Dept of Finance embraces Drupal for centralised government-wide CMS

The Commonwealth Department of Finance will build its centralised govCMS Web-content platform on a content management system (CMS) from Acquia, the company announced today after an extensive tendering process that began in May with an open request for industry comment.

Designed to provide a centralised repository for storage and publication of government agencies' content, the govCMS platform is intended to simplify content-management processes by shifting them to the cloud-based Acquia Cloud platform.

Acquia's solution is based on the aGov distribution of the widely used Drupal open-source CMS, which already powers sites like Australia.gov.au and finance.gov.au that will be among the first to transfer to the govCMS environment.

“We designed govCMS to save costs while empowering agencies to act independently. We’re supporting innovation by relying on Drupal, a technology proven in governments around the world,” Australian Government CTO John Sheridan said in a statement.

“Open source technologies like Drupal, when paired with an open cloud platform like Acquia Cloud, are creating efficiencies in government and disrupting the way we deliver digital citizen experiences – for the better.”

The consolidation of Web content into govCMS will not only help agencies provide content in a consistent fashion, but will support efforts to improve content accessibility through compliance with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG).

Sites will be maintained using Acquia's Cloud Site Factory, a hosted application that simplifies the operation, management and governance of large numbers of sites simultaneously.

“govCMS will provide entities with the opportunity to create and manage websites, based on best practice and compliant with Australian Government standards, including security and accessibility,” Sheridan said.

“Removing the burden for entities of having to own and manage software or infrastructure should allow them to focus more on their core business.”

Drupal is also used within organisations including the Departments of Social Services, the Environment, and Employment.

govCMS will be available to Commonwealth Government entities from February 2015