The Information Technology Department is requesting authorization to purchase Fortinet FortiSIEM as part of this year’s Urban Areas Security Initiative (UASI) Grant GIT31. UASI grants are funded by the Department of Homeland Security, distributed to State agencies, and dispersed to local governments through a request process. The City of Sugar Land has been awarded a grant in the amount of $198,694.45 for the purchase of FortiSIEM, a Security Incident and Event Management (SIEM) device. Traditionally, cybersecurity analysts would pull the individual and relevant logs from each source independently and try to piece together an after-incident report. The FortiSIEM software will integrate with our current environment to not only allow the automation of after-action reporting, but will also provide triggers and alarms to alert when certain events are currently in progress.  SIEM devices provide another layer of security and monitoring that is currently missing from our environment.

The purchase is for 50 devices, 500 all-in-one perpetual licenses, and five (5) years of license support for a total amount of $198,694.45 and is fully covered by the UASI grant. All equipment will be purchased from Sequel Data Systems Incorporated under the cooperative contract of the Texas Department of Information Resources (DIR), contract # DIR-TSO-4075. 

The Information Technology Department recommends that the City Council approve the purchase of software and licensing from Sequel Data Systems Incorporated in the amount of $198,694.45.