Mencap - Pantheon Migration | Adaptive Drupal Specialists

The Background

Mencap, a long-term Support customer of Adaptive's, historically hosted with another provider where the infrastructure was a more traditional implementation (VPS) requiring significant maintenance, lacking the necessary DevOps tools to enable rapid development and suffering outages when traffic spiked.

By migrating to Pantheon + Adaptive, the results were transformational. With much improved Security, Performance, Uptime and the infrastructure to handle the large number of concurrent website developments, the project was a huge success.

Read on to learn more about how we increased performance and reduced costs for Mencap.

Results

7

Sites Hosted

200+

Security Patches Applied

Millions

Of Bot Visits Blocked

Zero

Major Downtime Incidents

> 30%

Cost Savings

+ 100%

Page Load Performance

The Requirements

Mencap’s digital presence spans multiple websites, including both standalone sites and multisite configurations, each requiring seamless management and integration. With Mencap’s high profile, their platforms needed to handle significant traffic spikes, ensuring stability and reliability during peak demand.

Security was a critical focus, given the growing cyber threats faced by charities. A robust security strategy, including CDN and WAF protection, was essential to safeguarding sensitive data and maintaining uptime.

Pantheon’s hosting platform, combined with Adaptive’s value-added services - support, ISO-certified security, and Cyber Essentials accreditation - provided the ideal solution. This ensured Mencap’s websites remained secure, scalable, and high-performing while allowing their team to focus on delivering impactful digital experiences.

Requirements Overview

Performance

The ability to handle huge spikes of traffic yet still be cost effective was a key requirement. Pantheon's platform gives the ideal balance.

Security

As a Cyber Essentials and ISO-certified organisation, we uphold rigorous security standards to protect Mencaps digital assets. Hosting on Pantheon ensures a secure, high-performance environment with built-in safeguards and continuous monitoring.

Value

Pantheon offers enterprise-level security, performance, and scalability at a price point that remains accessible for organisations of all sizes. With built-in high availability, automated updates, and robust security features like CDN and WAF, it provides a resilient and secure hosting environment.

DevOps

Mencap required a hosting solution that supports seamless concurrent development while maintaining platform stability. The ability to work across multiple environments—such as staging, development, and production—was essential to allow teams to develop, test, and deploy changes without impacting the live site.

Multisite Management

Mencap required a hosting solution capable of managing a mix of standalone and multisite configurations efficiently. A centralised approach was essential to streamline updates, security patches, and feature deployments across multiple sites while ensuring consistency and ease of management. The solution needed to support individual site customisation while benefiting from shared infrastructure, reducing operational overhead and simplifying ongoing maintenance.

Support

Prompt, expert support was crucial given the importance of Mencap's website to the delivery of their mission. Also, with a relatively small Digital Team, our familiarity with the site and overall requirement means we add value at every step.

The Approach

Familiarity and Continuity

Having previously supported Mencap’s Drupal sites on their previous hosting platform, we had deep knowledge of their infrastructure, integrations, and operational requirements.

This familiarity enabled a smoother transition, reducing the risks typically associated with a migration. Our existing understanding of their architecture and workflows meant we could anticipate potential challenges and proactively address them.

Structured Testing and Validation

To ensure a seamless migration, we implemented a structured test plan, covering performance, security, and functionality across all Mencap sites.

Key integrations, including third-party booking systems and content workflows, were rigorously tested in a staging environment before deployment. This approach minimised downtime and ensured that all critical features remained fully operational post-migration.

Seamless Deployment and Optimisation

With Pantheon’s scalable hosting infrastructure in place, we carefully planned and executed the migration to minimise disruption.

Automated processes ensured that database and content transfers were accurate and efficient. Following deployment, we fine-tuned performance settings, optimised caching, and configured security enhancements such as WAF and CDN to protect against cyber threats. The result was a more stable, high-performing platform that could handle Mencap’s high-profile traffic spikes with ease.

The Future

With Pantheon’s secure and scalable infrastructure in place, Mencap now has a platform that is built to support its long-term digital strategy. The hosting solution has already demonstrated its ability to handle high-traffic events, efficiently manage multiple microsites, and adapt to the organisation’s evolving requirements.

As Mencap continues to expand its digital presence, the platform provides a flexible foundation that allows new projects and initiatives to be launched seamlessly. Future enhancements, including deeper integrations and further automation, will continue to streamline operations and empower internal teams.

By combining Pantheon’s enterprise-grade hosting with Adaptive’s ongoing support, security expertise, and strategic guidance, Mencap has a future-proofed digital ecosystem that can evolve alongside its mission and audience needs.

Learn more about our ongoing relationship with Mencap here.

What The Client Says

It’s a real comfort to know that there is such a highly skilled and knowledgeable team at our fingertips. I have worked with Adaptive for a number of years now and have built up a great relationship with the team who are always friendly, professional and happy to help.

Christine Mulvenna

Network Communications and Events Manager