The decision to upgrade to Magento 2 is increasingly urgent. Magento 1 reached end-of-life in 2020 and no longer receives security patches. Every month on Magento 1 increases your exposure to security breaches and compliance failures.
Illuminise helps UK businesses upgrade to Magento 2 safely. We handle the technical complexity while preserving your data and minimising disruption to trading.
Why Upgrade to Magento 2
Security
Magento 1 no longer receives security patches. Known vulnerabilities exist that will not be fixed. Magento 2 receives regular security updates.
Performance
Magento 2 is significantly faster with better caching, optimised database queries, and modern architecture.
Features
Modern capabilities like PWA Studio, Page Builder, and improved B2B features are only available in Magento 2.
Compliance
PCI DSS compliance requires keeping software patched. Unpatched Magento 1 creates compliance risk.
Future-Proofing
Extension vendors, hosting providers, and developers focus on Magento 2. The Magento 1 ecosystem is shrinking.
What Upgrading Involves
Upgrading to Magento 2 is a rebuild, not a simple update. The platforms are architecturally different:
- Data migration – Customers, orders, products move via migration tools
- Theme rebuild – Magento 1 themes do not work on Magento 2
- Extension replacement – Each M1 extension needs an M2 equivalent
- Customisation rebuild – Custom code needs recreating
- Integration updates – External systems need reconnecting
Our Upgrade Process
- Assessment – Document your Magento 1 store thoroughly
- Planning – Design Magento 2 architecture and migration approach
- Environment Setup – Build Magento 2 development environment
- Data Migration – Transfer all business data
- Build – Implement theme, extensions, and customisations
- Integrations – Connect external systems
- Testing – Comprehensive validation
- Training – Familiarise your team with Magento 2 admin
- Go Live – Final data sync and cutover
Upgrade Timeline
Typical upgrade to Magento 2 takes 3-6 months:
- Simple stores: 2-3 months
- Medium complexity: 3-4 months
- Complex stores: 5-6 months or more
Factors affecting timeline: number of customisations, extensions, integrations, and data volume.
Who Should Upgrade to Magento 2
Upgrading is right for businesses that:
- Still run Magento 1
- Want to eliminate security risk
- Need modern eCommerce features
- Value their platform investment
- Want to stay on Magento rather than replatform
Who This Is Not For
Upgrading may not be right if you:
- Plan to move to a different platform entirely
- Have a very simple store better suited to other platforms
- Cannot invest in proper migration
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it too late to upgrade to Magento 2?
No, but urgency increases with each security incident. The sooner you migrate, the sooner you reduce risk.
Will we lose historical data?
No, we migrate customer accounts, orders, products, and other data. Historical information is preserved.
Can we keep our design?
The visual design can be recreated, but theme code must be rebuilt for Magento 2 architecture.
What about our customisations?
We assess each customisation and recreate needed functionality on Magento 2.
How much does upgrading cost?
Cost depends on your store’s complexity. We provide detailed quotes after assessment.
Can we continue trading during the upgrade?
Yes, you continue on Magento 1 while we build on Magento 2. Cutover is carefully planned.
Start Your Upgrade to Magento 2
Book a discovery call to discuss your Magento 2 upgrade requirements.