Acquia Professional Services gets my vote

When my client was squeamish about using open-source software for a new web application project, I suggested trying the enterprise support services provided by Acquia.

Since the project involved a complex multi-site Drupal configuration with common user logins, points systems, and an array of custom modules, Acquia sent us Chuck D'Antonio to conduct an architecture workshop.

Even though the client had a fairly clear idea of what their "sitemap" and navigation would look like, Chuck met with individual department heads to learn how each one managed their side of the business, and exactly what features they'd like to see online. By doing so, we managed to get a clear idea of how to match the Drupal modules and content types to the actual business practices. This proved to be invaluable.

I've had a tough time with this client. They are extremely bogged down in corporate politics and an unfathomable amount of security. What's more, none of them are tech savvy, so I'm their "one-man-solution". I've officially lost count of the number of times I've had to explain what a CMS is. As it turns out, they're still using static HTML web pages, and can't wrap their heads around the idea of dynamic media. It's been lonely, to say the least.

So you can only imagine how happy I was to work with Chuck. Simply having a like-minded colleague around boosted my confidence with this client, and his technical expertise proved to be invaluable. Furthermore, he's helping me make recommendations to my client, including the kind of development team I'll need to keep the project on track.

If Chuck D'Antonio's professional services are any indication of what to expect from Acquia, then I'm positive we've made a good investment here. I'm anxious to start reviewing their subscription service as well. Kudos to Chuck and, and I look forward to working with him again soon.