Metadrop migrates and manages Drupal on Upsun (formerly Platform.sh): expert infrastructure-as-code, zero-downtime migration, performance tuning, and ongoing DevOps support from a Drupal Silver Certified Partner.
What is Upsun?
Upsun (formerly Platform.sh) is a unified, sovereign cloud application platform built to let teams ship and scale applications instead of managing infrastructure. It is a secure, multi-cloud PaaS that goes well beyond basic hosting: a complete, Git-driven workflow that manages everything from container orchestration, CI/CD, and managed data services to the application runtimes themselves.
With support for 100+ frameworks and 14 languages, it unifies development and production into a single, observable, and auditable system. For Drupal specifically, it ships native Composer and Drush support, managed databases, search, and cache — purpose-built for Drupal at scale, not a generic host repurposed for PHP.
Metadrop delivers Upsun as a fully managed service: we handle architecture, configuration, DevOps, scaling, and ongoing operations while your team focuses on building.
Why Upsun? Key benefits for technical leaders
Adopting Upsun is an architectural decision that compounds value by standardizing workflows and reducing overhead.
Radical speed & simplicity
Every Git branch becomes an instant, full-data clone of production. Teams test features in a real-world context, with no hand-built staging servers and no manual "update day".
True multi-cloud freedom
Choose your cloud provider (AWS, Azure, GCP, OVH) and region while keeping the same developer experience. Real data sovereignty and no vendor lock-in.
Infrastructure as code
A few lines of YAML define your entire application stack. Configuration drift disappears and workflows stay repeatable, versioned, and auditable.
Built-in security & compliance
Enterprise-grade, automated controls for standards like SOC 2 Type 2, GDPR, PCI DSS, and ISO 27001 are part of the platform, not an afterthought.
Integrated observability
The built-in Blackfire suite profiles performance, resource usage, and even real-time carbon emissions, so you optimize from day one.
Intelligent scalability
Auto-scaling infrastructure absorbs campaigns, launches, and seasonal traffic spikes instantly — without re-architecting or downtime.
Upsun is Powerful. Mastering It Is the Key
Upsun provides the tools. Real-world success depends on expert architectural configuration.
As Upsun’s own documentation notes, getting the most from the platform is "especially suitable for professionals with at least some experience in architecture." This is a professional PaaS, not a simple hosting panel.
To unlock the full speed, security, and scalability, you need a partner who understands both Drupal and the Upsun architecture at an expert level.
We are the Drupal experts for the Upsun platform
We are Metadrop, a top-15 global Drupal contributor and Silver Certified Partner. We don’t just "lift and shift" — we re-architect your application to be native to Upsun, with the expert setup, fine-tuning, and ongoing maintenance the platform demands.
IaC configuration
We define your entire stack in code, mastering .platform.app.yaml to manage PHP versions, dependencies, and build/deploy hooks.
Service integration
We fine-tune services.yaml to connect Drupal cleanly with Redis, Solr, and Elasticsearch.
Complex routing
We manage multi-site, multi-domain, and redirect strategies through expert configuration of routes.yaml.
Workflow optimization
We build and automate cron jobs, worker processes, and CI/CD pipelines directly within the platform.
Performance tuning
We leverage integrated observability like Blackfire to profile and optimize your application after migration, not just before.
Managed Upsun hosting
- End-to-end managed operations — provisioning, deployment pipelines, monitoring, and incident response, so your in-house team does not have to.
- Proactive monitoring & updates — security patches and Drupal core and module updates ship safely, removing the patching overhead that drains internal teams.
- Performance at scale — Varnish, Redis object caching, and CDN integration deliver sub-second response times under load.
- One accountable partner — a single team for hosting, performance, and support, with clear SLAs and a single escalation path.
Choosing the Right Resource Model
Upsun provides powerful, flexible pricing. As your partner, we help you analyze your applications to select and configure the most cost-effective model, ensuring you only pay for what you truly need.
Fixed Pricing: Ideal for applications with consistent, predictable resource requirements. This model provides standardized, project-level resources for stable workloads.
Flex Pricing: Designed for applications with dynamic needs. This model provides granular, container-level resource management, allowing you to scale individual services up or down based on real-time demand.
We ensure your architecture is optimized for the right model from day one.
Security & European compliance
ENS certified
A delivery track record across GDPR, WCAG, and NIS2 requirements, built for European buyers and regulated sectors.
EEA data residency
Multi-cloud region selection and sovereignty-aware configuration serve organizations with strict data-location rules.
Backups, DR & WAF
Automated backups, disaster recovery, and WAF are part of the managed service, not optional extras.
Risks in plain language
We explain compliance and security risks to non-technical stakeholders, keeping decisions clear at board level.
