If you have a Drupal site, you know it is not that easy to maintain and update on your own. Without the right technical skills, it can be quite daunting. I always need help for anything beyond creating and managing content.
How much does maintenance cost anyway? There is no direct answer but I will describe what goes into the cost. This can help you know if you are getting quality work.
Security Updates
This is what most maintenance plans cover, or at least what ours cover. At the very least, you need to have a plan in place for security issues, patches and other unforeseen circumstances. If there is a critical security issue, you don't have to wait to approve the task before it gets fixed. One of our clients' sites recently experienced some exploits because they failed to approve our strong recommendations to update immediately.
If you have a solid plan in place and a good development team to back it, security updates will often be implemented within hours, eliminating any vulnerabilities or exploit potential.
Regular Maintenance
This includes more than just security. It includes module updates and minor tweaks to the site. Your site should stay as current as possible because broken modules can compromise security and functionality. If you have a plan, your development team can get you on their schedule and get things done faster. You don't need to grant permission, which saves time.
Ongoing Development
If you have a site that requires regular attention and has major growth plans, this helps you out. All you have to worry about is what to change and when because your retainer covers the cost. You also get put on the development calendar and get more personalized attention.
Instead of paying a huge amount every two years when you need a redesign, you pay smaller monthly amounts to keep your site adapting and growing.
Experience
Developers will charge different rates according to their experience level. If they are being honest, higher prices typically mean they can handle big problems and provide more value to your website.
- Advice - experienced developers provide more than just a helping hand. They can give advice on problems so you don't waste your money on unnecessary tools. They have a wide body of knowledge to direct you to the right solution.
What is best for you?
It's a good idea to have the security and maintenance covered so your website remains safe from threats. Like I said above, ongoing development depends on your use case. Your development team can help you decide what is best for you.