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Board approves $41,895 FortiGate firewall upgrade, citing three-year savings and added support
Summary
The board approved purchase of a FortiGate 700g firewall for $41,895, with staff saying replacing the current unit and its three-year licensing would save the district $37,269 over three years and provide updated security and support.
The Redford Union Schools District No. 1 board approved a motion to purchase a FortiGate 700g firewall for $41,895 after staff said the upgrade would produce multi-year savings and provide updated protection and vendor support.
"By replacing the current firewall with an updated version, the district will save $37,269 over this 3 year period and receive enhanced firewall protection," board materials said. The motion to purchase the device was moved by Mister Osowski and seconded by Miss Miller; a roll-call vote recorded all members voting yes and the motion carried.
District staff explained that continuing to renew the license on the existing FortiGate would cost roughly $79,164 over three years based on current renewal pricing; the quoted annual renewal cost given in the discussion was $26,003.88 per year. Staff said the new purchase includes updated hardware and support licensing and that without updates the district would lose vendor support and software updates, increasing vulnerability to cyberattacks.
"If we don't update the license ... we would lose our ability to contact the company for any support. We wouldn't get any updates on the actual firewall," said the executive director of curriculum and technology (as reflected in board discussion). Board members noted cyberattacks have cost districts millions in other cases and agreed the purchase is a cost-savings over time.
Vote: the district took a roll-call vote; each called member recorded a yes vote and the motion passed.
