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Sheriff's Office recommending the Board:
1) Find that pursuant to Procurement Policy C-17, section 3.4 (4) a competitively bid contract, NASPO AR3229, already exists for this purchase; and
2) Authorize the Purchasing Agent to issue a purchase order in the amount of $128,991.26, to ePlus Technology for the consolidated renewal of the Palo Alto Networks' multiple firewall device subscriptions and annual support and maintenance for the terms December 23, 2023 to January 8, 2025; February 2, 2024 to January 8, 2025; February 16, 2024 to January 8, 2025; February 23, 2024 to January 8, 2025; June 25, 2024 to January 8, 2025; October 3, 2024 to January 8, 2025; and December 23, 2024 to January 8, 2025.
FUNDING: General Fund.
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DISCUSSION / BACKGROUND
In computing, a firewall is a network security system that monitors and controls incoming and outgoing network traffic based on predetermined security rules. A firewall typically establishes a barrier between physical and logical network segments.
The Sheriff's Office currently employs existing firewalls between its internal network infrastructure and the Internet. These devices are instrumental in suppressing much of the malicious attacks that are perpetuated against the system on a continuous basis. The DNS Security, Threat Prevention, URL Filtering, and Wildfire subscription services give us various ways to identify and block threats coming from the Internet and from within our private network. Without these services we would be blind to intruders and be vulnerable to ransomware and other destructive attacks. Additional firewalls help provide network redundancy, resiliency, and business continuity objectives. The support renewal on the firewalls allows us to call for help with problems and replace defective equipment if needed and provides protection against modern threats. In previous years, the renewals have been completed separately causing for lack of consistency in renewal dates. A single purchase order will consolidate the renewals allowing for greater efficiency when process payments in the future.
Board approval is being sought due to the total amount of these various renewals being $128,991.26, which is beyond the Purchasing Agent's approval threshold. The Sheriff’s Office is using NASPO #AR3229, a competitively bid contract, to purchase the Palo Alto Networks' multiple firewall device subscriptions and annual support and maintenance through ePlus Technology, which is an approved vendor on the contracts partner list.
ALTERNATIVES
The Board could choose to not approve this item, however, the subscriptions and support provided ensure security and protection from threats to data and systems within the Sheriff’s Office.
PRIOR BOARD ACTION
10/25/2022 Legistar item 22-1712
01/25/2022 Legistar item 21-1975
OTHER DEPARTMENT / AGENCY INVOLVEMENT
County Counsel will review the vendor’s Terms and Conditions during the purchase order approval process and has already approved ePlus Technology's Terms and Conditions in several prior purchases.
CAO RECOMMENDATION / COMMENTS
Approve as recommended.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
No impact to Net County Cost as funding is available within the Sheriff’s Office budget.
CLERK OF THE BOARD FOLLOW UP ACTIONS
N/A
STRATEGIC PLAN COMPONENT
Public Safety
CONTACT
Undersheriff Bryan Golmitz