Our Zero-Downtime, Zero-Data-Loss Migration Process
We have engineered a three-phase process designed for complex, high-traffic Drupal sites. Our method guarantees business continuity and data integrity.
Planning & Replication
We perform a full audit of your current codebase, database, and files. A complete replica is created on Upsun, allowing for rigorous testing in an identical environment without impacting your live site.
Final Sync & Data Lock
During a planned, low-traffic window, we execute a final data synchronization. To guarantee 100% data integrity, your original site is temporarily placed in read-only mode. This critical step ensures no form submissions, user registrations, or content changes are lost.
Coordinated Go-Live
With the new platform fully tested and synchronized, we coordinate the DNS switch. This is a seamless cutover that directs all traffic to your new, faster Upsun infrastructure. We monitor the launch to ensure immediate stability and performance.
We map your migration path and risks in a short discovery call — and return a written migration plan within 5 business days.
Who Upsun hosting is right for
A strong fit if you run a mission-critical, high-traffic, or multilingual Drupal site and want managed DevOps, fast deployments, and production-identical environments.
A strong fit if your in-house team lacks Drupal DevOps capacity, or you are moving off an end-of-support or unstable host.
Less suited if you run a tiny low-traffic site with no compliance or scaling needs — we will tell you honestly and point you to a simpler option.
Upsun vs Acquia? Both are enterprise-grade managed Drupal platforms. Choose Upsun for true multi-cloud freedom (AWS, Azure, GCP, OVH), data sovereignty, and portable config-as-code; choose Acquia for a Drupal-dedicated managed cloud built around Acquia’s own toolset. We advise on the right fit rather than push one option.
Comparing options? See Acquia hosting and self-hosted infrastructure, or browse all Drupal hosting options.
Why Metadrop for Upsun
- 15+ years of Drupal expertise and Silver Certified Partner status, backed by more than a decade of enterprise delivery.
- Independent technical governance — a strategic partner that advises on the right architecture rather than simply taking orders.
- International reach: 50+ countries and 30+ languages supported, built for multilingual, multi-site platforms.
- Trusted by enterprise and mission-critical organizations including Saint-Gobain, Telefónica, Solvay, UNICEF, and Save the Children.
Upsun Drupal hosting by the numbers
15+ years
Delivering and maintaining Drupal at enterprise scale.
Top-15
Global Drupal contributor, and a Silver Certified Partner.
50+ countries · 30+ languages
Served on multilingual, multi-site platforms.
100+ frameworks
Supported by Upsun — with Drupal a first-class, native target.
Proven Upsun migrations
- Migrated a multinational home-appliances manufacturer from on-premise infrastructure to Upsun, with a Jenkins CI/CD pipeline, CloudFlare CDN and WAF, and a monosite-to-multisite re-architecture across European brands — alongside a Drupal 10 to 11 upgrade.
- Re-platformed a European specialty-food brand from Acquia onto Upsun, reconfiguring deployment pipelines, establishing new Solr search cores, and transitioning the caching layer to Redis with zero data loss.
Frequently asked questions
What is Upsun hosting for Drupal?
Upsun (formerly Platform.sh) is a Drupal-optimized PaaS where the full stack is defined in code and deployed automatically from Git, with managed databases, search, and caching. Metadrop delivers it as a fully managed service.
What is the difference between Platform.sh and Upsun?
Upsun is the rebranded, second-generation version of the same Platform.sh PaaS. Both run Drupal the same way, and Metadrop manages either.
Is Upsun good for Drupal?
Yes. It has native Composer and Drush support, managed Redis, Solr, and MariaDB, Git-branch environments, and built-in CI/CD purpose-built for Drupal at scale.
How do you migrate a Drupal site to Upsun?
We audit your stack, define infrastructure in code, replicate your site on Upsun, validate under realistic load, then run a final data-locked sync and coordinated go-live with minimal downtime.
What is the difference between Upsun Fixed and Flex pricing?
Fixed provides standardized project-level resources for predictable workloads; Flex provides granular container-level scaling for dynamic demand. We configure the most cost-effective model for your traffic profile.
How much does Upsun hosting cost?
Pricing depends on your traffic, environments, and managed-service scope. We provide a fixed-scope proposal after a short discovery call.
Will I be locked into one vendor?
No. Your stack is defined in portable code, your data stays yours, and Upsun’s multi-cloud model lets you choose your provider and region.
Do you provide ongoing support after migration?
Yes. Managed hosting includes proactive monitoring, updates, performance tuning, and defined-SLA support.
Ready to Unlock the Full Power of Drupal on Upsun?
Stop managing infrastructure. Start building features. Let's build your migration plan.
Schedule Your Upsun Strategy Call