Upgrade Your Sitecore Platform with Confidence
Whether you need to reach version 10.4 for continued support or you are ready to move to SitecoreAI, HT Blue delivers proven upgrade strategies that minimize risk and maximize value.
Strategic Upgrade Planning for Every Scenario
Sitecore XP 9.3 support ended December 31, 2025, and organizations on older versions face increasing security risks and maintenance challenges. An upgrade to version 10.4 extends your support window through 2027 with extended options to 2030, while also positioning your environment for an eventual transition to SitecoreAI.
Our upgrade experts evaluate your current implementation, identify compatibility issues with custom code and third-party modules, and develop a migration plan that balances technical requirements with business continuity. We also help you determine whether a direct upgrade, a rebuild on headless architecture, or a full transition to SitecoreAI makes the most sense for your organization.
Our Sitecore Upgrade Process
After 20 years of doing Sitecore Upgrades, our Sitecore Solution Architects have streamlined the Sitecore Upgrade process the Sitecore way. We don't rely on generic migration tools or one-size-fits-all scripts. Our expertise allows us to proactively identify potential issues, effectively resolve them, and confidently upgrade your Sitecore instance to the latest version, ensuring a seamless process with no data loss.
Technical Assessment and Roadmap
We analyze your current Sitecore version, custom modules, integrations, and hosting environment to identify upgrade blockers and define the optimal path forward.
Code Audit and Compatibility Review
We evaluate custom components, third-party modules, and API dependencies for compatibility with your target version and remediate issues before migration begins.
Environment Preparation
We configure your target environment with updated infrastructure requirements including Solr 9.8, .NET upgrades, and SQL Server compatibility.
Content and Data Migration
We migrate content, media, analytics data, and marketing definitions using Sitecore's migration tools and custom scripts to ensure complete data integrity.
Validation and Go-Live
We conduct thorough testing across all functionality, implement blue-green deployment for zero-downtime releases, and provide post-upgrade support to ensure stability.
Sitecore Support Lifecycle: Key Dates You Need to Know
Sitecore follows a structured support lifecycle with three phases: Mainstream Support (full updates, security patches, and new features for three years), Extended Support (critical fixes only for an additional three years, often at extra cost), and Sustaining Support (limited incident assistance for two more years with no patches). Understanding where your version falls is critical for planning your upgrade timeline.
Sitecore XP/XM 10.4 (Released April 2024): Mainstream support through December 31, 2027. Extended support through December 31, 2030. Sustaining support through 2032. This is the recommended target version for organizations remaining on-premise.
Sitecore XP/XM 10.3 (Released October 2022): Mainstream support ended December 31, 2025. Now in Extended Support phase through December 31, 2028.
Sitecore XP/XM 10.2 (Released November 2021): Mainstream support ended December 31, 2024. Now in Extended Support phase through December 31, 2027.
Sitecore XP/XM 10.1 (Released January 2021): Mainstream support ended December 31, 2023. Now in Extended Support phase through December 31, 2026.
Sitecore XP/XM 10.0 (Released August 2020): Mainstream support ended December 31, 2023. Now in Extended Support phase through December 31, 2026.
Sitecore XP/XM 9.3 (Released November 2019): Mainstream support ended December 31, 2022. Extended support ended December 31, 2025. Now in Sustaining Support with no security patches available.
Sitecore 9.2 and Earlier: All versions 9.2 and older are past Extended Support. Sitecore 8.x versions reached end of Extended Support on December 31, 2022. Organizations running these versions face significant security risks and should prioritize immediate upgrade planning.
Source: Sitecore Product Support Lifecycle (KB0641167). Dates subject to change; verify current support status at support.sitecore.com.
Frequently Asked Sitecore Upgrade Questions
What does it really mean for Sitecore's end of Mainstream Support, Extended Support and Sustaining Support?
Mainstream Support means Sitecore fully maintains the product with regular updates, security fixes, and help when something breaks. Extended Support means you still get important security fixes and limited help, but no new features or improvements. Sustaining Support means there are no new fixes at all and you only have access to old documentation and should plan an upgrade.
When do I really need to upgrade?
If you have a Sitecore Partner like HT Blue, you're solid for 6 years from the launch, that means through the end of extended support. You really only need the security patches from Sitecore. All other support best comes from a partner. Security patches stop when the sustaining phase hits.
What are the $'s for in the Sitecore documentation for Extended Support Phase and Sustaining Support Phase
That's Sitecore's paid support model, which Sitecore is "partner first" and you'll typically find better support and answers to your questions from Sitecore partners like HT Blue. HT Blue can engage with Sitecore Support if we find bugs or vulnerabilities within the platform itself, but while this is rare, we have found a few bugs and Sitecore will send us a hotfix or patch.
How long does an upgrade take?
Depends on how many versions you're behind. Depends on how many customizations you have to the platform itself. Depends on the health or "upgradability" depending on how the platform was implemented. Typically, we average about 10 weeks. Most of the time is actually testing and client verification. (We actually did our own site in under a week, it's possible)
Why do Sitecore upgrades cost so much and take so long?
Most commonly it is upgradability of your current instance typically due to a Sitecore partner that didn't follow Sitecore best practices. There are some cardinal rules that you learn through experience. Some things we look for immediately. Use of GlassMapper - This was popular but not recommended ORM that developers loved for a hot minute, but is found to be a huge blocker for upgrades and is known to cause performance issues. Improper Modifications to the web.config or any Sitecore.config files - Best practices is to use patch configs, role configs and proper .net transforms.