At Perficient, we believe that continuous learning is essential for excellence. This commitment drives us to evolve and master the latest technologies, ensuring the best possible delivery for our clients. This belief fuels our team’s pursuit of mastering cutting-edge technology.

On that note, we’re incredibly proud to announce a significant achievement for our Nagpur team! Six dedicated team members have successfully completed their Contentstack Implementation training and certification, equipping them with the expertise to deliver advanced headless CMS solutions to our clients.

A huge congratulations to the following achievers for their hard work and dedication in earning this significant certification! Their commitment to continuous learning and mastering new technologies is a reflection of the strong talent pool we have.

1. Mahima Patel
2. Sandeep Reddy Duddeda
3. Aditi Paliwal
4. Ashish Chinchkhede
5. Akshay Gawande
6. Vikrant Punwatkar

Our newly certified Contentstack implementers have undergone extensive training. They gained solid knowledge in content modeling, API integration, workflow automation, and best practices for creating scalable and efficient digital experiences with Contentstack. This expertise allows us to better assist our clients in maximizing their digital presence.

Why is this a big deal for Perficient and our clients?

In today’s fast-moving digital world, businesses really need to be agile, flexible, and able to deliver content smoothly across a growing number of channels. That’s exactly where Contentstack stands out as a top-notch headless CMS, and we’re genuinely thrilled to have our team leading the charge in this game-changing technology.

We’re looking forward to the exciting opportunities this enhanced capability offers our clients, and we are eager to leverage Contentstack to create even more innovative, impactful, and future-ready digital solutions.

This series of blog posts will cover the main areas of activity for your marketing, product, and UX teams before, during, and after site migration to a new digital experience platform.

Migrating your site to a different platform can be a daunting prospect, especially if the site is sizable in both page count and number of assets, such as documents and images. However, this can also be a perfect opportunity to freshen up your content, perform an asset library audit, and reorganize the site overall.

Once you’ve hired a consultant, like Perficient, to help you implement your new CMS and migrate your content over, you will work with them to identify several action items your team will need to tackle to ensure successful site migration.

Whether you are migrating from/to some of the major enterprise digital experiences platforms like Sitecore, Optimizely, Adobe, or from the likes of Sharepoint or WordPress, there are some common steps to take to make sure content migration runs smoothly and is executed in a manner that adds value to your overall web experience.

Part I – “Keep, Kill, Merge”

One of the first questions you will need to answer is, “What do we need to carry over?” The instinctive answer would be everything. The rational answer is that we will migrate the site over as is and then worry about optimization later. There are multiple reasons why this is usually not the best option.

• This is a perfect opportunity to do a high-level overview of the entire sitemap and dive a bit deeper into the content. It will help determine if you still need a long-forgotten page about an event that ended years ago or a product that is no longer being offered in a certain market. Perhaps it hasn’t been purged simply because there is always higher-priority work to be done.
• It is far more rational to do this type of analysis ahead of the migration rather than after. If nothing else, it is simply for efficiency purposes. By trimming down the number of pages, you ensure that the migration process is shorter and more purposeful. You also save time and resources.

Even though this activity might take time, it is essential to use this opportunity in the best possible manner. A consultant like Perficient can help drive the process. They will pull up an initial list of active pages, set up simple audit steps, and ensure that decisions are recorded clearly and organized.

Step I – Site Scan

The first step is to ensure all current site pages are accounted for. As simple as this may seem, it doesn’t always end up being so, especially on large multi-language sites. You might have pages that are not crawlable, are temporarily unpublished, are still in progress, etc.

Depending on your current system capabilities, putting together a comprehensive list can be relatively easy. Getting a CMS export is the safest way to confirm that you have accounted for everything in the system.

Crawling tools, such as Screaming Frog, are frequently used to generate reports that can be exported for further refinement. Cross-referencing these sources will ensure you get the full picture, including anything that might be housed externally.

Step II – Deep Dive

Once you’ve ensured that all pages made it to a comprehensive list you can easily filter, edit, and share, the fun part begins.

The next step involves reviewing and analyzing the sitemap and each page. The goal is to determine those that will stay vs candidates for removal. Various different factors can impact this decision from business goals, priorities, page views, conversion rate, SEO considerations, and marketing campaigns to compliance and regulations. Ultimately, it is important to assess each page’s value to the business and make decisions accordingly.

This audit will likely require input from multiple stakeholders, including subject matter experts, product owners, UX specialists, and others. It is essential to involve all interested parties at an early stage. Securing buy-in from key stakeholders at this point is critical for the following phases of the process. This especially applies to review and sign-off prior to going live.

Depending on your time and resources, the keep-kill-merge can either be done in full or limited to keep-kill. The merge option might require additional analysis, as well as follow-up design and content work. Leaving that effort for after the site migration is completed might just be the rational choice.

Step III – Decisions and Path Forward

Once the audit process has been completed, it is important to record findings and decisions simply and easily consumable for teams that will implement those updates. Proper documentation is essential when dealing with large sets of pages and associated content. This will inform the implementation team’s roadmap and timelines.

At this point, it is crucial to establish regular communication between a contact person (such as a product owner or content lead) and the team in charge of content migration from the consultant side. This partnership will ensure that all subsequent activities are carried out respecting the vision and business needs identified at the onset.

Completing the outlined activities properly will help smooth the transition into the next process phase, thus setting your team up for a successful site migration.

The digital experience landscape is evolving rapidly, and businesses face growing pressure to deliver personalized, scalable, and seamless customer experiences while minimizing complexity. Traditional on-prem and PaaS-based CMS solutions often come with heavy infrastructure demands, maintenance, and upgrade cycles.

Sitecore XM Cloud addresses these areas with a fully cloud-native, SaaS-based approach, eliminating the need to manage infrastructure, accelerating deployments, and providing a scalable foundation for digital transformation. But beyond the technical shift, what does this mean for your digital roadmap? How can enterprises leverage this approach to future-proof their content strategy?

