9 questions to ask yourself when choosing a multisite CMS

Before investing in a multisite platform, it’s essential to carefully evaluate the right selection criteria. Not all CMSs are equally well-suited for managing multiple web projects from a single foundation. Here are the key points to consider in order to make an informed choice, based on the expectations of different stakeholders.

1) Does the tool enable clear multisite governance?

When multiple entities, brands, or regions share the same digital infrastructure, governance becomes the key to success.

For marketing teams: For example, an international brand can approve all homepages centrally, while regional marketing teams manage local campaigns independently.

For IT teams: Check whether the platform integrates with corporate identity systems such as LDAP, SSO, or Active Directory.

• Can I synchronize user roles across systems?
• Can I track every action (audit trails)?
• Can I manage permissions via APIs or configuration files?

A good multisite CMS must balance two opposing needs: centralized control and local independence. The best CMSs achieve this balance with ease.

2) Is multilingual management simple and reliable?

International organizations rarely manage "simple translations." They manage language ecosystems.

Marketing perspective: Your CMS should allow you to reuse content across different markets, manage multiple language versions of the same page, and maintain the integrity of links between them.

Beyond translation, cultural adaptation is key. The CMS must allow for flexibility in terms of images, color usage, and even user interface components. Some markets require unique content blocks, such as legal notices in one country or different pricing modules in another.

3) Does the CMS integrate easily with your business tools (CRM, DAM, PIM)?

Your CMS does not operate in isolation. It’s a platform that connects your sales tools, marketing automation, and data systems.

For IT:

• Authentification (OAuth2, JWT)
• Data caching
• API rate limits
• Synchronization of large volumes of data (for catalogs or multimedia libraries)

For marketing:

Integration unlocks personalization. When CRM data (such as customer segments or preferences) can drive the content displayed, you move from "publishing" to orchestrating experiences.

4) Does the CMS guarantee robust security and compliance?

Each new site is a potential entry point for attackers. Security in a multisite environment is not optional, it is strategic.

For CISOs/CIOs, consider these factors before making a decision: 

• Authentication and session management
• Encryption (in transit and at rest)
• Regular patch cycles and security bulletins
• Backup and restore capabilities

Compliance officers:

Ensure that the CMS supports frameworks such as GDPR, CCPA, and their regional equivalents. Look for built-in consent management features, anonymization options, and clear data retention policies.

Pro tip: Ask suppliers about their certifications (ISO 27001, SOC 2, etc.) and how they handle vulnerability disclosure. The more transparent they are, the better.

5) How quickly can your teams learn to use and adopt the platform?

No matter how powerful a CMS is, if your teams don't know how to use it, it's doomed to fail.

Marketing perspective: The interface must be intuitive for non-technical contributors. Test how easy it is to:

• Create and publish a page
• Reuse templates
• Add the translated content
• Preview on all devices

Check the onboarding resources, documentation, and training environments. Ideally, new users should become productive within a week.

For administrators:

Evaluate how permissions, modules, and updates are managed. Can they be managed visually or only through configuration files? Ease of use is just as important for administrators as it is for publishers.

6) Can it handle multiple types of web projects without added complexity?

In many organizations, websites come in different forms:

• Corporate portals
• Product or brand microsites
• Event landing pages
• Internal communication platforms

A good multisite CMS should manage all these aspects under one roof.

For IT: 

Verify that each type of project can operate in the same environment, using shared infrastructure and common modules.
This ensures stable performance and consistent deployment, whether you're launching a marketing microsite or an internal application.

For marketing: 

Flexibility is essential. You need to be able to launch a new campaign page in a matter of hours, not weeks, using predefined templates and reusable blocks, while retaining enough creative freedom to adapt visuals and layouts.

Tip: Ask whether it’s easy to duplicate or “clone” an existing site. In a true multisite CMS, creating a new site should be as simple as copying, adapting, and publishing.

7) Can you develop and deploy custom modules on a large scale?

Even with powerful out-of-the-box features, customization is inevitable. A CMS designed to evolve must support modular development and granular deployment.

For developers:

• Is there a clear framework (Java, Node.js, or another stack) for extending functionality?
• Can you version and deploy modules independently for each site?
• Are sandbox and rollback options available?

For IT leaders:

Ensure that the CMS can handle large-scale deployments, i.e., simultaneous updates on dozens of sites without service interruption. Also consider DevOps integration: CI/CD compatibility, test environments, and API-based deployment automation.

Example: If your CMS supports modular packages (e.g., "search module," "SEO toolkit," "form generator"), you should be able to update one of them on 30 sites in a single operation.

8) What level of support and ecosystem is provided with the solution?

Even the best technology fails without a solid support structure. When evaluating vendors, don't just look at features, but also consider the maturity of the partnership.

Digital project managers, check: 

• SLA commitments
• Ticket resolution times
• Access to dedicated consultants or certified partners
• Quality of documentation and knowledge base

If you are a CIO, look for: 

• A network of active partners for implementation and integration
• A visible roadmap for products
• Regular updates and transparent communications

A CMS should evolve with you, not leave you isolated six months after implementation.

9) Is the pricing model sustainable as you grow?

The final, and often overlooked, question: will the CMS cost model still work when you add 10, 50, or 200 sites?

For finance and IT: 

• Licenses (per site, per domain, per use, or per volume)
• Infrastructure or hosting costs
• Maintenance and updates
• Support levels and optional modules

Avoid platforms that hinder growth with per-site fees or limited environments for testing and pre-production.

Pro tip: Ask if the CMS supports multi-environment architectures (development, staging, production) without increasing licensing costs. This flexibility is essential for continuous deployment workflows.

Bonus question: How ready is the CMS for the AI era?

By 2025, artificial intelligence will redefine how content is created, localized, and distributed. When choosing a multisite CMS, ensure it is ready to work with AI, not against it.

Look for:

• AI-based translation and content generation connectors
• Metadata and SEO optimization tools based on real-time information
• Integration with LLMs (large language models) for automated content recommendations
• The ability to control the content that AI models can access, in order to manage how your brand is represented online.

In short: your CMS must not only manage your content, but also prepare it for intelligent use and reuse across all digital channels.

Asking the right questions means laying the right foundation

A multisite CMS is the backbone of your digital ecosystem. By asking the right questions before choosing your platform, you are not just buying software, you are creating a governance model, a technical foundation, and a scalable process for years to come.

The best CMSs are not just tools. They are strategic enablers of agility, consistency, and control for both marketing and IT.

Before signing your next contract, make sure you can confidently answer each of these nine questions. The future scalability of your digital presence depends on it.