Network Security

Program Description

This program will be submitted for Commission approval at the June 21, 2022, meeting. The City of Great Falls does not employ a Network Security Specialist.  Specialists in this field earn a significant annual salary.  Great Falls staff, however, does recognize the need for constant vigilance in preserving the integrity of the City’s network and internal files.  To that end, IT management has researched alternative methods of securing tailored active threat monitoring services.  This project proposes the use of ARPA money to fund a subscription to a network security services firm.  This subscription will secure active monitoring provided by remote certified network security professionals.

Why this matters

Ensuring the security of an organization’s digital domain has become a chief concern of every municipality and business enterprise in the United States.  The City of Great Falls has a clear interest in taking every needed step to ensure that malicious access to its records and systems is prevented.  Safeguarding the City’s systems ensures that departments such as Public Works, Finance, Planning and Community Development, and many others continue to operate efficiently and without interruption.

How is this eligible?

The United States Department of the Treasury allows local governments that lost revenue (i.e. lost taxes, utility payments, etc.) during the COVID-19 pandemic to use ARPA funds, up to the amount of revenue lost, for government services.  This category is extremely discretionary and allows for funds to be used for any service traditionally provided by a government.  Treasury’s Final Rule allowed local governments to claim a standard allowance of $10 million in lost revenue.  The City of Great Falls (which did not experience financial losses during the pandemic) took this standard allowance and may spend up to $10 million of its total allocation to pay for its traditional government services.