Destinations

Table of Contents

Objective

This guide explains what Destinations are in Cascade CMS, why they matter, and how to select the correct destination when publishing content.

When to Use This Process

Use this guide whenever you are ready to publish or republish content and need to choose where the content should appear (for example, on staging or production).

Understanding destinations is essential to ensure content is visible in the correct environment and reviewed appropriately. The Production destination is a web server that delivers what is often called your "live site." The Staging destination is a web server used to preview and test your content before publishing to a production server.

Before You Start

• You must be logged in to Cascade CMS

• You have saved or edited content that you want to publish

• You know if you want to publish to test your content or go live directly on your site

• You understand whether approval workflows are required

Understanding Each Destination

📍 Staging

It is our suggested best practice to Publish first to the Staging destination. Once you and all collaborators have reviewed your content on the Staging server, you can then Publish to the Production server.

Open

Staging URL

The staging URL can be accessed via a web browser (on the UM Network) by adding "staging." before Miami in your URL. For example, the staging destination for the Web & Digital website (webcomm.miami.edu) is webcomm.staging.miami.edu.

If you are not connected via the UM network, you will need to use UM's virtual private network (VPN) to securely access the site.

Also, sites on Staging will not show up in search engine results.

Using VPN while working remotely

UM's virtual private network (VPN) allows faculty, staff, students, and sponsored affiliates to securely access and connect to the University's private network from anywhere. Connecting to a VPN while working remotely protects sensitive information and is required when accessing staging websites.

1. First, you must install the GlobalProtect virtual private network (VPN): https://vpn.miami.edu/ -(Click here to review installation instructions.)

2. Once installed, enter the Portal Address vpn.miami.edu in the VPN client to connect.

3. Using a web browser, view your staging site by adding "staging." before miami in your URL.

🌐 Production

• Production is the live site the public sees

• Content published here is publicly accessible

• A final destination after all reviews and approvals

Best Practices

✔ Always preview content before publishing
✔ Publish to Staging first when possible
✔ Confirm links and asset references work on staging
✔ Only publish to Production after verification

Common Scenarios

Content review required
→ Publish to Staging so reviewers can verify before going live.

Routine update approved
→ After review, publish to Production.

Asset only (image or PDF)
→ Publish the asset itself first, then publish the page linking to it.

Success Checklist

Before completing this task, confirm:

Troubleshooting

Destinations not listed
→ Confirm your permissions or that your site isn’t using workflow approvals instead.

Content not appearing live
→ Confirm you published to Production, not only Staging.

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