Why Enterprises Are Moving to XM Cloud

Sitecore XM Cloud represents more than just another update—it’s a fundamental shift in how digital experiences are built, delivered, and maintained. Here’s why organizations are making the move:

• Always Up to Date: No more version upgrades or downtime—new features and security updates are automatically applied.
• Faster Deployments & Time-to-Market: Continuous delivery enables teams to launch updates and new content faster than ever.
• Scalability Without Complexity: Auto-scaling and cloud-native architecture ensure smooth performance, even during high-traffic periods.
• Cost Efficiency & Operational Agility: By moving away from infrastructure-heavy deployments, businesses can reduce IT overhead and focus on innovation.
• Seamless Integrations with a Composable DXP: Built to work with Sitecore’s ecosystem and third-party tools, enabling more flexibility.

Organizations that require global scalability, frequent content updates, and reduced reliance on IT teams stand to gain the most from XM Cloud’s SaaS-based efficiency.

Key Considerations

Transitioning to XM Cloud requires careful planning to maximize benefits while minimizing disruptions. Here’s what enterprises should consider:

• Content & Data Migration: Assess existing content structures and ensure seamless migration to the cloud.
• Integration with Current Systems: Evaluate how XM Cloud will interact with CRM, eCommerce, and analytics platforms.
• Personalization & AI Capabilities: Take advantage of Sitecore’s advanced features to enhance customer experiences.
• Phased Migration Strategy: Start with non-critical components before a full transition to reduce risks and ensure adoption.

Next-Level Capabilities

Beyond just a shift to SaaS, Sitecore XM Cloud introduces advanced features designed to enhance business operations:

• AI-Powered Personalization – Deliver tailored content based on real-time user data to improve engagement.
• Built-In Performance Analytics – Gain deeper insights into customer behavior and optimize content strategies accordingly.
• Composable & API-First Architecture – Easily integrate with new tools and expand capabilities as business needs evolve.

These enhancements allow businesses to be more responsive, data-driven, and customer-focused without the complexity of traditional platforms.

Sitecore XM Cloud isn’t just an upgrade—it’s a fundamental shift in digital experience management. By adopting a cloud-native, SaaS-first approach, businesses can move faster, scale effortlessly, and eliminate infrastructure complexity. This enables teams to focus on delivering exceptional customer experiences with greater agility.

For organizations looking to modernize their CMS strategy, XM Cloud offers the flexibility, efficiency, and innovation needed to stay ahead. However, every business has unique requirements, and a thoughtful evaluation of long-term goals is essential to determine if it’s the right fit.

Have you seen the speed at which the digital landscape is shifting and evolving and thought to yourself, how can I keep up? How can I level up my organization’s digital customer experience and futureproof my website and digital ecosystem to ensure consistent growth for years to come?

The answer might just be a shift to a Composable Digital Experience Platform (DXP) like Sitecore. This is the latest approach to providing digital experiences that offer flexibility, scalability and faster iteration. Sitecore is a true leader in digital experience management and is fully embracing this composable future, while empowering businesses to create personalized experiences for their customers. Let’s take a closer look at what this means for your strategy and how Sitecore can help you navigate this transition.

What are the key benefits of a composable DXP?

We are coming from a place where monolithic DXP’s were the norm. While this type of platform offered convenience, they could be expensive, required regular upgrades and were difficult to scale, especially with the introduction of AI technologies.

Some of the benefits that migrating to a composable DXP can offer include, but are certainly not limited to:

• Greater Flexibility
• Scalability
• Faster Innovation

How can Sitecore specifically power your composable digital strategy?

Sitecore has shifted from a one-size-fits-all platform to a modular ecosystem, where companies can seamlessly integrate custom components, API’s and third-party platforms. Here are some key areas Sitecore’s composable DXP is driving results for customers across numerous industries.

1. Sitecore XM Cloud: Sitecore’s cloud-based platform supports headless content delivery. This means that businesses can expect faster time to market for strategic content publishes, reduces maintenance costs and ensures consistency across all digital channels.
2. Sitecore CDP & Personalize: Sitecore’s Customer Data Platform (CDP) and personalization features help businesses extract real-time customer insights to dynamically display content. This leads to increased conversion and improved customer experience.
3. Sitecore Content Hub & Sitecore Stream: While Content Hub provides a centralized digital asset management (DAM) system, it also helps automate content creation workflows. Sitecore Stream transforms content lifecycles with AI workflows, generative copilots, and brand aware AI.

Final Thoughts

As you can see, there are a lot of reasons why a composable DXP makes a lot of sense for organizations across all industry verticals, and Sitecore specifically can add a ton of value to Marketing and Technology teams alike in a world of constantly change. At Perficient, we have a team of dedicated and experienced folks ready to help you tackle the transformation and transition into the world of Composable DXP. Reach out to us today, and see how we can work with you to drive outstanding digital customer experiences for your customers.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is revolutionizing B2B ecommerce, enabling capabilities such as personalized product recommendations, dynamic pricing, and predictive analytics. However, the effectiveness of these AI-driven solutions depends heavily on the quality of the underlying data. Despite AI’s potential, poor data governance remains a significant challenge in the industry. A recent Statista survey revealed that 25% of B2B ecommerce companies in the United States have fully implemented AI technologies, while 56% are experimenting with them.

As AI adoption grows, B2B companies must address data quality issues to leverage AI’s benefits fully. Anyone who has spent time in the B2B industry will acknowledge that quality data is often a struggle. This article explores the critical importance of clean data in AI applications and offers strategies for improving data governance in the B2B ecommerce sector.

Common Symptoms of Bad Data Governance

Bad data governance is a pervasive issue in the B2B ecommerce landscape, particularly in industries like manufacturing, where complex supply chains and product catalogs create unique challenges. Here are some of the most common symptoms:

1. Duplicate Records: Customer and product data often contain duplicate entries due to inconsistent data entry processes or a lack of validation protocols. For example, a single customer might appear in the database multiple times with slight variations in name or contact information, leading to inefficiencies in communication and order processing.
2. Inconsistent Formatting: Manufacturing and distribution often involve extensive product catalogs, and inconsistencies in SKU formats, product descriptions, or units of measurement can disrupt operations. For instance, some entries might use “kg” while others use “kilograms,” confusing systems and causing inventory management and procurement errors.
3. Outdated or Missing Data: Stale data, such as outdated pricing, obsolete product details, or inactive customer accounts, can lead to misinformed decisions. Missing data, like incomplete shipping addresses or contact details, can result in delayed deliveries or lost opportunities.
4. Siloed Data Systems: Many B2B companies, especially in manufacturing, rely on disparate systems that don’t communicate effectively. A lack of integration between ERP systems, CRMs, and ecommerce platforms leads to fragmented data and manual reconciliation efforts, increasing the risk of errors.
5. Unreliable Vendor and Supplier Information: Manufacturing businesses often deal with a large network of suppliers, each with varying formats for invoices, contracts, and delivery schedules. Poorly managed supplier data can result in delayed production, stockouts, or overordering.

