To: Board of Supervisors
From: Warren Lai, Public Works Director/Chief Engineer
Report Title: Purchase Order with Escal Institute of Advanced Technologies, Inc. d/b/a SANS Institute.
?Recommendation of the County Administrator ? Recommendation of Board Committee
RECOMMENDATIONS:
APPROVE and AUTHORIZE the Purchasing Agent, or designee, to execute, on behalf of the Public Works Director, a Master Training and Services Agreement and a purchase order with Escal Institute of Advanced Technologies, Inc. d/b/a SANS Institute, in an amount not to exceed $25,000 for cyber security training for the period December 3, 2024 through December 2, 2025, Countywide.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The purchase order will be funded 100% by various Road, Flood Control and Special Districts funds.
BACKGROUND:
The Public Works Information Technology team handles computer infrastructure that supports Public Works division users. Investing in SANS training for our team is essential for enhancing the team's cybersecurity capabilities. It provides cutting-edge knowledge from industry experts, equips the team to effectively respond to evolving threats, and validates their expertise through globally recognized GIAC certifications. By staying current with the latest security practices, the team can proactively defend against incidents, reduce risk, and ensure compliance with county requirements. Ultimately, this training fosters a culture of security and offers significant long-term cost savings by preventing costly breaches. This allows the team to properly maintain the computer system to meet cyber threats. Having access to the training will allow the team to extend their fundamental knowledge of managing cloud cyber security and on-premises computer system cyber security.
The SANS Master Training and Services Agreement has been reviewed by County Counsel and requires Board approval because it includes indemnification and limitation of liability language.
CONSEQUENCE OF NEGATIVE ACTION:
If this ...
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