BONNYVILLE – In response to the wake of cyberattacks on other municipalities, including Cold Lake, the Town on Bonnyville moved to “accelerate the planned IT infrastructure upgrades scheduled for 2025, to this year,” according to administration. The motion was approved during the July 29 special meeting.
The carried motion moved by Coun. David Sharun stated "that council approve funding in the amount of $250,000 to be allocated from the Administration Capital Reserve and the General Capital Reserve to complete the IT Infrastructure Upgrade Project in 2024.”
“This project will not only provide benefits of secure and speedy infrastructure but will also aid future recovery should cyberattacks occur,” stated administration.
In his proposal to council, system administrator Bryon Mickelson stated, “The main focus and purpose is to put in place the infrastructure and security so the Town of Bonnyville is protected from whatever happens in the future. It’s not how, but when something will happen, and we need to be ready. The world is changing, and environmental disasters are happening more frequently. Compound with the growing and ever more sophisticated cyberattacks.”
The project aims to increase data protection, streamline operations, and decrease response time.
Benefits will include “better protection of all the stored data from ransomware and malware attacks. Full disaster recovery with the ability to be up and running in less than a day,” according to Mickelson’s proposal.
“The old hardware will not go to waste as it will be used to increase redundancy and for disaster relief. It will be used to fully virtualize up to 20 virtual desktops so employees can work from home or any location and have full access to the work environment and applications.”
Mickelson explained that this is not a once-a-year upgrade, and that the proposal will provide 10 years of solid IT infrastructure for the Town of Bonnyville.
Funding will be pulled from the Capital Administration Reserve in the amount of $150,000 and the General Capital Reserve in the amount of $100,000.
