S. stronger performance, enhanced security, and future-proof capabilities. Yet, many companies stumble during this critical transition. The single biggest mistake is treating Drupal migration as a simple technical upgrade instead of a full digital transformation strategy. This blog unpacks why this happens, the risks it creates, and how U.S. businesses can avoid costly pitfalls. You will also learn how Anchor Points guides enterprises through successful Drupal migrations with structured planning, compliance readiness, and post-migration support.

Why Drupal Migration Is Business-Critical

Drupal 7 will reach its official end of life in January 2025, meaning businesses still on legacy versions will face:

• Security vulnerabilities with no official patches
• Compatibility issues with modern hosting and third-party APIs
• Compliance risks (HIPAA, ADA, GDPR, CCPA) due to unsupported modules
• Rising maintenance costs from patchwork fixes

For U.S. businesses in regulated industries such as healthcare, finance, and government, this makes migration urgent. A well-executed migration sets the foundation for growth, while a poorly managed one introduces risk.

Author’s Expert Viewpoint:
At Anchor Points we’ve seen companies rush migration, only to spend more fixing broken modules and integrations later. Migration should be treated like a full-scale project, not a “copy-paste” upgrade.

The #1 Mistake: Treating Drupal Migration as a Simple Upgrade

Most U.S. businesses assume migration is just moving data and code from Drupal 7 to Drupal 9 or 10. The reality is very different. Each major Drupal version is a re-platforming exercise that requires:

• Rebuilding themes using new Twig templates
• Updating or replacing unsupported contributed modules
• Re-evaluating hosting, caching, and security strategies
• Revisiting compliance standards for ADA/WCAG and HIPAA
• Training teams on new workflows and content management features

Why This Becomes a Costly Mistake

• Businesses underestimate budget and timelines, leading to project overruns
• Legacy modules break, causing downtime and functional gaps
• Security misconfigurations emerge because older practices no longer apply
• Teams lose productivity if not trained on new Drupal workflows

Case Example:
A U.S. retail company rushed its Drupal 7 to 9 migration without auditing modules. Half of their e-commerce features stopped working, leading to two months of revenue loss. They eventually rebuilt with an experienced agency, doubling their original costs.

Anchor Points Integration:
Our team begins every migration with a full discovery audit: cataloging content, modules, third-party integrations, and compliance requirements. We then build a roadmap for rebuilding, not just porting, ensuring nothing breaks during launch.

Author’s Viewpoint:
Migration is not an IT chore. It is an opportunity to modernize, streamline, and strengthen digital strategy. Treating it otherwise is the fastest way to fail.

Supporting Mistakes That Stem From the #1 Issue

1. Ignoring Module Compatibility

Over 60 percent of Drupal 7 contributed modules are not directly compatible with Drupal 9/10. Many require custom replacements or rebuilding.

Anchor Points Solution:
We provide a module compatibility map, replacing outdated add-ons with modern equivalents.

2. Underestimating Content Migration

Legacy sites often have thousands of nodes, images, and custom content types. Without proper planning, businesses face broken links, missing metadata, and SEO drops.

Anchor Points Solution:
We use automated migration tools and SEO audits to ensure URLs, metadata, and redirects stay intact.

3. Overlooking Compliance and Security

Many businesses fail to revalidate ADA, HIPAA, or GDPR compliance after migration. A compliant Drupal 7 site does not guarantee a compliant Drupal 10 site.

Anchor Points Solution:
Our compliance team validates accessibility, consent flows, and encryption standards during every migration.

4. No Post-Migration Plan

Some companies launch and walk away. Without long-term support, sites quickly become outdated or vulnerable.

Anchor Points Solution:
We provide 24/7 support and future upgrade planning, ensuring platforms remain stable, secure, and scalable.

How to Avoid the #1 Mistake

• Audit first: Catalog modules, integrations, content, and compliance requirements
• Plan holistically: Treat migration as digital transformation, not just code transfer
• Budget realistically: Allocate for module rebuilding, training, and testing
• Test thoroughly: Use staging environments, QA processes, and user acceptance testing
• Invest in support: Ensure post-migration monitoring and proactive updates

Author’s Expert Viewpoint:
A structured migration is an investment in future stability. Cutting corners always costs more in the long run.

Final Takeaways

The #1 mistake U.S. businesses make with Drupal migration is treating it as a simple upgrade instead of a full-scale transformation. This mindset leads to broken functionality, compliance risks, and wasted budgets.

At Anchor Points, our migration framework ensures:

• Complete discovery and module audit
• Seamless content migration with SEO intact
• Compliance validation for HIPAA, ADA, GDPR, and CCPA
• Post-migration monitoring and support

Still on Drupal 7 or 8? Don’t risk downtime or compliance penalties. Contact Anchor Points today to start your Drupal migration plan with confidence.

FAQs

Q1. How long does a Drupal migration take?
Timelines vary from 8–12 weeks for small sites to 6–12 months for large enterprise platforms.

Q2. Is Drupal 7 still safe to use?
After January 2025, Drupal 7 will no longer receive official security patches, leaving sites exposed to vulnerabilities.

Q3. Can all modules be migrated to Drupal 9 or 10?
Not all. Many require replacements or rebuilding due to compatibility changes.

Q4. What is the cost of Drupal migration in the U.S.?
Costs typically range from $25,000 to $300,000 depending on size, integrations, and compliance requirements.

Q5. Should we upgrade directly to Drupal 10 or wait for 11?
It is best to move to Drupal 10 now. Delaying increases risk. Drupal 11 migrations will be smoother if you are already on Drupal 10.