Joomla 3 to 5 Upgrade for OSMTH Organization
We upgraded three end-of-life Joomla 3 websites to Joomla 5 for a UN-recognized NGO, ensuring enhanced security, performance, and long-term stability while preserving all content, functionality, SEO value, and brand identity to support uninterrupted access for users across more than 40 countries.
Industry
Non-Profit / NGO
Technology
Joomla
Services
Joomla Version Upgrade (3 → 4 → 5), Website Modernization & Responsive Design, Extension Audit & Customization, Performance Optimization,
Security Hardening
Project Overview
The Sovereign Military Order of the Temple of Jerusalem (OSMTH), a United Nations-recognized NGO headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland, required a critical upgrade of its digital infrastructure. Three Joomla 3-based websites serving global organizational, regional, and event-management needs were approaching end-of-life support, posing security and compatibility risks.
The project focused on upgrading all three websites to Joomla 5 while preserving content, functionality, SEO value, and brand identity, ensuring uninterrupted access for users across more than 40 countries.
Websites Included:
- Main Organization Website: https://www.osmth.org
- NATO Grand Priory Website: https://gpnato.osmth.org
- Event Management Platform: https://gmcevent.osmth.org
Project Objectives
- Upgrade all websites from Joomla 3 to the secure and future-ready Joomla 5 platform
- Preserve all existing content, users, menus, and functionalities without data loss
- Modernize design using a mobile-responsive two-column layout
- Maintain consistent branding across all websites
- Ensure zero or minimal downtime for global users
- Preserve SEO rankings and existing URL structures
Project Execution
1. Design and Discovery Process
A comprehensive discovery phase was conducted to evaluate the existing system architecture. This included a full audit of over 40 extensions, templates, modules, and custom configurations across the three websites. Content structures, user roles, menus, and multilingual requirements were documented. Complete site and database backups were created to ensure rollback capability throughout the project lifecycle.
2. Development and Customization
Due to the lack of direct upgrade support from Joomla 3 to 5, a two-phase upgrade strategy (Joomla 3 → 4 → 5) was adopted.
- Compatible extensions were upgraded or replaced
- Incompatible extensions were re-developed or custom-coded
- Custom CSS and template overrides were implemented to maintain branding
- Temporary templates ensured site continuity during transitions
3. Upgrade
- All Joomla 3 sites were first updated to Joomla 3.10.x
- Phase 1 upgrade to Joomla 4 was executed with extensive troubleshooting
- Phase 2 upgrade from Joomla 4.4.x to Joomla 5 followed after compatibility validation
- Database schema updates and system configurations were applied automatically
4. URL Redirection and SEO Preservation
SEO continuity was a critical requirement. Existing SEO-friendly URLs were preserved using redirects where necessary. All metadata, page titles, descriptions, and indexing settings were retained. Smart Search replaced legacy search functionality, and Google Analytics and Search Console were reconfigured to ensure uninterrupted tracking and indexing.
5. Thorough Testing and Quality Assurance
Extensive QA was conducted across all three websites:
- Frontend and backend functionality testing
- Form submissions, search, and user registration validation
- Cross-browser and cross-device testing
- Data integrity checks for articles, users, menus, and media
- Performance optimization through caching, compression, and database cleanup
6. Launch and Ongoing Support
After successful testing, the upgraded Joomla 5 websites were deployed with minimal downtime. Post-launch monitoring ensured stability, performance, and security. Ongoing support included regular updates, backups, and system health checks to maintain long-term reliability.
Results & Feedback
- Improved Performance: Faster load times and smoother navigation across devices
- Enhanced Security: Migration to a fully supported Joomla 5 platform eliminated end-of-life risks
- Zero Data Loss: All content, users, and organizational data were preserved flawlessly
- Modern Responsive Design: Mobile-first layouts improved accessibility and usability
- Future-Ready Infrastructure: The organization is now equipped for future growth and enhancements
Client’s Feedback
“OSMTH (Sovereign Military Order Temple of Jerusalem which is a non profit organization that contracted with Ebizon to migrate the website from one version of CMS to the latest version. The project was completed on time and at the stated price. Communications as the project proceeded provided clear status and raised concerns in a timely manner. Staff is knowledgeable and professional.”
Kathleen Watson
Communications Chair
OSMTH
What Our Customers Says
reviewed by JOE WILLIAMS
Senior manager, Remedy Liqour
Head of Business Engagement, WRI
“Ebizon is one of the best in the business and they back this up with their quick and friendly support. The team is relentless to listen to our issues and come up with a solution. Have seen the team stretch beyond their knowledge to help us.”
reviewed by JOSEPH CURLEY
Vice President, Sokolin
Content Officer, Society for Science & Public
“My experience with this partnership has been positive. The support Ebizon extended towards us was commendable. It perfectly fulfils our requirements with their support we had no hassle.”
reviewed by Beat Walder
Manager, Forester Beauty
Chief of Staff, Strategic Dentistry
“I’m the owner of Forester Beauty in Switzerland. I’ve contacted Dee and he led me through the whole process of migrating our online shop to Shopify, including custom elements to enhance user experience. The whole Project Team at Ebizon has a very professional attitude and provide their support and insights promptly.”
reviewed by Wilma Pretorius
Managing Director, Cranimals
For fully managed WordPress installs, WPEngine is my Go-To
“The Team worked well with my company to migrate our Magento store to a new Shopify store. Ebizon was able to implement required applications to enable a near seamless transition. Thanks Team!
reviewed by Raul
Senior Manager, Emporium Embroidery
Head of Business Engagement, WRI
“Emporium Embroidery – customization module / Magento upgrade Thank you Ebizon and a great thank you to the team who was always very helpful on this journey.”
reviewed by Alexandre Salem
eCommerce Manager, Ada Cosmetic
Chief of Staff, Strategic Dentistry
“Thanks to EbizON solution, the platform enabled the company to sell products efficiently. The team worked in sprints and held weekly meetings, ensuring accurate outcomes.”
reviewed by Po Ming Lam
Manager, Avec Plaisirs Chefs Traiteurs
For fully managed WordPress installs, WPEngine is my Go-To
“Ebizon is helping our Magento development needs. Their customer oriented approach has made our experience very pleasant and efficient. We are definitely sending more work to them and recommend others to try them out!”
