Upgrading Optimizely CMS for the Modern Digital Experience

For organisations on previous version of the Optimizely CMS, the shift to CMS 12 represents more than a version change: it’s a strategic upgrade to a modern, secure, and future-proof platform. Businesses operating on legacy CMS versions face mounting challenges around performance, compliance, editor experience, and developer support. CMS 12 resolves these being rebuilt from the ground up on .NET Core, cloud readiness, and a fully modernised editorial experience.

Why Upgrade to CMS 12?

Upgrading to Optimizely CMS 12 unlocks a modern, high-performance platform that empowers both technical and business teams. It replaces the limitations of legacy systems with a future-ready foundation built on .NET Core, delivering speed, security, and scalability.

Key benefits include:

• Stronger Security: Stay protected with ongoing support and updates, eliminating vulnerabilities tied to legacy CMS versions.
• Superior Performance: CMS 12 is up to 3x faster than CMS 11, thanks to its .NET Core architecture.
• Reduced Costs: Lower infrastructure and maintenance expenses by moving away from outdated systems.
• Boosted Productivity: Developers and editors benefit from modern tooling and a more intuitive UI.
• Cloud-Native Flexibility: Designed for Azure and other modern hosting environments.
• Access to Innovation: Seamlessly integrate with the full Optimizely Digital Experience Platform, experimentation, commerce, and data insights.
• Future-Proof Technology: Built on a Microsoft-supported .NET Core foundation for long-term stability.
• Integration-Ready: Take advantage of robust APIs and SDKs to extend functionality across your digital ecosystem.

Our Upgrade Approach

At Remarkable, we make upgrading to Optimizely CMS 12 smooth, secure, and future-ready, thanks to the power of the official Upgrade Assistant. This smart tool helps us modernise your website with minimal disruption and maximum long-term value.

Here’s how we guide you through the journey:

• Peace of Mind from the Start: We begin with a full backup of your site, so everything is safe before any changes are made.
• Smart Planning: Our team reviews your current setup and uses intelligent tools to plan the best path forward, ensuring nothing gets missed.
• Streamlined Migration: We automate much of the technical work, converting your site to the latest platform while keeping your content and structure intact.
• Clean & Modern Foundation: Outdated components are removed and replaced with faster, more secure technology, giving your site a fresh start.
• Optimised for Performance: We enhance speed, SEO, and accessibility as part of the upgrade, so your site performs better from day one.
• Tailored Training: Your team gets hands-on guidance to make the most of CMS 12’s intuitive new interface and features.
• Ongoing Support: After launch, we’re here to keep your site secure, up-to-date, and ready for whatever’s next.

Technical Enhancements in CMS 12

Optimizely CMS 12 isn’t just an upgrade, it’s a leap forward in digital experience delivery. Built on a modern .NET Core foundation, it introduces a suite of powerful enhancements that improve performance, security, and editorial efficiency.

Here’s what makes CMS 12 a game-changer:

• Refresh UX: The redesigned editorial interface offers a cleaner, faster, and more intuitive experience for content teams. Editors can work more efficiently with streamlined workflows and improved navigation
• Opti ID Integration: Opti ID provides a unified login across the Optimizely ecosystem, simplifying user management and enhancing security. It supports modern authentication protocols like Entra ID (Azure AD) and OpenID Connect
• Opal AI Assistant: Opal is Optimizely’s built-in AI assistant that helps marketers and developers automate tasks, brainstorm ideas, and navigate the platform more effectively. It adapts to your expertise level and can even summarize documents, translate content, and assist with campaign planning
• Project Feature for Editorial Collaboration: Editors can group related content items—pages, blocks, and products—into a single project for coordinated publishing. This feature supports commenting, tagging, and scheduling, making team collaboration seamless
• Headless Content Delivery with GraphQL: CMS 12 supports headless delivery via GraphQL and the Content Delivery API, enabling omnichannel publishing strategies. The Smooth Rebuild feature allows updates to your GraphQL deployment without downtime, using a Blue-Green deployment model.
• Performance & Scalability: With improved caching, memory management, and support for containerised deployments, CMS 12 is built for high-traffic environments and modern DevOps workflows.
• Accessibility & Security: CMS 12 aligns with WCAG 2.2 standards and supports advanced encryption and authentication protocols—ensuring your site is inclusive and secure.

These enhancements aren’t just technical; they drive real business value. Editorial teams publish faster, marketers personalise more effectively, and IT teams benefit from a future-proof, scalable platform.

FAQs

Q: How complex is the upgrade to 12?

A: The complexity depends on your current customisations. Our discovery process identifies re-usable code, deprecated APIs, and opportunities for modernisation.

Q: Can my existing content and templates be migrated?

A: Yes. We have established migration strategies that ensure content, templates, and blocks are migrated with minimal rework, while upgrading to modern CMS 12 standards.

Q: How does CMS 12 improve performance?

A: Built on .NET Core, CMS 12 delivers significantly faster load times, better scalability under traffic, and optimised caching strategies.

Q: Will CMS 12 support hybrid or headless models?

A: Yes. CMS 12 is designed to support both traditional and headless content delivery, giving organisations flexibility in how they serve content across multiple platforms.

Q: How does CMS 12 impact developers?

A: Developers benefit from modern frameworks, streamlined APIs, and full .NET Core support. This not only increases productivity but also makes it easier to recruit and retain developer talent who expect to work with up-to-date technology.

Ready to Modernise Your Digital Experience?

Upgrading from legacy Optimizely systems to CMS 12 is not just a technical task, but a strategic move to secure your digital future. If you’re ready to modernise, optimise, and future-proof your CMS, we’d love to talk.

The organisations that act now will future-proof their digital ecosystems and gain a competitive advantage. By delaying an upgrade, businesses risk technical debt, higher costs, and missed opportunities for innovation. CMS 12 provides the foundation for experimentation, commerce integration, AI-driven insights, and more – all designed to help enterprises deliver exceptional customer experiences at scale.