Why is Bad Data Governance So Prevalent in B2B Manufacturing?

Unlike B2C industries, where streamlined data processes are often a core focus, manufacturing businesses face unique challenges due to their operations’ complexity, reliance on legacy systems, and decentralized structures. Understanding why these problems are so prevalent is key to addressing the underlying causes and fostering long-term improvements.

1. Complexity of Operations: Manufacturing involves numerous moving parts—raw materials, suppliers, distributors, and customers—making data governance inherently more challenging. The sheer volume of data generated across the supply chain increases the likelihood of inconsistencies.
2. Legacy Systems: Many B2B manufacturing companies rely on outdated legacy systems not designed for modern ecommerce integration. These systems often lack robust data validation and cleaning mechanisms, perpetuating bad data practices.
3. Decentralized Operations: Manufacturing companies frequently operate in multiple locations, each with its own systems, processes, and data entry standards. This decentralization contributes to a lack of standardization across the organization.
4. Focus on Production Over Data: In traditional manufacturing mindsets, operational efficiency and production output take precedence over data accuracy. Thus, data governance investments may be considered a lower priority than equipment upgrades or workforce training.
5. Limited Awareness of the Impact: Many B2B organizations underestimate the long-term impact of bad data on their operations, customer satisfaction, and AI-driven initiatives. The focus often shifts to immediate problem-solving rather than addressing root causes through improved governance.

By recognizing these symptoms and understanding the reasons behind poor data governance, B2B manufacturing companies can take the first steps toward addressing these issues. This foundation is critical for leveraging AI and other technologies to their fullest potential in ecommerce.

Why Clean Data Governance is Non-Negotiable in the AI Era

AI thrives on data—structured, accurate, and relevant data. For B2B ecommerce, where AI powers everything from dynamic pricing to predictive inventory, clean data isn’t just a nice-to-have; it’s the foundation for success. Without clean data governance, AI systems struggle to provide reliable insights, leading to poor decisions and diminished trust in the technology.

As the B2B commerce world embraces AI, those who recognize and prioritize addressing a systemic industry problem of bad data will quickly move to the front of the pack. Garbage in, garbage out. Implementing AI tools with bad data will be doomed to failure as the tools will be ineffective. Meanwhile, those who take the time to ensure they have a good foundation for AI support will overtake the competition. It’s a watershed moment for the B2B industry where those who recognize how to get the most value out of AI while those who refuse to alter their own internal workflows because “that’s the way it’s always been done” will see their market share diminish.

1. Accuracy and Relevance: AI models rely on historical and real-time data to make predictions and recommendations. If the data is inaccurate or inconsistent, the AI outputs become unreliable, directly impacting decision-making and customer experiences.
2. Scalability and Growth: In an era where B2B companies are scaling rapidly to meet global demands, clean data ensures that AI systems can grow alongside the business. Bad data governance introduces bottlenecks, stifling the scalability of AI-driven solutions.
3. Customer Experience: AI-powered personalized recommendations, accurate delivery timelines, and responsive customer service are critical to building customer trust and loyalty. These benefits rely on clean, well-governed data. A single misstep, like recommending the wrong product or misquoting delivery times, can damage a company’s reputation.
4. AI Amplifies Data Issues: Unlike traditional systems, AI doesn’t just process data—it learns from it. Bad data doesn’t just result in poor outputs; it trains AI systems to make flawed assumptions over time, compounding errors and reducing the ROI of AI investments.
5. Competitive Advantage: Clean data governance can be a differentiator in a competitive B2B market. Companies with well-maintained data are better positioned to leverage AI for faster decision-making, improved customer service, and operational efficiencies, giving them a significant edge.

Ignoring data governance in the AI era isn’t just a missed opportunity—it’s a liability. Poor data practices lead to inefficient AI models, frustrated customers, and, ultimately, lost revenue. Moreover, as competitors invest in clean data and AI, companies with bad data governance risk falling irreparably behind.

Clean data governance is no longer optional; it’s a strategic imperative in the AI-driven B2B ecommerce landscape. By prioritizing data accuracy and consistency, companies can unlock AI’s full potential and position themselves for long-term success.

How B2B Companies Can Address Bad Data Governance

Tackling bad data governance is no small feat, but it’s a journey worth undertaking for B2B companies striving to unlock AI’s full potential. The solution involves strategic planning, technological investment, and cultural change. Here are actionable steps businesses can take to clean up their data and ensure it stays that way:

1. Conduct a Comprehensive Data Audit
2. Standardize the Data Entry Process
3. Implement Master Data Management (MDM)
4. Leverage Technology for Data Cleaning and Enrichment
5. Break Down Silos with Integration
6. Foster a Culture of Data Ownership
7. Commit to Continuous Improvement

The first step is conducting a thorough data audit—think of it as a spring cleaning for your databases. By identifying gaps, redundancies, and inaccuracies, businesses can reveal the full extent of their data issues. This process isn’t just about finding errors; it’s about creating a baseline understanding of the company’s data health. Regular audits prevent these issues from snowballing into more significant, costly problems.

Once the audit is complete, it’s time to set some ground rules. Standardizing data entry processes is critical for ensuring consistency. Clear guidelines for formatting SKUs, recording customer details, and storing supplier information can prevent the chaos of mismatched or incomplete records. Employees should be trained on these standards, and tools like automated forms or validation rules can make compliance seamless.

Of course, even the best data entry standards won’t help if different systems across the organization aren’t communicating. That’s where Master Data Management (MDM) comes in. By centralizing data into a single source of truth, companies ensure that updates in one system are automatically reflected across all others. With MDM in place, teams can work confidently, knowing that their data is accurate and consistent.

But standardizing and centralizing aren’t enough if you’re already sitting on a mountain of messy data. Performing this step by hand is significantly time-intensive. Enter data cleaning and enrichment tools. AI-powered solutions can quickly identify and correct errors, deduplicate records and fill in missing fields. These tools don’t just clean up the past; they automate routine processes to keep data clean moving forward.

