Migrations & Modernization
Secure, automated, and planned iterative migrations from legacy CMSs to Drupal.
Validated Cutover
Modernize without Disruption
What You Get
Deliverables
Our Process
How We Migrate
Four phases, each with a documented rollback path.
Establishing access & structure
- Source database access
- Content inventory
- Structural assessment
- SEO baseline
Build the new structure and connect it to the old
- Drupal content modeling
- Source-to-destination mapping
- URL redirect map
- Risk register
Run the migration in cycles
- Migration script development
- Iterative test migrations
- Content grooming
- Accessibility and SEO enhancement
Go-live with validated system
- Final production migration
- Rollback plan activation
- Post-migration verification
- Migration completion report
Our Latest Work
Cook Political Report: An Acquia Award-Finalist Digital Strategy for U.S. Election Analysis
500 new subscribers in one month after the redesign.
61% more pageviews after donations moved into new CMS.
1,500 pages migrated with 99% fewer SEO errors.
"They're exceptionally responsive, solutions‑driven, and technically reliable."
Lasting Impact
Organizations choose Vardot to build secure, connected Drupal platforms that support critical services and keep evolving after launch.
Related Capabilities
Before You Book Your Call
Common Questions
Vardot has delivered migrations from SharePoint (2013, 2016, and 2019), WordPress, ColdFusion, Texis, Drupal 7, Drupal 8, Drupal 9, custom PHP, custom .NET, and static HTML. The migration scripts are written per source system using Drupal's Migrate API, Migrate Plus, and Migrate Tools, then versioned in Git and run iteratively until the final go-live. New source systems are scoped during architecture rather than promised on a marketing page.
Every legacy URL is mapped to a new Drupal URL during the inventory phase. The mapping becomes a redirect map deployed at go-live as 301 redirects, so external links and search-engine equity transfer to the new platform. Canonical tags, hreflang for multilingual sites, schema.org structured data, and XML sitemaps are reviewed during migration and improved where the legacy implementation was incomplete. Search Console is monitored after launch to confirm the transfer.
Content with no structured equivalent on the destination platform is flagged during the mapping phase and recreated manually with editorial review. Common cases: long-form content stored as a single HTML blob with inline styling, embedded files in formats the new platform does not support, taxonomy terms that no longer match the editorial model, and historic content the inventory tags for removal. The completion report itemizes every manual intervention.
Yes. Migrations and redesigns are scoped as separate workstreams and can run on independent timelines. Some clients migrate first onto the new platform with the legacy design preserved, then redesign on the new platform. Others run migration and redesign in parallel and go live together. The recommendation depends on platform risk, editorial bandwidth, and the launch window. The choice is made during scoping.
Length depends on source-system complexity, content volume, integration count, and the destination content model. The final test iteration is scheduled so the go-live replaces a system already validated against the new platform, with iteration counts and timing set during scoping against named-client precedent. Speak to a consultant for a scoped estimate.
A Drupal solutions architect, a backend engineering lead specializing in Migrate API, a content strategist, an SEO and accessibility reviewer, and a project manager. Same people from kickoff through launch. Specialists for the source system, integration handoff, and hosting transition join the engagement as the workstreams call for them.
