City of Rawlins Needs to Replace Out-of-Date Computer System

MAY 28, 2025|

Photo – Computer server example – Bigfoot99 file photo

The City of Rawlins is expecting to spend upwards of $300,000 to replace out-of-date computer systems.

During the May 20^th Rawlins City Council meeting, City Manager Tom Sarvey announced that he recently spoke with the city’s information technology provider, Casper-based 307 Tech Pros. Sarvey said the IT company, formerly called Computer Professionals Unlimited, or CPU for short, recommends replacing three computer servers and the switches that connect the city’s network, at an estimated cost of $150,000.

City Manager Sarvey added 307 Tech Pros recommends replacing seven smaller servers located throughout the city, each costing $15,000. In total, replacing all the servers and switches is expected to cost nearly $250,000.

On top of the server replacement costs, the city is being advised to upgrade every computer to the latest Microsoft operating system, Windows 11. City Manager Sarvey said at least 50% of the computers used in city offices are unable to support the software upgrades.

Windows 11 offers the latest security features, including enhanced ransomware protection and built-in threat detection to defend against cyber threats. Upgrading to the latest operating system could help prevent another data breach, such as the one that occurred in November of 2023, when an unknown hacker accessed the city’s servers. Fortunately, there was no indication that a virus was installed or that residents’ personal information was stolen during the incursion.

Back at the May 20^th City Council meeting, Sarvey explained replacing all the out-of-date computers will cost between $60,000 and $70,000.

Sarvey said the Rawlins Police Department alone has 17 computers too outdated to upgrade to Windows 11.

The City Manager said he’ll add $310,000 to the city’s upcoming fiscal year budget to fund the technology upgrades.