To: Board of Supervisors
From: Marc Shorr, Information Technology Director
Report Title: Purchase Order with ePlus for Palo Alto Subscription and Support Services.
☒Recommendation of the County Administrator ☐ Recommendation of Board Committee
RECOMMENDATIONS:
APPROVE and AUTHORIZE the Purchasing Agent, on behalf of the Chief Information Officer, to execute a purchase order with ePlus Technology Inc., subject to the NASPO Agreement and Participating Addendum with Palo Alto Networks, Inc., in an amount not to exceed $210,000 for Palo Alto subscription and support services for the period of July 19, 2025, through July 18, 2026.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The cost of this product is included in the Department’s FY 25-26 budget. 100% User Departments.
BACKGROUND:
The Department of Information Technology (DoIT) is responsible for managing internet traffic and ensuring the security of the County’s network for all users. To support this critical function, DoIT selected ePlus as the vendor through the Participating Addendum to the NASPO agreement with Palo Alto Networks, a recognized leader in advanced network security. The Board of Supervisors approved the use of this agreement on May 13, 2025.
Palo Alto Networks provides a comprehensive security platform that enables DoIT to protect the County’s infrastructure while meeting the demands of increasingly complex applications. The renewal of essential subscriptions, including advanced threat prevention, malware detection, and web content filtering, ensures the County’s security systems are kept up to date with the latest protections. In addition, premium support services provide prompt technical assistance to help maintain continuous and secure network operations.
CONSEQUENCE OF NEGATIVE ACTION:
Renewing these Palo Alto subscriptions and support services is critical to maintaining strong cybersecurity across the County’s network. Without them, there is risk of exposure to new threats, loss of malware and web filtering protections, and delays in resolving technical issues. These renewals help ensure continued security, compliance, and uninterrupted operations.