Drupal development

Drupal is a popular open-source (free) content management system (CMS) used for building and managing websites and web applications. Drupal is a powerful and flexible content management system that is widely used by organisations of all sizes. Its modular architecture, customisation options and strong security make it a popular choice for building and managing complex websites and web applications.

Drupal as the build forward platform

After an extensive analysis of existing tools, DPHI has chosen Drupal as our build forward platform. The majority of new websites and any significant rebuilds of existing websites will be built in Drupal. This aligns to the NSW whole of government consolidation strategy, allowing an easier transition to the NSW government website in the future. However, there are some circumstances where Drupal may not be the right fit based on the requirements of a particular website - this is assessed on a case-by-case basis by the Digital Experience & Solutions team. If you'd like more information, reach out using the Contact Us page.

If it's free, why doesn't everyone use it?

While Drupal does not have a license cost, the maintenance effort for a Drupal website is higher than some other websites. This is due to Drupal’s  open-source nature.  With a system built mostly by the community, security risks are higher. To address this, Drupal releases security patches every month to ensure the highest security standards are maintained across Drupal websites. These patches are implemented into a development environment by a Drupal developer, tested thoroughly, then released into the production environment. 

What is the cost of developing a website in Drupal?

The cost of developing a website depends on the complexity and scope. In general, a masterbrand corporate website using the DPHI Drupal Rapid Start templates can be built and launched within 4 weeks for approximately $60,000. However, if custom functionality or changes to the designs are required, cost and duration of the project can increase.

In addition to the development cost, other costs are also applicable and should be considered. These include:

• Security Penetration Testing - if the website has not been security tested in the last 12 months or if any of the planned enhancements could introduce a new security vulnerability, a Penetration Test is required.
• Testing – website enhancements  need to be tested to ensure they are free from bugs and satisfy the requirements and acceptance criteria.
• Training and documentation – technical and/or user documentation including training materials may be required depending on the project.
• Platform hosting - website hosting and related services attract an annual cost for the lifetime of the website.
• Ongoing maintenance and support agreement - to ensure the website remains up to date with security patches and to resolve any minor bugs. This is an annual cost for the lifetime of a website.

Submit an enquiry about this service