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1 <br /> ORANGE COUNTY <br /> BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS <br /> ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT <br /> Meeting Date: June 6, 2023 <br /> Action Agenda <br /> Item No. 8-i <br /> SUBJECT: Contract Renewal with NWN Corporation for DUO <br /> DEPARTMENT: Information Technologies (IT) <br /> ATTACHMENT(S): INFORMATION CONTACT: <br /> David Mathias, 919-245-2272 <br /> PURPOSE: To approve and authorize the Manager to sign a one-year software maintenance and <br /> support contract renewal with NWN Corporation. <br /> BACKGROUND: Orange County first entered into a contract with NWN Corporation for the <br /> licensing and technical support for Cisco DUO multi-factor authentication in June 2022. The <br /> current contract proposes to renew those services for another year. <br /> Cisco DUO (with NWN as authorized reseller) is covered under the North Carolinas Department <br /> of Information Technologies' state contract # STC 204X. <br /> Multi-factor authentication (MFA) is a multi-step account login process that requires computer <br /> users to enter more information than just a password. Multi-factor authentication is a critical tool <br /> in the County's cyber-security plan as it greatly reduces the risk of a hacking-related breach. <br /> Verizon reported in its 2022 Data Breach Investigations Report that 81% of hacking-related data <br /> breaches can be attributed to weak or stolen credentials. Multi-factor authentication is also <br /> required by the County's insurance provider. <br /> FINANCIAL IMPACT: The cost of the services covered by the contract renewal is $95,999. <br /> SOCIAL JUSTICE IMPACT: There is no Orange County Social Justice Goal impact associated <br /> this item. It should be noted, however, that while the annual maintenance agreement itself may <br /> not impact Social Justice, this software is essential to the smooth running of government and, like <br /> many infrastructure items, is a foundational element to ensure all Board Goals and Priorities are <br /> implemented. <br /> ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT: There is no Orange County Environmental Responsibility Goal <br /> impact associated this item. <br /> RECOMMENDATION(S): The Manager recommends that the Board approve this contract <br /> renewal and authorize the Manager to execute the contract as well as any future addendums. <br />