As Drupal 7 reaches its end-of-life end of January 2025, it’s decision time: should you upgrade or explore better options? If you’re grappling with Drupal’s limitations or dreading the steep costs and complexities of upgrading, you’re not alone. Many organizations are rethinking their platforms, and for good reason.
At Elantis, we’ve guided countless organizations through seamless migrations from Drupal to SharePoint Online. The benefits? Lower maintenance costs, enhanced functionality, and strengthened data security. One client learned this lesson the hard way—suffering a significant data breach due to vulnerabilities in their outdated system.
With Drupal 7’s end of life just weeks away, sticking with a legacy platform is both risky and expensive—especially when you’re already investing in a Microsoft 365 tenant. Why sink resources into a costly rebuild when SharePoint Online offers a more efficient, scalable, and secure solution? It’s time to rethink your intranet. Let’s dive into why now is the perfect time to migrate—and how SharePoint can address the challenges you’re facing.
Is Drupal Holding You Back? Discover the Top 8 Reasons Why It Might Be Time to Move On!
A Steep Learning Curve: Let’s be honest: Drupal isn’t the easiest platform to use. Configuring it requires technical expertise, and non-technical users often struggle to make even simple updates without calling in developers.
Maintenance Overload: Constant updates, security patches, and the nightmare of major version upgrades (looking at you, Drupal 7 to 10) can drain your IT resources.
Hidden Costs: Sure, Drupal is open-source and technically free, but when you factor in developer salaries, hosting costs, and module updates, the expenses add up fast.
Dependency on Modules: The availability and compatibility of contributed modules can be inconsistent, especially during major version upgrades. If specific functionality is not available, organizations must develop custom modules, increasing complexity and cost.
Performance Woes: Without expert optimization, Drupal can lag, especially under high traffic. You’ll need advanced caching mechanisms to keep things smooth.
Integration Headaches: Want to connect Drupal to your CRM, ERP, or HRM tools? Be prepared for custom development and the ongoing challenges of keeping integrations up-to-date.
Limited Collaboration Features: Need advanced functionality? With Drupal, that means installing (and maintaining) a pile of custom or contributed modules. Drupal lacks native tools for real-time collaboration or document management, unlike platforms like SharePoint or Microsoft Teams.
Security Concerns: Security updates depend on the Drupal community, which can delay fixes for newly discovered vulnerabilities.
Summary of Pressing Limitations
Organizations often struggle with these limitations when they lack sufficient technical resources, require frequent updates, or prioritize user-friendly, out-of-the-box solutions. For such cases, exploring alternative platforms or managed CMS solutions may be more practical.
| Category | Challenges |
| Technical Complexity | High learning curve and dependency on developers. |
| Cost | Free core, but development, hosting, and maintenance can be expensive. |
| Performance | Requires optimization to handle high traffic effectively. |
| User Experience | Less intuitive for non-technical users compared to other CMS platforms. |
| Module Dependency | Heavy reliance on contributed modules, which can pose compatibility and support risks. |
| Integration | Limited native integrations, requiring custom development for third-party systems. |
Thinking of Moving from Drupal 7 to Drupal 10? Here’s Why It Might Not Be the Best Idea!
If you’re running your intranet on Drupal 7, the idea of upgrading to Drupal 10 might seem like a logical step to stay current. But before you dive in, let’s talk about the reality of this migration and why it could be more trouble than it’s worth.
The cost of upgrading varies widely depending on the complexity of your intranet. However, it’s rarely a straightforward or budget-friendly process. Let’s break down the major challenges:
Content Migration: A Tedious Affair
Migrating your intranet content to Drupal 10 isn’t as simple as flipping a switch. Tools and APIs can help, but they often fall short for intranets with custom content types or unique structures. In these cases, manual adjustments are unavoidable—and time-consuming. This process can easily eat up weeks of effort, especially if your intranet has years of archived content.
