Wayne County approves software agreements for cybersecurity and monitoring services

The Wayne County Commission convened on March 12, 2025, to discuss critical technology agreements aimed at enhancing the county's cybersecurity and operational efficiency. Among the key items on the agenda were two cooperative agreements for software subscriptions that promise to bolster the county's data management and security capabilities.

The first item involved an addendum to a one-year agreement with SHI International for the Splunk Cloud Platform. This software will enable the county to collect, search, monitor, report, and analyze real-time historical network activity. Ryan Hayes, the division director of computing and infrastructure, explained that this platform consolidates logs from various systems, including firewalls and network devices, into a single location for better oversight.

The second item was an addendum to a cooperative agreement with CDW Government LLC for BlueVoyant software subscription and 24/7 monitoring services. This service is designed to act on behalf of the county in response to any incidents detected through the logging platform, such as potential viruses or security breaches. Hayes emphasized that the data shared with these contractors would be limited to non-confidential log data, ensuring that sensitive information remains protected.

Commissioner Killeen raised concerns about data security, questioning the protections in place to prevent unauthorized access or misuse of county data by these external firms. In response, IT Director Hector Roman assured the commission that the contracts include strict limitations on data access, and that all operations would remain within the United States. The county's security team will oversee the integration of these services, ensuring that any abnormal activity is promptly addressed.

The commission unanimously approved both items, recognizing the importance of these agreements in safeguarding the county's technological infrastructure. The discussions highlighted the ongoing commitment of Wayne County to enhance its cybersecurity measures, especially in light of past incidents that have raised awareness about the vulnerabilities faced by local governments.

In addition to these agreements, the meeting also addressed an amendment to a cooperative agreement with Oracle America, extending the timeline for the county's enterprise resource planning project. This extension aims to ensure a smooth transition to the new financial system, now targeted for an October 1 go-live date.

As Wayne County continues to adapt to the evolving technological landscape, these decisions reflect a proactive approach to securing data and improving operational efficiency, ultimately benefiting residents through enhanced services and protection against cyber threats.