For many B2B companies, fragmentation is one of the biggest hurdles to clean data. Silos between ERP systems, CRM platforms, and ecommerce tools create inconsistencies that ripple across the business. Breaking down these silos through system integration ensures a unified flow of data, improving collaboration and decision-making across departments. This requires a thoughtful integration strategy, often with the help of IT experts, but the payoff is well worth the effort.

Clean data isn’t just a technical problem—it’s a cultural one. Companies must foster a culture of data ownership, where employees understand the importance of the data they handle and feel accountable for its accuracy. Assigning clear responsibilities, such as appointing a Chief Data Officer (CDO) or similar role, can ensure that data governance remains a priority.

Finally, data governance isn’t a one-and-done project. Continuous improvement is essential. Regular review of data policies and feedback from team members help refine processes over time. Establishing KPIs for data quality can also provide measurable insights into the success of these efforts.

By taking these steps, B2B companies can move from reactive problem-solving to proactive data management. Clean, well-governed data isn’t just the backbone of AI success—it’s a strategic asset that drives better decisions, smoother operations, and stronger customer relationships. In an increasingly data-driven world, those who master their data will lead the way.

Conclusion: Turn Your Data into a Competitive Advantage in the AI Era

In the rapidly evolving landscape of B2B ecommerce, integrating AI technologies offers unprecedented opportunities for growth and efficiency. However, as we’ve explored, the effectiveness of AI is intrinsically linked to the quality of the underlying data. Companies risk undermining their AI initiatives without robust data governance, leading to inaccurate insights and missed opportunities.

Perficient stands at the forefront of addressing these challenges. With extensive experience in implementing comprehensive data governance frameworks, we empower B2B organizations to harness the full potential of their data. Our expertise encompasses:

• Product Information Management (PIM): We assist in managing all aspects of your product data—from SKUs and descriptions to stock levels and pricing—ensuring consistency and accuracy across all platforms.
• Digital Asset Management (DAM): Our solutions help organize and distribute digital assets related to your products, such as photos and videos, enhancing the efficiency of your operations.
• Data Integration and Standardization: We streamline your data processes, breaking down silos and ensuring seamless communication between systems, which is crucial for effective AI implementation.

Investing in clean data governance is not just a technical necessity but a strategic imperative. With Perficient’s expertise, you can transform your data into a powerful asset, driving informed decision-making and sustainable growth in the AI era.

Drupal, a robust and versatile content management system (CMS), powers millions of websites worldwide, including those of major corporations, institutions, and governments. While Drupal offers robust security features, it’s imperative to implement best practices to safeguard your website from cyber threats. 

Understanding the Evolving Threat Landscape 

The digital landscape is continually evolving, and so are cyber threats. As organizations increasingly adopt remote work and digital transformation, the attack surface expands, making it crucial to prioritize security. Drupal, like any software, is susceptible to vulnerabilities, but the active community and dedicated security team work diligently to address them. 

Common Security Risks and Mitigation Strategies 

Cross-Site Scripting (XSS): Malicious code injection into web pages. 

In cross-site scripting (XSS) attacks, malicious code is introduced into client-side scripts using HTML or JavaScript. XSS attacks come in three varieties: reflected (non-permanent), stored (persistent), and DOM-based. There are several strategies to defend against these, including utilising frameworks that steer clear of HTML elements and scanning your databases with online vulnerability scanners. 

Mitigation: Keep Drupal and modules up-to-date, employ input validation and sanitization, and consider a web application firewall (WAF). 

SQL Injection: Exploiting vulnerabilities in SQL queries. 

This assault, which is also referred to as SQL injection, uses malicious SQL code to access and alter back-end databases and obtain data, including personally identifiable information (PII) about clients or business information. By avoiding dynamic queries that employ string concatenation and by preventing user-supplied data that contains malicious SQL from changing the logic of performed queries, developers may reduce the risk of SQL injections. 

Mitigation: Utilize prepared statements and parameterized queries, input validation, and escape user-supplied input. 

Remote Code Execution (RCE): Unauthorized access to execute code on a server. 

By gaining access to systems, hackers are able to remotely run malware or other harmful programs and take control of the compromised systems or devices within an organisation. RCE attacks are characterised by effects that go beyond system penetration, such cryptomining and data theft, and may be carried out from any location in the world, as the name suggests. 

Mitigation: Keep software and modules up-to-date, enforce strong password policies, and conduct regular security audits. 

Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF): Tricking users into performing unintended actions. 

CSRF attacks force users to carry out undesirable activities in apps when they are already authenticated. Attacks that are successful can compromise a whole online application or only transfer money and change the addresses and other data. 

Mitigation: Implement CSRF protection tokens, enforce strong session management, and educate users about security best practices. 

Best Practices for Drupal Security 

Let’s move on to the procedures and actions that prevent Drupal vulnerabilities, or what you would call your Drupal security checklist. 

Maintain Up-to-Date Software

Regularly update Drupal core, modules, and themes to address security vulnerabilities promptly. Stay informed about security advisories and releases. Prioritize critical security updates and apply them immediately. 

 If you haven’t installed and updated any of these extensions yet, here is a list.  

1. Content access. Content permissions are decided by this security module according to author and role. 
2. Automated logout : After a predetermined amount of time, users are logged out using this module.  
3. Password policy This module adds an extra degree of protection against login-bots and creates safe password restrictions. 
4. Session limit. The maximum number of sessions per user is restricted by this module. 
5. Security kit (SecKit). By providing a variety of security-hardening choices, this module assists organisations in reducing their vulnerability to application attacks. 
6. Two-factor authentication (2FA). During login attempts, this module provides an additional layer of authentication. 
7. CAPTCHA. By filtering spambot form inputs, this module prevents automated scripts from publishing spam material.  

Secure Your Website with an SSL Certificate 

Protect your website and your users’ data with an SSL certificate. This digital certificate encrypts data transmission, preventing unauthorized access to sensitive information like passwords and credit card numbers. By enabling HTTPS, you enhance your website’s security, improve SEO, and boost user trust. 

