City of Rich Crest upgrades technology infrastructure and enhances cybersecurity measures

During the recent Budget Workshop Meeting held on May 20, 2025, the City of Ridgecrest's technology infrastructure was a focal point of discussion, highlighting ongoing projects and future needs. The meeting provided an overview of the city's current technology services, emphasizing the importance of cybersecurity and infrastructure upgrades.

The city's technology infrastructure has seen minimal changes, with the addition of new servers for police department projects, including body cameras and in-car video systems. A significant achievement this year has been the organization-wide firewall and networking systems refresh, aimed at eliminating single points of failure within the network. This project, executed in two phases, has enhanced the city's network capacity to 100 gigabits, significantly improving data throughput.

Cybersecurity remains a top priority, with discussions centered on the need for enhanced logging and detection systems. The city is shifting its focus from merely preventing breaches to preparing for potential incidents, recognizing that no system is entirely immune to attacks. This proactive approach is crucial as cyber threats continue to evolve, affecting municipalities and organizations nationwide.

The meeting also addressed the need for a modern endpoint detection system, as the current software has become outdated following its acquisition by Broadcom. The city plans to explore new options that offer better visibility and security features. Additionally, there are plans to migrate to Microsoft 365, which is expected to improve email and document management capabilities.

Future considerations include the aging phone system used for recording calls, which is becoming increasingly difficult to support due to the manufacturer no longer being in business. The city is preparing to segment this system to maintain its functionality while exploring funding opportunities for a comprehensive refresh in the coming years.

Overall, the meeting underscored the city's commitment to maintaining a robust technology infrastructure while addressing the challenges posed by aging systems and cybersecurity threats. As the city moves forward, it will continue to assess its technology needs and seek solutions that align with its operational goals.