Custom Code Overhaul
If your intranet has custom-built functionality, brace yourself for a rewrite. Drupal 7’s PHP-based code is outdated and incompatible with Drupal 10’s modern framework. Even with tools like the Upgrade Status module, significant manual intervention will be required. Think of it as moving from a typewriter to a modern word processor—it’s not just an upgrade; it’s a whole new way of working.
Frontend Theme Rebuild
Remember that custom design you invested in? Unfortunately, Drupal 7 themes won’t work in Drupal 10. The move from PHP templates to Twig means your theme will need a complete rebuild. This is more than just copying over styles; it’s a ground-up redesign, which could mean thousands of dollars in design and development costs.
Module Mayhem
Many contributed or custom modules in Drupal 7 don’t have direct equivalents in Drupal 10. This means you’ll need to review, replace, or even rebuild critical functionality. For instance, are you using custom search feature or e-commerce integration? It likely needs an alternative solution—and that takes time, expertise, and budget.
Testing and Training: The Hidden Costs
Once the migration is complete, testing is essential to ensure everything works as intended. This includes functional testing, performance optimization, and security checks. And don’t forget training your team—Drupal 10 introduces new workflows and features that may require a steep learning curve.
So, Is It Worth It?
If you’re already investing this much time, money, and effort, it’s worth considering whether Drupal is still the right platform for your organization. The cost can range from $15,000 to over $100,000, depending on the complexity of your intranet. For smaller intranets, the price tag might hover around the lower end, but for larger, custom-built platforms, the costs can skyrocket. When you factor in ongoing maintenance and the possibility of repeating this process for future upgrades, it’s easy to see why organizations are rethinking their dependency on Drupal altogether.
Why not evaluate modern alternatives that are easier to maintain, cost-effective, and future-proof?
Why SharePoint Online? A Compelling Alternative
Drupal 7 served its purpose, but it might be time to say goodbye and embrace a platform that evolves with you.
If you’re ready for a platform that works for you instead of against you, moving to SharePoint Online is a smart move. Microsoft SharePoint Online, a core component of Microsoft 365, addresses many pain points associated with Drupal while offering additional benefits.
Simplified User Experience
With an intuitive interface and seamless integration with Microsoft 365 tools like Teams and OneDrive, SharePoint empowers everyone—from IT pros to non-technical users.
| Drupal | SharePoint |
| Steep Learning Curve: Designed for developers and advanced users; less intuitive for non-technical users. | User-Friendly for Microsoft Users: Integrates with familiar tools like Teams, OneDrive, and Outlook, making it easier for organizations already using Microsoft 365. |
No More Maintenance Nightmares
Say goodbye to manual updates and patches. SharePoint Online is a SaaS platform, so Microsoft handles all updates automatically. Global data centers ensure consistent performance for distributed teams.
Cost-Effective and Predictable
Instead of paying for expensive Drupal developers, you get a subscription-based model with tools like Teams, Power BI, and Power Automate included.
Enhanced Collaboration and Productivity
Need a document library, digital form, or automated workflow? SharePoint has you covered with pre-built templates and features that save time and effort. Real-time co-authoring, version control, and centralized file management improve team efficiency. Seamlessly integrates with Microsoft Teams for collaborative workflows.
| Drupal | SharePoint |
| Focused on Content Delivery: Collaboration features are limited and require additional modules or integrations. | Built for Collaboration: Includes built-in document sharing, co-authoring, version control, and workflow management. |
Enterprise-Grade Performance and Security
Built on Microsoft Azure, SharePoint offers fast performance, advanced threat protection, and compliance tools like Microsoft Purview to keep your data secure. M365 Enterprise-grade security includes multi-factor authentication, data encryption, and advanced threat protection.
Seamless Integration
SharePoint connects effortlessly with Microsoft 365 apps like Power BI, Dynamic 365 and even third-party tools like Salesforce and SAP. Custom workflows and apps can be developed with minimal coding using Power Platform.
