Q and A About Progent

How can Progent save my business money?
Progent's IT outsourcing, Help Desk Call Center support, and staffing services combine state-of-the-art technology and field-proven processes to allow small businesses to benefit from the in-depth computer help associated with large enterprises without the high cost of maintaining a full in-house IT staff. Progent combines sophisticated software, remote access and wireless connectivity to ensure that a technician or IT consultant is ready to provide timely support so that your network problems don't result in major loss of productivity. Progent's remote network monitoring anticipates problems before they cause costly downtime. Progent's remote troubleshooting eliminates unnecessary travel expenses and delivers fast solutions. The bottom line is that you get enterprise-level support on a small-business budget.

What types of organizations can Progent help?
Progent specializes in providing IT outsourcing and consulting for small businesses plus branch office support for nationwide or multi-national enterprises. Progent's typical small business clients have between 10 and 250 users at a site and cannot justify the time and expense required to manage a large staff of IT professionals who can offer expert Apple Macintosh support, certified Microsoft and Cisco consulting, as well as in-depth knowledge of other important information network technologies. For national or global enterprises with branch offices in Northern California, the San Francisco Bay Area, the California Central Valley or the Monterey Peninsula, Progent can act as a seamless local extension of corporate IT management. Very small companies find it cost effective to use Progent's on-site or remote support services on an as-needed basis for tasks such as server configuration, email migration, system upgrades, site relocation, hardware troubleshooting, or Help Desk Call Center support.

Who founded Progent?
Progent's founder and chief technologist, Les Kent, was the architect for a Windows network application that won Microsoft's “Best Application of the Year Award.” Mr. Kent is a 25-year computer industry veteran and has been responsible for the design and implementation of hundreds of innovative business solutions using Microsoft technologies. Mr. Kent founded Progent in order to address the needs of small businesses who can't justify the expense of supporting and managing a large IT staff but who still require reliable, secure, high-performance information systems.

What are Progent's areas of technical expertise?
In addition to Apple Macintosh and Microsoft expertise, Progent has extensive experience in the design, installation, and integration of cohesive networks that combine advanced technology from a variety of top hardware and software vendors that include 3COM, Adaptec, APC, RIM Blackberry Wireless, Checkpoint, Citrix, Cisco, Computer Associates, D-Link, HP/Compaq, Dell Computers, IBM, Intel, Lucent, Linksys, Maxtor, Netgear, Netopia, Network Associates, Nortel, Quantum, SMC Networks, Symantec, Trend Micro, VERITAS, and WatchGuard.

Does Progent offer network architecture consulting for Apple Mac environments?
Progent's Mac networking consultants can help you with a broad range of network infrastructure issues including system architecture, remote and mobile connectivity, internetwork compatibility, security, and emerging technologies such as Voice over IP and high-speed wireless connectivity. Progent can help you deploy Apple’s Xserve enterprise servers, Xserve RAID fault-tolerant storage systems, and Xsan storage area network (SAN) solution. Progent can also provide certified experts to support Cisco routers and switches.

Can Progent help our business relocate our IT infrastructure?
Progent can provide a certified Apple, Cisco or Microsoft IT consulting expert who can help you plan and manage a seamless IT infrastructure relocation to a new facility, including data center design and setup, project management, ISP and telecommunications carrier selection and coordination, and coordinated system upgrades — all with comprehensive ongoing support throughout.

What is Progent's expertise with wide area networking?
Progent's IT consulting experts have extensive experience working with dozens of leading ISPs 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 support our clients' multi-office networks, Internet connectivity, and voice communications requirements. 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.

Does Progent offer help with specific Apple Mac applications?
Progent's Mac experts can support the creative aspect of the Macintosh environments by offering consulting services and training in graphics, audio, and video. Progent's consultants can provide expertise in a variety of Mac applications including Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, QuarkXPress, Apple Logic, MOTU Digital Performer, Digidesign Pro Tools, Apple Final Cut Pro, Apple Motion, and Adobe After Effects. Progent can also help you with specific projects such as scanning or digitizing audio or video or setting up an audio/video post production facility.

How can Progent help us fortify Mac network security?
Progent's CISSP and CISM certified security consultants can help you protect your Mac network through expert services which include performing comprehensive security audits, recovery from virus and worm attacks, setting up firewalls, implementing safe remote and mobile access, deploying automated software for protection against viruses, spam, and directory harvest attacks, and developing a comprehensive security strategy appropriate for your business and network environment.

My business application needs 24x7 support. Can Progent help?
Progent offers 24x7 onsite computer support and IT outsourcing services in the San Francisco Bay Area, Napa and Sonoma counties in Northern California, the Central Valley and the Monterey Peninsula.

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.

What are the advantages of Progent's model for remote support?
Many IT problems can be resolved immediately by Progent's team of remote support engineers. This minimizes lost productivity that can result from waiting for a local consultant to show up in person. In addition, many independent freelance consultants and IT consulting groups require minimum on-site bill times that can turn a 10-minute problem into a 2-hour expense. Progent’s business model of billing by the minute and charging only for service actually delivered allows Progent’s remote support experts to solve hundreds of small problems daily at the lowest possible cost. Further, the confidence of having ready access to Progent's large team of technical professionals opens the door to a new realm of powerful IT solutions that many small organizations might otherwise shy away from for fear of having inadequate support resources.

Does Progent's remote support include access to Cisco-certified CCIE network engineers?
Progent can provide quick access to a Cisco-certified CCIE engineer by telephone so that you can get immediate help for urgent network problems that are impacting business productivity but are beyond the scope of your ordinary network support resources. Progent's CCIE experts can establish secure remote connections to your system and use advanced network monitoring and analysis software to provide quick and affordable fixes to infrastructure problems. To find out how to get in touch by phone with a Cisco-certified CCIE for fast assistance with your network infrastructure, visit Progent's Urgent Support.

If your small business is in the San Francisco Bay Area, Silicon Valley, Northern California, or in any major U.S. city serviced by Progent, and you need computer help, IT outsourcing, or computer consulting services from a Progent technician or IT consultant:
Call 800-993-9400 or send email to information@progent.com

For urgent troubleshooting or desktop support or to find out how to get in touch by phone with a Cisco-certified CCIE for fast assistance with your network infrastructure, visit Progent's Urgent Support.

Find out about biographical information about Les Kent, Progent's founder.

For biographical information about Les Kent, Progent's founder, click here.