IT Director Scott Howard proposes $42,000 purchase for new EDR cybersecurity solution

The Atchison County Commission meeting held on July 1, 2025, focused primarily on cybersecurity enhancements and budgetary considerations following a recent cyber incident. IT Director Scott Howard presented a detailed overview of potential endpoint detection and response (EDR) solutions aimed at bolstering the county's cybersecurity framework.

Howard explained that the EDR solutions are designed to provide more comprehensive protection than traditional antivirus software. He has narrowed down the options to three vendors, each offering similar features and costs, with annual expenses ranging from approximately $32,000 to $41,000. The proposed solutions include the Cisco Security Suite, which requires a three-year commitment, and two other options from Lumen and SentinelOne, the latter of which involves a partnership with AgileBlue for managed detection response services.

During the discussion, Howard noted that the costs for these cybersecurity measures were not included in the current budget, prompting a debate among commissioners about funding sources. The commissioners considered whether to authorize exceeding the IT budget or to utilize reserve funds for these unexpected expenses. It was suggested that a budget amendment could be made at the end of the fiscal year to account for the additional costs.

After deliberation, the commission approved a purchase order for Microsoft 365 services amounting to $6,001.47. They also moved to authorize a purchase order for the selected EDR solution, with a cap of $42,000, to be funded from the IT budget for 2025.

In addition to cybersecurity discussions, the meeting included a motion to amend a previous purchase order related to a rooftop air conditioning unit for the jail, shifting the funding source from reserve funds to the jail budget.

The meeting concluded with a brief mention of an upcoming discussion regarding a quarter-cent sales tax for the future of the sports complex, indicating ongoing financial planning and community development efforts in Atchison County.