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Council creates a dedicated cybersecurity line and shifts tech support budget after IT warns of growing risks
Summary
County IT staff warned of rising software and server costs and the council approved moving technical/software support to $310,000 and creating a new $26,000 cybersecurity account to fund assessments and protective tools; IT flagged upcoming server and storage replacements.
La Porte County commissioners on Wednesday moved to consolidate several technology support requests and add a dedicated cybersecurity account after IT staff warned of end-of-life hardware and growing software costs.
IT staff (S19) reviewed a package of technical and software-support requests and noted upcoming capital needs — including aging servers and storage units — and increasing prices for virtualization software. The staff recommended splitting general tech/software support and a specific cybersecurity allocation.
Following discussion, the council approved a motion to set technical and software support at $310,000 and to create a new cybersecurity line item funded at $26,000. The motion, moved and seconded on the record, passed by voice vote.
IT staff said some current cybersecurity and systems-management subscriptions (named in the budget backup) can be moved into the new cybersecurity account, and that the county will need to plan for server and storage replacements in the next fiscal year. Officials noted the state is signaling cybersecurity assessments and accessibility requirements (ADA compliance for documents) that will require additional work.
“Sometimes they do run free promotions… but we can look into that,” S19 said, as commissioners discussed procurement timing and potential state reimbursements for some items.
Next steps: IT will adjust the budget lines as directed, move specific cybersecurity products into the new account, provide a list of needed capital replacements (servers/storage) and costs, and return with a prioritized plan for hardware and services.
