To: Brian K. Flewelling, Public Works Committee Chairperson
From: Michael Dawisha, CIO
title
RE: Approval of an agreement between Genesee County and Preferred Data Systems, in an amount not to exceed $61,290.00, to provide email security software; the cost of this agreement will be paid from the accounts listed
recommendation
BOARD ACTION REQUESTED:
Approval of a one-year renewal with Preferred Data Systems to provide email security, in the amount not to exceed $61,290.00.
BACKGROUND:
Genesee County utilizes Barracuda for email security. The service scans and blocks infected files, malicious email, scams, spam and other sources of security compromise.
DISCUSSION:
The one-year renewal with Preferred Data Systems is essential to protecting the County’s email and other critical communications from spam, phishing, malware, and data loss. Continuity of this service reduces the risk of successful attacks and supports faster response and containment. Renewal with the current vendor provides significant savings and is especially important while the Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) role is vacant due to a recent resignation.
IMPACT ON HUMAN RESOURCES:
There is no impact on Human Resources.
IMPACT ON BUDGET:
This is a budgeted expense, to be paid out of the following accounts - 1010-228.01-933.001 - $20,989.73 and pre-paid account 1010-000.00-123.000 - $40,300.27.
IMPACT ON FACILITIES:
There is no impact on Facilities.
IMPACT ON TECHNOLOGY:
Approved software and services by IT.
CONFORMITY TO COUNTY PRIORITIES:
Conforms to Healthy, Livable & Safe Communities, the Barracuda subscription enhances the County’s digital safety by protecting critical communication systems - such as email from spam, phishing and data breaches. This proactive approach strengthens cybersecurity, ensuring reliable and secure information flow, which supports the overall resilience and safety of the community.
resolution
TO THE HONORABLE CHAIRPERSON AND MEMBERS OF THE GENESEE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS, GENESEE COUNTY, MICHIGAN
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN:
BE IT RESOLVED, by this Board of County Commissioners of Genesee County, Michigan, that the request by the Chief Information Officer to authorize entering into a one-year renewal agreement between Genesee County and Preferred Data Systems, whereby Preferred Data Systems will provide annual software licenses for Barracuda email security services, at a total cost not to exceed $61,290.00 to be paid from account 1010-228.01-933.001 ($20,989.73) and pre-paid account 1010-000.00-123.000 ($40,300.27), is approved (a copy of the memorandum request and supporting documents being on file with the official records of the April 8, 2026 meeting of the Public Works Committee of this Board).