Strengthen with Role-Based Access Control and protect file permissions

A variety of user roles, including administrators, editors, and anonymous users, are available in Drupal. Each can be given particular rights, including the ability to view, edit, or change the content and operations of the website.  

Certain positions will require more rights than others, and some will be privileged accounts. The principle of least privilege (POLP) should always be used. An information security standard known as the POLP maintains that a user should only be able to access the information, programs, and resources necessary to do a task. By imposing restrictions, the POLP reduces the number of ways malicious actors might get access to your systems and do damage to your company.  

Choose a trustworthy hosting provider

In addition to storing your data, a web hosting provider will keep your site and apps secure and stable. On-premises, infrastructure-as-a-service (IaaS) (often referred to as do-it-yourself) hosting, and platform-as-a-service (PaaS) providers are available options; each offers varying degrees of protection and support. Unless you choose a supplier, who handles everything, some will carry out the procedures we’ve discussed here, while others will fall under your purview. Think carefully about your demands and what you could give up if you choose with a less expensive choice. Keep in mind the fines that could be applied if your website doesn’t comply with the correct standards. 

Make use of safe connections  

Utilize SFTP encryption if it is available from your web hosting company or secure shell (SSH) client, but be sure to utilize port 22.  

From the client’s perspective, ensure that: Don’t make a master password or keep FTP passwords. Threat actors can access them since they are kept in plain text and are not encoded. Advise users not to visit the website on public networks in places that are seldom secure, such as cafés and airports.  

Be careful on the server side to: Use just the most recent versions of MySQL and PHP from the vendor. Make that the web application firewall is set up and the account is appropriately isolated. Avoid shared hosting, which may lead to shared IPs and overloaded servers. 

Sanitize: Clean up the inputs  

By adding an input validation function or logic, sanitization entails eliminating dangerous characters from user inputs, hardening the upload area. Sanitization guarantees that the data may be uploaded to a database and has an acceptable display format when it is implemented. XSS and SQL injection attacks may be prevented in particular using input sanitization. 

Maintain periodic site backups  

You may restore a backup in case something were to happen to your website, but the recentness of the backup will depend on how frequently you back up your site. Drupal core and all of its related modules and themes, together with the files for your application (such as PDF files of uploaded content), should be included in that backup so that you can promptly recover from an attack.  

Remember: Have a solid backup before making any site upgrades. This is especially crucial when installing a module or theme for the first time. 

Ensure HTTP security headers more robust. 

Although there are other kinds of HTTP headers besides security-related ones, the ones that apply here instruct a browser on how different aspects of your website should be controlled. They are an excellent method of protecting your website or online application against intrusions such as clickjacking and man-in-the-middle (MITM) attacks. 

The following HTTP security headers are suggested to be taken into account: 

• Content-security policy (CSP) : You may fine-tune the permitted content sources and other content settings using this header. 
• Strict-transport-security.   Using encrypted HTTPS connections rather than plain-text HTTP interactions is implemented via this header. 
• X-frame-options. Publishers can prevent intruders from utilising their material in an unseen frame by using this header. The proper CSP directives can now take the place of X-frame-options, which are a holdover from 2008. 

 These are the most important HTTP security headers, while there are more, such public-key-pins and X-XSS-protection. 

Enforce Strong Password Policies 

Mandate strong, unique passwords for administrative accounts. Consider implementing two-factor authentication (2FA) for enhanced security. Encourage users to change passwords regularly and avoid using easily guessable information. 

Monitor Security Logs 

Regularly review server and application logs for suspicious activity. Utilize security monitoring tools to detect and respond to threats. Implement intrusion detection systems (IDS) and intrusion prevention systems (IPS) to identify and block malicious attacks. 

Adding More Security Measures

You could wish to install other security features for even greater protection, like: 

• An IP firewall with the ability to whitelist or restrict particular IPs, ASNs, or even whole nations 
• An SSL certificate that protects online transactions and ensures the privacy and security of consumer data 
• Defence from distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks, which aim to overload a server with internet traffic, blocking users from accessing the server’s supported services and websites. DDoS defence reduces the scope of an attack by preventing harmful traffic from getting to its target. 
• A bot management tool that prevents harmful bot traffic from damaging APIs, mobile apps, and websites 

Conclusion 

By adhering to these best practices and maintaining vigilance, you can significantly enhance the security of your Drupal website and protect your valuable data. Remember, security is an ongoing process, so continuous monitoring and improvement are essential. 

The modern web landscape demands agility and adaptability. Content Management Systems (CMS) that cater to diverse project needs are essential for success. Drupal, a powerhouse CMS renowned for its scalability and robust features, embraces this demand with its impressive headless/decoupled architecture. 

This blog series delves into the world of Drupal’s headless capabilities, exploring how it empowers you to build modern, content-driven experiences.  

Demystifying Headless/Decoupled Drupal 

Imagine a website where the user interface (what users see) operates entirely separate from the back-end content management system (where content is created and stored). This separation defines the essence of headless/decoupled Drupal. 

Drupal acts as a robust content repository, empowering you to create, edit, and manage content seamlessly. This content is then exposed through standardized APIs (Application Programming Interfaces) like JSON:API. These APIs act as messengers, allowing your chosen front-end framework (React, Vue.js, Angular, etc.) to retrieve and display the content in a customized way. 

Unveiling the Benefits of Headless Drupal 

The advantages of embracing Drupal’s headless capabilities are multifaceted: 

Unmatched Flexibility: Build a website with any front-end framework that aligns perfectly with your project’s specific needs. No more limitations! 

Blazing-Fast Performance: Decoupling the front-end from the back-end optimizes performance, delivering a lightning-fast experience for your users. 

Enhanced Scalability: Scale your front-end and back-end independently, ensuring your website remains performant even with high traffic. 

Improved Security: By minimizing the attack surface on your public-facing website, headless Drupal enhances overall security. 

Exploring Drupal’s Headless Arsenal 

Drupal doesn’t hold back on providing the tools you need to embrace headless architecture. Here’s a glimpse into its offerings: 

• JSON:API: This built-in module empowers developers to interact with Drupal content through a RESTful API. 

• GraphQL (graphql.org): As an extension, GraphQL provides an alternative API approach, offering greater flexibility and efficiency for complex data retrieval. 

• REST Services: Drupal core also supports building custom RESTful APIs for tailored content access. 

