To: Board of Supervisors
From: Marc Shorr, Information Technology Director
Report Title: Purchase Order with ePlus Technology, Inc. for Palo Alto Prisma Access cloud-delivered network security services and licenses
☒Recommendation of the County Administrator ☐ Recommendation of Board Committee
RECOMMENDATIONS:
APPROVE and AUTHORIZE the Purchasing Agent or designee, to execute on behalf of the Department of Information Technology, a purchase order with ePlus Technology, Inc., in an amount not to exceed $3,200,000, and execute a Participating Addendum with Palo Alto Networks, Inc., for Palo Alto Prisma Access cloud-delivered network security services and licenses for the period July 14, 2026, through July 28, 2030.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The cost of this product is included in the department’s FY 26-27 budget (100% User Departments).
BACKGROUND:
The Department of Information Technology (DoIT) is responsible for providing secure access to County information systems and protecting County data regardless of where employees connect to County resources. As the County continues to expand hybrid work capabilities and cloud-based services, DoIT requires a modern Secure Access Service Edge (SASE) platform that provides consistent security protection for users both on and off the County network.
Palo Alto Prisma Access is a cloud-delivered security platform that significantly enhances the County's cybersecurity by extending enterprise-grade protection to users regardless of their location. The solution strengthens the County's Zero Trust security strategy by providing secure remote access, advanced threat prevention, cloud-based security enforcement, and centralized policy management, helping protect County systems and sensitive information from evolving cyber threats.
The proposed four-year subscription includes software licensing, Premium Success Support Services, centralized cloud management, security analytics, logging services, and ongoing software updates. Together, these services improve the County's overall security posture, simplify administration, and ensure the platform remains current with emerging cybersecurity threats and best practices
The purchase will be made through a NASPO cooperative purchasing agreement between the State of Utah and Palo Alto Networks, Inc. The cooperative purchasing agreement allows the County to leverage competitively solicited pricing while reducing procurement time and administrative effort.
The terms of the Participating Addendum limit Palo Alto Network’s liability to $10,000,000.
CONSEQUENCE OF NEGATIVE ACTION:
If this purchase is not approved, the County will continue to maintain multiple remote access solutions instead of a unified enterprise security platform. As a result, it will limit the County's ability to centrally manage remote access, improve visibility across all endpoints, and implement enhanced security capabilities through a single, standardized platform.