Resilient Infrastructure​

Summary of Objective Implementation Status

FOCUS AREA ONE: COMMUNICATIONS TOWER AND SITE IMPROVEMENTS

Public Infrastructure Real Estate and Capital Projects has been working on several projects to improve infrastructure needs at various locations.  The communications sites are critical to relaying communications signals for law enforcement agencies, fire and emergency services. Such projects include:

• Meyers Grade Tower and Vault improvements
• Sleepy Mountain Road improvements to access the tower
• New vault at Pine Mountain
• New tower at Mt. St. Helena
• New Tower at Sonoma Mountain

Public Infrastructure is also renegotiating lease rates on all county-owned towers in which to increase revenue to help with maintenance and improvements for the towers. Increases are based on market rates for government and commercially owned towers in Sonoma County and neighboring counties.

To date fire cameras have been installed at Mt. Jackson, Pine Mountain, Geyser Peak, Oakridge, Rockpile, Sonoma Mountain, Sleepy Mountain and Mt. Burdell. Other locations are currently being considered by Department of Emergency Management.

The Sheriff’s Office has completed the Base Station Radio project, which included the replacement of two channels that allow the Sheriff’s Office to maintain County-wide emergency radio coverage. Additionally, the Sheriff’s Office ordered equipment to replace the network management systems at remote communications sites to provide reliable and enhanced monitoring, which includes fuel levels on generators used during emergency events.

FOCUS AREA TWO: TELECOMMUNICATIONS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY TOOLS

The Information Systems Department has focused on several initiatives to enhance infrastructure resiliency as well as addressing the heightened Cybersecurity threat landscape that continues to target government agencies. The Information Systems Department is focused on the following initiatives that are currently underway:

• Microsoft Office 365 Deployment – On track for completion by June 2023. Details regarding this project are highlighted in Resilient Infrastructure Implementation Plan 1.3.
• Hybrid Cloud Design Advisory
  • This is a multi-phase project to develop a road map for integrating cloud services with the County of Sonoma network.
• Cybersecurity
  • In order to meet the ongoing and increasing demands in the realm of Cybersecurity, the following RFPs are in progress:
    • SIEM and 24/7 Cybersecurity Monitoring
      • Deploy a Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) system and implement a 24/7 incident and response managed service.
    • IT Security and Consulting Services
      • Being a resource to provide best practice guidance and other cybersecurity related advice, including cloud computing, business continuity, and risk management.
      • Consulting on architecture, industry trends, technology, etc.
      • Supporting ISD with both strategic and tactical planning.
      • Guidance and assistance with researching and applying for grants.

Key Milestone Update

FOCUS AREA ONE: COMMUNICATIONS TOWER AND SITE IMPROVEMENTS

Sheriff’s Office Telecommunications Projects

Project 1 – Base Station Radios

• Project Complete

Project 2 – Network Management System

• In Progress
• Equipment Ordered – Completed
• Equipment Shipped – Completed
• Equipment Delivered – In Progress
• Equipment Installed – Not Started
• Equipment Tested – Not Started
• Equipment Operational – Not Started

FOCUS AREA TWO: TELECOMMUNICATIONS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY TOOLS

Following are key milestones that have been achieved:

• Microsoft Office 365 Deployment
  • E-mail migration completed June 8, 2022
  • Teams, OneDrive, Sharepoint Online, and Office 365 Desktop Suite deployment on track for completion by June, 2023
• Hybrid Cloud Design Advisory
  • Phase 1 focused on discovery and documentation of current state architecture. This has been completed.
  • Phase 2
    • Workshops started June 20, 2022
    • Focus is on strategic goals, hybrid cloud technology solutions, cost analysis, and development of road map for future state technical architecture.
    • Projected completion date:
      • Original date: Sept 16, 2022
      • Revised date: Mar 31, 2023
        • The date needed to be revised as ISD resources have been focused on the Microsoft Office 365 deployment.
  • Phase 3
    • Phase 3 to begin April, 2023
    • Review proposed technical architecture and financial impact
    • Begin PoC (Proof of Concept) phase to test and evaluate proposed technology
    • Future activities contingent on outcome of cost analysis and PoC
• Cybersecurity
  • SIEM and 24/7 Cybersecurity Monitoring  RFP dates:
    • 8/28/22 – Release request for proposals
    • 9/6/22 – Proposer’s questions due by 5:00 PM
    • 9/20/22 – County’s responses to questions due
    • 10/12/22 – Proposals due by 2:00 PM
    • 10/25/22 – Proposals evaluated by County
    • 12/2/22 – Interviews and demonstrations conducted
  • IT Security and Consulting Services RFP dates:
    • 9/21/22 – Release request for proposals
    • 10/4/22 – Proposer’s questions due by 5:00 PM
    • 10/18/22 – County’s responses to questions due
    • 11/1/22 – Proposals due by 2:00 PM
    • 11/22/22 – Proposals evaluated by County
    • 12/2/22 – Interviews conducted

Coordination and Partnership Update

No activity has occurred in regards to city partnerships as the focus has been on implementation and migration of services to Microsoft Office 365 in addition to the Hybrid Cloud and Cybersecurity initiatives. However, several ISD executive and management level staff attended the California Counties Information Services Directors Association (CCISDA) conference Oct 30-Nov 3, 2022. This conference is attended by IT executives from 58 counties within California with the goal of sharing ideas and solutions with our peers on common challenges and initiatives. Several discussions and workshops detailed the challenges that Counties are facing in regards to resiliency and Cybersecurity. Future goals include collaboration with cities within Sonoma County to share lessons learned with the Microsoft Office 365 deployment and discuss projects related to Cloud services and Cybersecurity.

Community, Equity, and Climate Update

The goal of the Resilient Infrastructure Pillar is to ensure that essential services will be provided to Sonoma County residents – and the agencies that serve them – in the event of disaster. Communications infrastructure, collaboration tools, critical applications, and many more require the ability to be available at all times, regardless of the circumstances. Additionally, these objectives will reduce the carbon footprint of the data center as services are shifted to a Cloud based infrastructure. The effort to shift additional data center services to the Cloud will begin in April, 2023.

Funding Narrative

FOCUS AREA ONE: COMMUNICATIONS TOWER AND SITE IMPROVEMENTS

The Board of Supervisors awarded the Sheriff’s Office $356,000 for the Emergency Base radio project, $136,000 for the Network Management System Replacement and $70,000 for the Microwave Backhaul Replacement. The  Microwave Backhaul Replacement project will not move forward due to a lack of suitable technology solutions.

FOCUS AREA TWO: TELECOMMUNICATIONS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY TOOLS

Funding associated with the the Hybrid Cloud Design Advisory currently exists within ISD’s budget and provides the appropriate revenue source for consultant services. No additional funds are requested to complete these initiatives. The recommendations from the the Hybrid Cloud Design Advisory will be reviewed to determine the potential fiscal impact and financial needs for future initiatives. The SIEM and 24/7 Cybersecurity Monitoring and IT Security and Consulting Services RFPs will determine the one-time and ongoing costs associated with implementation and consulting services.