JSON:API vs. GraphQL 

While both JSON:API and GraphQL function as APIs for headless Drupal, they cater to slightly different needs: 

• JSON:API: Offers a clear, predictable structure for retrieving content resources, ideal for developers familiar with RESTful APIs. 

• GraphQL: Provides a more flexible approach, allowing developers to request specific data fields and build tailored queries, ideal for complex data structures and relationships. 

Headless Drupal – GraphQL 

GraphQL is a query language for APIs and a runtime for fulfilling those queries with existing data. It provides a way to request specific data from an API, and it ensures that only the requested data is returned. This can improve the performance of applications that use APIs, as it reduces the amount of data that needs to be transferred. 

In the context of headless Drupal, GraphQL can be used to create a flexible and efficient API for accessing Drupal content. This API can then be used by a variety of front-end frameworks, such as React, Vue.js, or Angular, to build modern and performant web applications. 

Here are some of the benefits of using GraphQL with headless Drupal: 

• Improved performance: GraphQL can significantly improve the performance of applications that use Drupal content. This is because GraphQL allows you to request only the data that you need, which reduces the amount of data that needs to be transferred. 

• Increased flexibility: GraphQL provides a flexible way to access Drupal content. You can use GraphQL to query for any data that is available in Drupal, and you can structure the data in the way that you need. 

• Simplified development: GraphQL can simplify the development of front-end applications that use Drupal content. This is because GraphQL provides a single API that can be used to access all of the data that you need. 

Getting Started with Headless Drupal

Ready to unleash the power of headless Drupal? Here’s a roadmap to kick-start your journey: 

1. Define Your Project Needs: Identify your project’s specific requirements – content type, desired front-end framework, and API approach. 
2. Set Up Drupal Backend: Install Drupal and configure content types and fields as needed. 
3. Choose Your API Approach: Based on your needs, select either JSON:API (built-in) or install the GraphQL module. 
4. Develop Your Front-End: Using your chosen framework, integrate with Drupal’s API to retrieve and display content. 
5. Deploy and Maintain: Deploy your website and establish a maintenance strategy for both the front-end and back-end components. 

Conclusion 

Drupal’s headless/decoupled architecture unlocks doors to a world of possibilities. By offering a content-centric approach, it empowers you to build modern, performant websites with the flexibility of choosing your preferred front-end framework.  

Whether you’re building a mobile app, a single-page application, or something entirely new, headless Drupal empowers you to deliver exceptional user experiences with efficient content management.  

Here are some helpful resources: 

• Drupal Decoupled Documentation 

• JSON:API vs. core’s REST module 

• GraphQL Module  

In the realm of content management systems (CMS), Drupal reigns supreme for its ability to craft intricate and interactive websites. But what if your needs lean towards a simpler, lightning-fast solution with the ease of Drupal’s backend? Here’s where the surprising world of static sites built with Drupal comes into play! 

This approach might seem unconventional, but it offers a compelling combination of advantages. Traditionally, static site generators (SSGs) create pre-rendered HTML pages, resulting in exceptional performance and security. However, they often lack the intuitive content management features that Drupal boasts. 

This is where Tome, a powerful Drupal extension, steps up to the plate. It acts as a bridge, allowing you to leverage Drupal’s full content management capabilities while simultaneously generating a static version of your website. What does this mean for you? 

• The Best of Both Worlds: Enjoy the user-friendly interface of Drupal for creating, editing, and managing your content. 

• Unmatched Speed: Serve static HTML files, guaranteeing lightning-quick page loads for your visitors. 

• Enhanced Security: Reduce the attack surface for hackers by eliminating the need for a dynamic CMS on your public-facing site. 

The Perfect Fit: When Static Sites with Drupal Shine  

We unveiled the potential of using Drupal as a static site generator with Tome. But when exactly does this approach make the most sense? 

This setup shines for websites primarily composed of static content, like: 

• Brochure: Showcase the essential information about a product, service, or event in a visually appealing and concise manner. 

• Portfolios: Showcase your work in a visually stunning and high-performance portfolio. 

• Landing Pages: Craft conversion-focused landing pages that load instantly, maximizing your impact. 

Furthermore, consider this approach if: 

• Performance and Security are Paramount: Speed and reliability are critical for your website’s success. 

• You Have Existing Drupal Expertise: Utilize your Drupal knowledge for a seamless static site workflow. 

However, it’s crucial to understand some trade-offs. Static sites aren’t ideal for situations involving: 

• Frequently Updated Content: If your content changes daily or even hourly, a dynamic CMS might be a better fit. 

• User Interaction: Features like forms and interactive elements are not readily available in static sites. 

Weighing the Advantages: Considerations for Static Sites with Drupal 

By now, you have a solid understanding of the unique approach of using Drupal for static sites. Before diving in, let’s address some key considerations: 

Benefits: 

• Exceptional Performance: Static HTML files load faster, leading to a significantly improved user experience. 

• Enhanced Security: Reduced attack surface due to the lack of a dynamic CMS on the public-facing site. 

• Scalability: Easily manage large volumes of content with Drupal’s robust backend. 

• Cost-Effective: Static site hosting often requires less expensive hosting options compared to dynamic sites. 

Drawbacks: 

• Limited Interactivity: Forms, user accounts, and other interactive features might need additional workarounds. 

• Content Updates: The workflow for updating content may require regenerating the static files. 

Ultimately, the choice between static sites and a dynamic CMS depends on your specific needs. If your website primarily focuses on static content and prioritizes speed and security, then Drupal with Tome could be the perfect solution. 

Conclusion  

Drupal’s versatility extends far beyond complex websites. By utilizing Tome, you can harness its power for static sites, reaping the benefits of both worlds. Enjoy the familiar Drupal interface, robust content management features, and the exceptional performance and security of statically generated pages. 

So, if you’re looking for a content-driven static website with a powerful backend, consider the unconventional, yet effective, approach of Drupal with Tome. 

Ready to explore further? Here are some helpful resources: 

• Tome Project 

• Drupal Static Site Generator Module  

• Creating a Static Archive of a Drupal Site 

• Static Suite 

• Static Web 

I hope this series has provided valuable insights into the world of static sites with Drupal. This approach can offer a compelling and unique solution for website creation! 

