Web Content Management Program
Vision
One of University IT (UIT)'s priority initiatives is to provide modern, secure, and managed cloud-based web alternatives through the Web Content Management program. The program is a collection of efforts to replace the current Andrew File System (AFS)-based web content management systems. AFS is minimally supported and hosts a number of websites created by individuals and other organizations in unsupported, outdated and vulnerable versions of web tools.
By 2021, UIT will establish new vendor platforms, upgrade established platforms, and assist the web content management community in determining the closest-fit solution for their needs.
Projects
The program comprises eight projects. Below is an overview of each project.
AFS-Based Drupal Websites
Stanford’s vast web presence is maintained by many distributed groups across campus and includes a wide variety of applications and hosting platforms, including the legacy AFS platform.
UIT will reduce instances of Drupal on AFS by removal of inactive websites and provide alternative hosting options and guidance for owners of active websites.
Stanford Sites Drupal CMS
Stanford Sites Drupal CMS, UIT’s primary Drupal cloud service, currently hosts 2,000+ sites. To continue receiving security updates and community support, the Drupal service must be updated to the latest version of Drupal by November 2021.
The goal of the multi-year Drupal project is to develop a central system that improves reliability and security for the Stanford Sites Drupal platform as a whole and allows sites to automatically receive regular security patches and upgrades.
Form Builder Replacement
Form Builder, the Stanford Web Forms service, currently relies on AFS, and UIT announced Google Forms as its replacement in January 2020. Google Forms is a secure, easily-managed web forms solution that provides many of the same features and functions as Form Builder.
UIT retired the Form Builder service effective July 30, 2020. If you’re a form owner and you need to access data submitted through your forms, you may still do so when logged into formbuilder.stanford.edu through the end of 2020.
WordPress Hosting Platform
A cloud-based WordPress hosting and vendor-provided support option will be made available as an alternative to the cloud Drupal platform.
Static HTML/CGI-Enabled Websites
Static HTML, CGI-enabled websites on AFS will be documented, and University IT will communicate about alternative hosting options for Stanford users, groups, and departments.
AFS User Volume Provisioning
UIT will change the process for provisioning AFS user volumes to new students, faculty, and staff. New users will no longer be auto-provisioned with AFS user volumes. Should a new user need a personal AFS user volume, a request can be submitted through services.stanford.edu.
Virtual Name Redirect
UIT will move virtual name redirects (vanity URL services) to a cloud platform and move proxy URL redirects to a vanity URL redirect cloud infrastructure.
Virtual Name Proxy
UIT will move the virtual name proxy service to a cloud-based vanity URL service.
More information coming soon.
Roadmap
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AFS-based Drupal websites
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Stanford Sites Drupal 8 Core Platform
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Wordpress hosting platform
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Static HTML websites
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AFS web directory space
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Form Builder replacement
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Virtual name redirect
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Virtual name proxy
Resources
Communications
Read the latest news and blog updates about the program:
- How to Put User Needs at the Forefront of Your Web Design: Cardinal Service Part Two
- The Importance of an Informed Website Strategy: Cardinal Service Part One
- Aug. 28, 2020: I’m leaving Stanford. What do I do with my website on Stanford Sites?
- Aug. 10, 2020: Four ‘Not-So-Obvious’ Tips to Use Google Forms Like a Pro
- July 22, 2020: Early Adopters Transform Their Websites on the New Stanford Sites Drupal 8
- July 7, 2020: Drupal 7’s End of Life and What That Means for Stanford Sites
- June 1, 2020: I have a website on AFS. How do I delete or move the site to another platform?
- April 7, 2020: Stanford Sites Drupal 8 is Here!
- Jan. 15, 2020: Google Forms to Replace Form Builder
- Feb. 20, 2020: Seven Steps for a Successful Transition to Drupal 8
- Dec. 16: 2019: Why Perform a Content Audit on Your Website?
- Dec. 3, 2019: Five Takeaways From the Drupal 8 Pilot
- Oct. 25, 2019: Why Web Accessibility Matters
- Oct. 2, 2019: The Road to D8: What will be available and when?
- Sept. 17, 2019: Modernizing Stanford’s Web Content Management Systems
- Sept. 3, 2019: Drupal 8: Scalable, Affordable, and More Secure Than Ever Platform-as-a-Service
Roles
- Executive Sponsors: Steve Gallagher, Brad Immanuel, Ganesh Karkala
- Program Manager: Joe Perna
- Product Owner: Larry Dillard (Static HTML websites, AFS web directory space, virtual name redirect, virtual name proxy)
- Product Owner: Marco Wise (Form Builder)
- Product Owner: Sara Worrell-Berg (AFS-based Drupal websites, Stanford Sites Drupal 8 platform, WordPress hosting platform)
- Communications Leads: Rachel Manongdo, Staci Baird