SharePoint Vs Drupal – Summary
The choice between Drupal and SharePoint depends on your organization’s specific needs. Drupal excels in creating unique, content-rich web experiences, while SharePoint is better suited for enhancing productivity, collaboration, and document management within an organization.
| Factor | Drupal | SharePoint |
| Best For | Complex, public-facing websites. | Internal collaboration and document management. |
| Customization | Extensive, with technical expertise. | Configurable within the Microsoft ecosystem. |
| Ease of Use | Challenging for non-technical users. | Intuitive for Microsoft users. |
| Integration | Flexible but developer-dependent. | Seamless within Microsoft 365. |
| Cost | Open-source with variable costs. | Subscription-based, predictable costs. |
Microsoft 365 Vs Drupal – Summary
| Feature/Need | Microsoft 365 | Drupal |
| Primary Focus | Productivity, collaboration, business operations | Web content management, digital experiences |
| Scalability | Scales seamlessly in the cloud | Scales with appropriate hosting solutions |
| Customization | High with Power Platform and APIs | Very high, almost limitless |
| Collaboration Features | Built-in, seamless for teamwork | Requires integrations |
| Security and Compliance | Enterprise-grade, continuously updated | Depends on hosting and configurations |
| Cost Structure | Subscription-based | Open-source, with variable development costs |
| Use Cases | Hybrid work, data management, document collaboration | Websites, e-commerce, portals |
What’s the ROI? Real-World Benefits of SharePoint Online
Migrating to Microsoft 365 isn’t just a technology upgrade—it’s a strategic investment that delivers tangible cost savings, productivity gains, and long-term value. Here’s what real-world data and customer experiences tell us:
Cost Savings
- Say Goodbye to On-Premises Costs: Eliminating the need for maintaining on-premises servers can lead to infrastructure cost reductions of up to 16% annually, especially when organizations transition to Microsoft 365’s cloud-based solutions. You could avoid $350,000 in on-premises infrastructure purchases and resulting maintenance costs by migrating to the cloud in Year 1.
- Fast Payback and High ROI: A Forrester study found that adopting Microsoft 365 E3 delivers an impressive ROI of 205% over three years, with payback achieved in less than three months. These savings stem from reduced IT administration, vendor consolidation, and improved endpoint management.
Productivity Gains
- Enhanced Collaboration: Tools like Microsoft Teams, SharePoint, and OneDrive empower teams to collaborate in real-time, no matter where they are. Businesses using Teams have reported a 3% increase in employee productivity thanks to streamlined communication and easy access to shared resources.
- AI-Powered Efficiency: Microsoft Copilot’s AI-driven features have helped businesses cut operational costs by up to 20%, improve employee satisfaction, and accelerate time-to-market for new products by 15%-20%.
Business Agility and Security
- Robust Data Protection: With advanced threat protection and compliance tools, Microsoft 365 ensures data integrity and enables secure hybrid work environments. A Forrester report highlighted that organizations leveraging these features experienced a significant reduction in risks and operational inefficiencies.
These numbers showcase how Microsoft 365 can deliver long-term value by addressing common pain points like high maintenance costs, limited scalability, and collaboration challenges, ultimately driving growth and efficiency for organizations.
These numbers don’t just tell a story—they paint a vivid picture of the transformative power of Microsoft 365. Imagine eliminating high maintenance costs, scaling effortlessly as your organization grows, and watching your teams collaborate like never before.
Why Wait? Make the Move Now
With Drupal 7 sunsetting, the time to act is now. Whether you’re upgrading your intranet within the Drupal ecosystem or looking for a better long-term solution, SharePoint Online offers unmatched flexibility, security, and ease of use.
Migrating from Drupal to SharePoint might feel daunting, but that’s where Elantis comes in. We’ve helped organizations across industries make the leap, delivering tailored solutions that fit their unique needs. From migrating large content libraries to redesigning user experiences and integrating custom workflows, we know how to make your transition smooth and stress-free.
Ready to get started? Let’s talk! Contact us today to learn how we can help you modernize, streamline, and supercharge your digital operations.
