Umbraco to WordPress migration: Site launch and deployment

The launch phase is where all your planning and development efforts come together. A smooth transition from Umbraco to WordPress depends on more than just code, it requires process discipline, clear communication, and fallback options.

By following a structured deployment checklist, executing a tightly coordinated go-live plan, and preparing a solid rollback strategy, you ensure business continuity and platform readiness from day one.

Deployment checklist

A comprehensive deployment checklist ensures all essential tasks are completed before the WordPress site goes live:

Final Quality Engineering (QE) review

• Revalidate migrated content for accuracy, formatting, and broken links
• Confirm consistent design and layout across browsers, screen sizes, and devices
• Validate accessibility features are working as expected

SEO and redirect readiness

• Implement 301 redirects for all legacy Umbraco URLs using plugins or server configs
• Confirm meta titles, descriptions, canonical tags, schema markup, and XML sitemaps are in place and crawlable

Staging environment testing

• Simulate real-world traffic and test high-priority workflows (forms, search, checkout, logins)
• Validate connections with critical third-party systems like CRMs, analytics tools, and CDPs
• Run final performance and security tests to catch last-minute issues

Server and hosting setup

• Double-check database configuration and secure credentials
• Enforce HTTPS with a valid SSL certificate
• Set up CDN rules and asset caching to minimize latency and handle scale

Backup and recovery

• Take a full backup of the WordPress site (code + database + media)
• Retain a secure backup of the Umbraco site in case rollback is required

Permissions and security

• Audit file permissions to prevent unauthorized access or changes
• Verify user roles are correctly assigned and least-privilege principles are followed

Gradual rollout option (optional)

• Consider a phased launch targeting specific geographies or user groups
• Use traffic split testing or allowlist-based access if you want to soft-launch and monitor before full rollout

Go-live procedures

Once the deployment checklist is complete, it’s time to take the final steps to launch your WordPress site. This stage is all about coordination, validation, and communication, to ensure a seamless cutover from Umbraco.

DNS updates

Begin by updating your DNS records to point to the new WordPress hosting environment. Use tools like DNS Checker to monitor propagation globally and ensure minimal downtime during the switch.

Tip: Schedule DNS changes during off-peak hours to reduce impact.

Server switchover

If you’re using a CDN (like Cloudflare or Akamai), update its configuration to reflect the new server’s IP address and origin setup.

To prevent conflicts or duplicate content issues, temporarily disable or redirect traffic from the old Umbraco site during this transition.

Live environment validation

Once the site is live, perform a round of live environment checks to validate that everything is functioning as expected:

• Load the homepage and key user journeys to check rendering, performance, and responsiveness
• Test all major forms, search features, menus, and checkout or payment flows if applicable
• Confirm third-party integrations (e.g., analytics, CRM, marketing platforms) are triggering as expected

Monitor user activity

After go-live, keep a close eye on real-time analytics:

• Use tools like Google Analytics, Hotjar, or LogRocket to monitor user behavior
• Track bounce rates, conversions, and page errors in real time
• Flag unexpected drops or error spikes for immediate attention
  

Internal communication

Make sure everyone is on the same page:

• Notify all internal stakeholders and teams that the new WordPress site is live
• Share new CMS access instructions, documentation for content updates, and escalation paths for issue reporting
• Create a temporary Slack/Teams channel or dedicated email thread for fast triage in the first 48 hours
  

Rollback plan

Even with careful planning, it’s essential to prepare for the unexpected. A rollback strategy helps ensure business continuity if something critical fails post-launch.

Backup retention

Ensure you have clean, tested backups of both the WordPress and Umbraco environments:

• Retain a versioned backup of the new WordPress site as it stands pre-launch
• Store the last working Umbraco build, database, and media library in a restorable state
• Perform a dry-run restore beforehand to confirm backup integrity

Monitoring and issue identification

The first 24–48 hours after launch are the most sensitive. During this period:

• Monitor server logs, analytics dashboards, and uptime monitors (like UptimeRobot or StatusCake)
• Track user feedback from forms, chatbots, or customer support channels
• Assign team members to shadow-test the site’s key workflows regularly
  

Rollback execution

If a rollback is triggered:

• Revert DNS settings to the previous configuration, pointing traffic back to the Umbraco site
• Restore the Umbraco backup to its last known good state
• Communicate clearly with internal and external stakeholders about the rollback status, cause, and next steps
  

Post-rollback analysis

If a rollback occurs, don’t rush a second attempt. Instead:

• Conduct a detailed root-cause analysis
• Identify what went wrong: was it DNS lag, missed content, plugin conflicts, or something else?
• Address all gaps, retest in staging, and only then schedule a revised go-live window
  

Wrapping it up

Launching your WordPress site isn’t just a technical handoff, it’s a strategic milestone. By following a structured launch and deployment approach, backed by contingency planning and team alignment, you give your migration every chance to succeed.