In today’s fast-paced digital landscape, enterprise organizations face a constant challenge: delivering exceptional digital experiences at scale while maintaining efficiency, consistency, and adaptability. The need for robust, user-friendly solutions has never been more critical, and Drupal’s latest innovation, Starshot, promises to redefine how enterprises build and manage their digital ecosystems.

Announced as a visionary step forward for the open-source platform, Drupal Starshot introduces a suite of features designed to empower enterprises with the tools they need to stay competitive. Starshot is a game-changer for organizations seeking to elevate their digital strategies, from scalable pre-packaged solutions to AI-driven personalization and seamless updates.

In this blog, we’ll explore how Drupal Starshot is poised to transform enterprise-level content management, streamline development workflows, and enable marketing and IT teams to collaborate with unprecedented efficiency. Whether managing global brand consistency or aiming to deliver hyper-personalized user experiences, Drupal Starshot offers the innovation and flexibility required to meet the demands of the modern digital age.

Let’s dive into the future of enterprise digital experiences and uncover five ways Drupal Starshot will be a pivotal development for your business.

Pre-Packaged Recipes for Instant Results

Gone are the days of configuring every element of your website from scratch. With Pre-Packaged Recipes, Drupal Starshot offers ready-to-use templates tailored for common website functionalities like blogs, e-commerce stores, and event listings. These recipes:

• Save time by eliminating the need for complex configurations.
• Provide a consistent foundation that’s easy to customize.
• Help non-technical users launch their websites quickly and effectively.

For enterprise businesses, Pre-Packaged Recipes provide a transformative solution. Large organizations often require consistency across multiple sites while addressing the diverse functional needs of departments or regional teams. Starshot’s recipes offer:

• Scalable Solutions: Enterprises can deploy uniform site structures for different business units, ensuring brand consistency while reducing development overhead.
• Rapid Prototyping: Teams can quickly spin up proof-of-concept sites using pre-configured templates, speeding up project timelines and innovation cycles.
• Customizability: While the recipes provide a strong foundation, they’re fully adaptable to meet unique enterprise requirements, such as integrating with proprietary systems or compliance standards.

Whether managing dozens of microsites or building a flagship enterprise portal, Pre-Packaged Recipes delivers the flexibility and efficiency enterprise teams need to stay competitive.

Experience Builder: Drag, Drop, and Done

Starshot’s Experience Builder is set to replace the current Layout Builder, offering a more intuitive and dynamic interface. This drag-and-drop tool allows you to design engaging and accessible web pages without writing a single line of code. Key benefits include:

• Real-time visual editing to see changes as you make them.
• A library of pre-designed components for rapid page building.
• Built-in accessibility checks to ensure compliance with standards.

For enterprise clients, the Experience Builder provides unparalleled advantages:

• Empowering Marketing Teams: Marketing departments can create, update, and optimize pages independently without relying on IT or development teams. This empowerment will accelerate time-to-market for campaigns and updates.
• Enterprise-Grade Collaboration: Teams can work together seamlessly using shared libraries and version control features, ensuring consistency across global campaigns and departmental sites.
• Customizable Component Libraries: Organizations can develop and share a library of branded components, ensuring adherence to design guidelines while allowing flexibility for individual teams.
• Efficiency at Scale: Enterprise clients managing hundreds of pages or multiple sites can make bulk changes to layouts or components across their properties, saving time and ensuring uniformity.

The Experience Builder empowers enterprise businesses to stay agile and competitive in today’s fast-paced digital landscape by simplifying the web design process.

Project Browser Simplifies Module Discovery

One of the most challenging aspects of working with Drupal has been discovering and installing the right modules. The new Project Browser changes that by offering a user-friendly interface to:

• Browse, search, and filter modules directly from the admin dashboard.
• View ratings and reviews to identify the best tools for your needs.
• Install and activate modules with a single click.

For enterprise organizations, the Project Browser adds significant value:

• Streamlined Development Workflows: By simplifying module discovery, development teams can quickly find and integrate the necessary tools, accelerating project timelines.
• Centralized Management: Enterprise IT teams can maintain control over approved modules while enabling individual teams to find solutions that meet their specific needs.
• Cost-Effective Scalability: Leveraging the module ecosystem effectively reduces the time spent researching and configuring custom solutions.

This feature ensures enterprise clients can extend their websites’ functionality with ease, staying ahead in a rapidly changing digital environment.

Automatic Updates for Peace of Mind

Keeping your website secure and up-to-date can be a daunting task. Starshot addresses this with Automatic Updates, a feature designed to:

• Automatically install security patches and minor updates.
• Notify you of major updates with clear instructions on what’s changing.
• Minimize downtime and reduce the risk of vulnerabilities.

For enterprise clients, this feature translates into significant operational benefits:

• Enhanced Security: Automatic updates ensure that critical patches are applied promptly, safeguarding sensitive enterprise data and minimizing exposure to cyber threats.
• Reduced Maintenance Overhead: IT teams can focus on strategic initiatives rather than routine updates, freeing up resources for innovation.
• Improved Reliability: By maintaining up-to-date systems across all sites, enterprises can avoid unexpected downtime and ensure a seamless user experience.

Automatic Updates give enterprise organizations the confidence to operate at scale without compromising security or performance.

AI-Powered Tools for Smarter Site Building

Open any business journal article, and it seems like you won’t make it five pages before the topic of AI. It’s a complex topic with significant potential and controversy surrounding it. The reality is that AI, in some form, is here to stay. Enterprise digital engagements need to work on determining how AI can be used as a tool that elevates team members. Starshot incorporates artificial intelligence to assist with content suggestions, image optimization, and layout recommendations. These AI-powered tools:

• Help you make data-driven decisions to improve user engagement.
• Automate repetitive tasks, such as creating metadata, freeing up time for strategic work.
• Provide insights and recommendations tailored to your site’s needs.

For enterprise clients, the AI-powered tools are particularly impactful:

• Personalized User Experiences: AI can analyze user behavior across large-scale enterprise sites. Enabling targeted content and personalized experiences that drive engagement.
• Optimized Content Creation: Enterprise marketing teams can leverage AI for automated content suggestions, reducing the workload and accelerating campaign launches.
• Data-Driven Decisions: With AI insights, enterprises can identify trends and areas for improvement, helping to fine-tune their digital strategy.
• Scalability: AI tools are designed to handle the complexity and scale of enterprise operations, ensuring consistent performance across multiple sites and regions.

