Sitecore Support: When Do I need a Sitecore Upgrade and How Long Will It Take?

In the rapidly evolving digital landscape, maintaining up-to-date software is crucial for security, performance, and access to new features. Sitecore, a leading digital experience platform, has established a structured Product Support Lifecycle to guide organizations in managing their Sitecore implementations effectively.

The lifecycle policy outlines the final deadlines for maintaining official Sitecore support, helping organizations understand the absolute latest they can delay an upgrade without losing security patches or technical assistance.

However, waiting until the last moment comes with significant risks, including increased upgrade complexity, potential downtime, and security vulnerabilities. Upgrading sooner allows for better planning, minimizes disruption, and ensures you remain compliant and competitive.

Understanding Sitecore's Support Phases

Sitecore's Product Support Lifecycle comprises three distinct phases:

1. Mainstream Sitecore Support: This initial phase lasts for three years from the product's general availability date. During this period, Sitecore provides comprehensive support, including assistance with production incidents, security updates, and compatibility fixes.
2. Extended Support: Following Mainstream Support, Extended Support extends assistance for an additional three years. While security updates and production support continue, some services may require special arrangements, and certain updates, like compatibility fixes, are no longer provided.

Risks of Operating Outside Sitecore Support Phases

Continuing to use Sitecore versions beyond their supported phases poses several risks:

• Security Vulnerabilities: Without regular security updates, outdated versions become susceptible to emerging threats, potentially compromising sensitive data.
• Compliance Issues: Operating unsupported software can lead to non-compliance with industry regulations and standards, risking legal and reputational repercussions.
• Operational Challenges: Lack of official support can result in prolonged downtimes and increased maintenance costs due to the absence of timely assistance and updates.

Current Sitecore Product Support Lifecycle & Status of Sitecore Versions

As of March 2025, the support status for various Sitecore versions is as follows:

Note: Versions earlier than 9.0 are already out of Extended Support.

Why Sitecore 9.3 and 9.2 Users Must Upgrade Now!

Organizations still running Sitecore 9.3 or 9.2 are approaching the end of Extended Sitecore Support by December 2025. This means that by 2026, they will no longer receive security patches or official assistance from Sitecore, exposing them to significant security risks, compliance failures, and operational instability.

For those on versions older than 9.2, the situation is even more critical—Extended Support has already ended, meaning no security patches are available, leaving systems highly vulnerable to cyber threats and data breaches. Regulatory frameworks, particularly in finance, healthcare, and the public sector, mandate up-to-date and supported software to ensure data security and compliance with industry standards.

Expected Sitecore Upgrade Timelines and Effort

The time required for a Sitecore upgrade depends on the complexity of your implementation. Below is a comparison of traditional upgrade timelines versus those utilizing Dataweavers Fusion, which accelerates the process while reducing effort.

By leveraging Dataweavers Fusion, organizations can significantly reduce upgrade timelines, lower risk, and ensure a seamless transition to supported Sitecore versions.

Act Now to Maintain Compliance and Performance

Delaying your Sitecore upgrade can expose your organization to critical risks, including security vulnerabilities, compliance failures, and operational inefficiencies. Beyond mitigating these risks, upgrading presents significant advantages, such as access to new features and performance benefits.

The graph below illustrates the latest possible start dates for a traditional Sitecore upgrade, assuming a smooth process with no delays. However, relying on traditional upgrade methods can be time-consuming, costly, and prone to unexpected challenges.

For comparison, we’ve overlayed the Dataweavers Fusion solution, which not only accelerates the upgrade process but also minimizes risk, reduces complexity, and delivers a lower Total Cost of Ownership (TCO).

Planning Your Sitecore Upgrade

The duration and complexity of a Sitecore upgrade depend on several factors:

• Solution Complexity: Highly customized implementations may require more extensive adjustments.
• Number of Integrations: Multiple third-party integrations can increase the intricacy of the upgrade process.
• Feature Utilization: Extensive use of specific Sitecore features that have been deprecated may necessitate additional considerations during the upgrade.

To assist in evaluating your current Sitecore environment, we offer a complimentary 10-minute Digital Readiness Assessment, backed by insights from over 100 successful upgrades. Leveraging our proprietary upgrade model, surfaced through the Dataweavers Digital Readiness Assessment (portal.dataweavers.com), this assessment delivers a high-fidelity upgrade complexity and size report. With just 25 targeted questions, you’ll gain a data-driven roadmap for your Sitecore upgrade, helping you plan with confidence and precision.

Get Started Now

Ensure your team is fully prepared by completing our 10-15 minute Digital Readiness Assessment. This free assessment provides a comprehensive benchmark of your Sitecore environment and delivers a clear, data-driven roadmap for your upgrade.

Start the assessment now and gain the insights needed to move forward with confidence. For a more in-depth review, contact us to discuss how we can streamline your upgrade with zero disruption to your day-to-day operations.

Let's chat!