Attorney General Marty Jackley and Dakota State University’s SecureSD have announced the second set of Requests for Proposals being utilized to implement a unified, secure email solution for cities, counties, and municipalities across South Dakota.
With many local governments relying on personal or public platforms such as Gmail, Yahoo, and Hotmail for official communications, the risk of phishing, spoofing, data breaches, and other cyber-attacks have become a growing concern. This initiative will establish a standardized, encrypted, and government-compliant email system that enhances cybersecurity, supports collaboration, and protects sensitive government information.
“Local governments need reliable communications systems that are protected,” said Attorney General Jackley. “It is our responsibility to provide a system that can withstand cybersecurity attacks.”
The Secure Email Solution will serve a wide range of users, from law enforcement and elected officials to auditors, finance officers, utility personnel, and accounts deemed necessary for government operations. This solution will ensure internal emails remain encrypted and never traverse the public internet systems. Key features include secure calendaring, global address listings, and collaboration tools designed to work across departments. All features will be designed to be efficient, with mobile access and flexibility to stay connected when away from the desk.
“This project directly addresses one of the most common and dangerous vulnerabilities facing local governments,” said Mike Waldner, Director of SecureSD at Dakota State University. “By transitioning to a standardized, secure email system, we’re helping cities and counties safeguard their citizens data and better serve their communities.”
Through this RFP, a pool of state-approved vendors will be established. Participating local governments will be able to collaborate with SecureSD and choose from qualified IT vendors that meet the technical and security standards outlined in the proposal. The DSU SecureSD team will collaborate with the vendors and the entities to offer implementation support and technical guidance throughout the process.
Proposals are due no later than July 11, with services expected to roll out to cities and counties as soon as possible after completion of thorough RFP evaluations and selection of qualified IT vendors.