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Framingham IT warns of support deadlines for network gear as finance subcommittee reviews $1.6M upgrade
Summary
City IT staff told the finance subcommittee that switches, wireless access points and the core switch purchased in 2017 are approaching end-of-support and recommended prioritizing switches; the subcommittee discussed timing and cost but took no formal vote.
Framingham City Council Finance Subcommittee — City IT staff told the finance subcommittee on June 3 that portions of the city's network infrastructure purchased in 2017 are approaching end-of-support and that delaying replacement risks security vulnerabilities and operational outages.
An IT presenter told members the request covers three major components: network switches at 94 city locations, wireless access points and a dual-core switch for redundancy. "The vendor will no longer issue software updates," the presenter said of equipment reaching its end of support, and added that while hardware will continue to operate after end of support, "you run a risk, a security risk."
Cost and timing: the wireless access-point portion was listed at $570,355.56 and the presenter said the network switches account for about $717,000 of the request; the total project discussed was about $1.6 million. Staff said the wireless access points are scheduled to go end of support in July of next year and that ordering, delivery and installation require lead time. The presenter recommended prioritizing the network switches as the highest near-term priority because they are how remote locations communicate back to the core.
Councilor discussion and options: council members asked whether any parts of the request could wait a year and whether a phased or prioritized approach could reduce the FY26 ask. IT staff said some items could be delayed but cautioned that end-of-support dates vary and postponing replacement increases the risk of unpatched vulnerabilities and potential supply-price volatility for hardware.
No vote: the subcommittee discussed options and timelines but did not take a formal vote on the technology capital request during this meeting. Staff said they could return with prioritized phasing alternatives if the subcommittee wants to reduce the immediate capital ask.