By leveraging AI, enterprise clients can enhance their digital presence while staying ahead of competitors in a fast-evolving landscape.

Conclusion

Drupal Starshot is not just a technical upgrade; it’s a transformative toolset for enterprise success. By addressing the unique challenges of large organizations, Starshot delivers the scalability, efficiency, and innovation enterprises need to thrive in an increasingly competitive digital market.

Features like Pre-Packaged Recipes and Experience Builder empower teams across departments to create and manage sites with ease, ensuring consistency and speed without sacrificing flexibility. The Project Browser and Automatic Updates reduce technical overhead, enabling IT teams to focus on strategic goals rather than routine maintenance. Meanwhile, AI-powered tools provide actionable insights and automation, helping enterprises deliver personalized, data-driven experiences at scale.

For enterprises managing multiple sites, operating in global markets, or seeking to improve collaboration and agility, Drupal Starshot represents a bold leap forward. It combines the robustness of an enterprise-grade platform with the usability that today’s fast-paced businesses demand.

Prepare to revolutionize your digital strategy in 2024 and beyond. With Drupal Starshot, your enterprise will not just keep up with the competition—it will set new standards for success. Perficient stands ready to help you take your Enterprise DXP engagement to the stars, contact us today and let’s get building!

Perficient continuously grows but we consistently prioritize collaborating with one another to deliver the best results. As we grow, so do our organization’s overall capabilities.

Together, Perficient’s thought leaders told our end-to-end story of how we enable game-changing solutions to drive adoption every step of the way, and gained recognition from industry analysts at Forrester, Gartner and IDC as a significant player in the technology services market.

Modern Application Development Services Recognition

Perficient was named in the Forrester Wave: Modern Application Development Services in Q3 as a Strong Performer among 14 of the most significant midsize vendors against 28 criteria – earning top scores in talent management, AI and data, design, quality and productivity, and partner ecosystems.

“It is an honor to be recognized as a Strong Performer in this Forrester Wave report, as we believe it’s a testament to Perficient’s comprehensive approach to create custom digital solutions that deliver value.”

Glenn Kline, Area Vice President of Customer Development, DevOps, and Mobile Solutions

LEARN MORE: Perficient’s Placement in Forrester MADS

Forrester chose Perficient to participate in the MADS Wave evaluation from our inclusion in Forrester’s Now Tech: Modern Application Development Services (MADS) in Q1 which was also used to screen vendors for alignment with research criteria. Forrester defines MADS providers as: “MAD services providers work collaboratively with their clients to create custom modern applications, assist in the transformation and modernization of their clients’ software development practices, and help clients adopt modern practices and technologies.”

This Now Tech report included Perficient’s geographical presence in North America, Latin America, Europe, and Asia Pacific, and an industry focus in healthcare, financial services, and manufacturing. The overall report was based on market presence and services functionality and categorized vendors based on sizes, services functionality and global reach.

Forrester Now Tech Reports, Now Forrester Landscape Reports

Forrester Now Tech reports highlight value propositions, vendor segments, and individual vendors operating in a maturing marketplace. These reports help clients become more educated about a market and provide them with a preliminary list of vendors that they might prioritize for ongoing interactions. Landscape reports essentially do this as well, but also outline specific business capabilities or practices.

Perficient was listed in the Forrester Now Tech: Oracle Apps Implementation Services Providers and the Forrester Now Tech: Customer Experience Strategy Consulting Practices, both in Q1. This was Perficient’s first time in a Forrester CX report and is a testament to our ability to collaborate and utilize our digital capabilities to build seamless, personalized, and satisfying customer journeys.

In addition to these Now Techs, Perficient was also listed in Forrester’s AI Service Providers Landscape and Forrester’s Organizational Change Management Landscape, both in Q3. This was Forrester’s first OCM report, and Perficient was listed as a consulting firm with an industry focus in financial services, healthcare, and oil and gas. It further identified “cultural transformation” and “process engineering and improvement” as two use cases for Perficient’s OCM.

“Humans are creatures of habit but are also adaptable to change. Organizations have the power to determine which behavior prevails.”

Susan Wiener, Director of Organizational Change Management

Launching a Partnership with IDC

Perficient added International Data Corporation (IDC) to our mix of analyst firms this year. IDC is a global provider of market intelligence, advisory services, and events for IT, telecommunications, and consumer technology markets. Although we began our relationship with IDC this year, we’ve already seen recognition in these reports:

• IDC Market Analysis Perspective: Worldwide Digital Transformation Professional Services, Q3;
• IDC Market Glance: Digital Transformation Services Providers, Q2;
• IDC Market Glance: CX Services, Q2​; and
• IDC Market Glance: Worldwide Consumer and Small Business Lending Digital Transformation Strategies, Q2​.

In the Consumer and Small Business Lending report, Perficient was included in the “Loan Collections-Recovery” category. This inclusion reiterates our commitment to helping clients optimize their debt collection processes, reduce loan loss rates, and increase customer loyalty.

Gartner Inclusions

Analysts at Gartner are recognizing the impact Perficient makes and are covering Perficient’s expertise on numerous topics, and two examples are below.

In Q2, Perficient was listed as a digital commerce service provider in Gartner’s Digital Commerce Vendor Guide, which shows Perficient’s expertise in delivering rich functionality and customer experiences in the digital commerce ecosystem.

Another noteworthy inclusion was the Vendor Identification and Selection Guide for AI and D&A Service Providers Gartner Toolkit. This Q4 recognition allows organizations to have a pragmatic approach when comparing AI and D&A service providers and creating a list of vendors to evaluate more closely.

Showcasing Expertise Throughout the Year and Throughout the Blog

From digital experience platforms to low-code development, Perficient experts provided a wide range of knowledge in numerous Forrester reports. Of the five Forrester research interviews Perficient participated in, we were quoted in four of the five reports and mentioned in the fifth. Perficient’s knowledgeable colleagues who contributed to these reports helped with aligned research by the analyst community, and there are graphics throughout the blog to show the holistic approach to Perficient’s AR success in 2022.

Coming soon: Our Mobile Solutions team will be recognized in an upcoming report!