How does Progent keep the cost of IT support services affordable for small businesses?
Progent bills at a competitive hourly rate for network support services. Clients are not required to waste IT budget dollars on retainers or monthly commitments that may require buying service that is never delivered. Progent does not add a premium for after-hours or emergency service, and does not bill for travel hours except for emergency support where service time is under 4 hours. Progent is also expert at supporting and repairing IT systems remotely, which does away with travel costs and minimizes downtime.

How can Progent help us fortify Apple Mac network security?
Progent's CISSP and CISM certified security consultants can show you how to protect your Mac environment through expert services such as performing extensive security audits, cleaning up after virus and worm attacks, setting up firewalls, designing safe off-site and mobile access, installing automated software for defense against virus and worm attacks, spam, and directory harvest attacks, and designing a complete security plan appropriate for your business and network environment.

Can Progent help our business relocate our IT infrastructure?
Progent offers a Microsoft-certified IT expert who can help you plan and manage a seamless computer network relocation to a new site, including data center design and setup, project management, ISP and telecommunications carrier selection and coordination, and coordinated software and hardware upgrades — all with ongoing support throughout.

How does Progent support the Microsoft Solutions Framework (MSF) process model?
While managing IT projects for enterprise customers, Progent uses a phased approach based on defined milestones in order to achieve budgetary, timing, and engineering targets while minimizing business disruption. Progent's methodology follows industry project management standards derived from the best practices described in the Microsoft Solutions Framework (MSF) and includes requirements definition, planning and architecture proposals, pilots, design tuning, and expert deployment. All phases are documented to provide a detailed description of IT services delivered and to help in ongoing system maintenance.

What are the advantages of Progent's managed services for filtering spam, email-borne viruses and Directory Harvest Attacks?
Progent's E-Mail Guard recommends the Managed Service Provider (MSP) approach to blocking spam because this allows protection to start at the place of origin of spam and virus attacks — the Internet. Spam defense set at the IT system gateway or at the workgroup server expose networks and servers to destructive attacks and bandwidth-hogging spam. Postini’s rendition of managed service is also uniquely able to intercept Directory Harvest Attacks (DHAs), which can only work in the SMTP connection at the Internet gateway.

How does Progent document the support services provided to my business?
Progent's detailed network service reporting system provides complete records for all client support. Each Progent consultant has complete available all the details of billed services delivered by any staff member to every client. This history of problems and fixes, as well as false alarms and wrong turns, is organized as a readily accessible and searchable in-house database that enables Progent's IT consultants to share their experiences company-wide so that the net effectiveness of Progent's service increases over time.

How Can Progent's Consultants Provide Microsoft SQL Server 2005 Help?
The experience of Progent's Microsoft-certified consultants, with an average of over 10 years of background supporting Microsoft technology, assures you success in designing, deploying and managing successful Microsoft SQL Server 2005 solutions that are well integrated with the Microsoft .NET platform. Progent's SQL Server engineers can also provide support with upgrading from with SQL Server 2000 or SQL Server 7.0 to SQL Server 2005.

What is Progent's expertise with wide area networking?
Progent's IT consultants have extensive experience working with dozens of leading Internet Service Providers and telecommunication carriers delivering a broad array of WAN and Internet connection options, including ADSL, ATM, DSL, frame relay, SDSL, T1, T3 and VPN solutions to meet our users' needs for multi-office networks, Internet access, and voice communications. Progent's ISP, telecommunication carrier and collocation vendor experience includes AT&T, Cable & Wireless, Covad, EarthLink, Global Crossing, Level 3 Communications/Genuity, MCI Worldcom/UUNET, Qwest Communications, PSINET, SAVVIS, SBC Pacific Bell, Sprint, Verio, XO Communications and NextWeb.

How can Progent make 24x7 support affordable for a small business?
Even if your information technology budget is small, Progent offers cost effective IT service bundles that will give your IT network the robustness, security and speed your business requires. Progent's 24x7 Network Support Services include the skill of some of Northern California's most knowledgeable Microsoft-certified and Cisco-certified IT experts, the latest network management programs, and inexpensive support programs to keep your mission-critical network applications and servers available and productive.

What are the key features of Progent's IT outsourcing packages?
Features of Progent's IT outsourcing offerings include system assessment to ensure that your computer system meets appropriate standards of security and remote access, round-the-clock network monitoring using MOM to anticipate issues before they impact your productivity, if required Help Desk Services from Progent's IT staff, security audit to help protect your system from hackers and virus attacks, installation of Service Packs and security updates for servers and software, reduced rates on Progent’s remote and on-site network support services, and the expertise of Progent’s staff of Microsoft-certified IT consultants and support technicians.

Who founded Progent?
Progent's founder and senior technology officer, Les Kent, was the architect for a multi-media networking solution that won Microsoft's “Best Application of the Year Award.” Mr. Kent is a 25-year network support veteran and has been responsible for the creation and implementation of hundreds of innovative business solutions using Microsoft and Cisco technologies. Mr. Kent established Progent in order to address the needs of small businesses who can't justify the burden of supporting and managing a large IT staff but who still require reliable, secure, high-performance information networks.

Does Progent offer wireless solutions?
Progent's experience with wireless data communications includes RIM Blackberry Wireless Handhelds, 802.11x WiFi consulting, high-speed wide area wireless networking, and cellular modem integration. Progent's wireless services gives your small business access to expert support for telecommuting, mobile email, sales force automation, wireless CRM, and ad hoc networking.

Call 650-543-0400 or send email to information@progent.com