Expanding your at-home workforce may have a major impact on IT infrastructure, cybersecurity, and company processes. Progent has two decades of background helping businesses of all sizes to design, configure, administer, optimize, and debug IT environments that incorporate work-from-home employees. Progent can assist your Allentown company to pick the right technologies and adhere to leading practices in creating and operating a safe virtual office solution for teleworkers that promotes collaboration and returns top business value. Progent offers support services that go from on demand expertise for helping you over occasional technical roadblocks to comprehensive project management or co-management to help you successfully complete business-critical initiatives.

Progent can help Allentown, Pennsylvania companies to succeed with any aspect of building a high-performing telecommuting ecosystem by providing network infrastructure design and configuration services, VoIP PBX troubleshooting, voice/video conferencing support, collaboration platform customization and training, public cloud integration, Call Desk outsourcing, data security, data protection solutions, and unified management.

Infrastructure for a Remote Workforce
Setting up the physical and software infrastructure needed for an at-home work environment can be especially complicated if you have to accommodate a mix of personal equipment such as PCs and notebooks, Internet routers, and Wi-Fi APs from various manufacturers and with a variety of operating systems and firmware levels. Progent's background providing online help for both outdated and current IT products in remote office venues enables you to make efficient use of your existing infrastructure and offers fast access to top-tire consultants for implement essential updates. Support services available from Progent to help you to implement a high-functioning telecommuting ecosystem include:

  • Virtual Private Network connectivity makes it possible to establish a secure connection for authorized at-home employees to access IT resources located at your corporate data center or in a public cloud. Progent's consultants can help your company to deploy and maintain VPN access between your at-home workforce and your various network resources by providing online VPN configuration support. For organizations with Cisco's ASA security appliances, Progent's Cisco ASA consultants can assist your at-home workers to set up Cisco's popular AnyConnect client software for secure VPN tunneling for a wide range of devices such as Microsoft Windows, macOS, iOS, Linux, and Android.
  • Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI) products allow a telecommuter to view and use a remote computer's desktop. This gives network managers more control over the computing environment of at-home employees and ensures them a familiar work experience. Progent's VDI consulting services include Windows Remote Desktop support and Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops VDI consulting.
  • Routers attach home networks to the Internet and typically support VPN tunnels, home Wi-Fi networks, and firewalls. Progent offers top-tier remote consulting for deploying routers from a range of manufacturers. See router configuration services from Cisco-certified experts.
  • Home Wi-Fi networks, often shared by an entire household and visitors, are commonly utilized by telecommuters to connect to their Internet router for work. This can cause throughput and security problems. Progent can assist businesses to resolve these problems by providing expertise that include Aironet integration expertise, Cisco-certified Meraki wireless installation consulting, and Ubiquiti Unifi WiFi access point setup assistance.
  • Internet connectivity methods impact the speed and availability of connections between at-home workers and the corporate network. Business-critical applications might require backup Internet connections in case the primary connection breaks. Progent offers expertise for identifying ISPs, selecting sensible bandwidth and data volume bundles, and configuring fault-tolerant Internet access. See Internet connectivity solutions.

IP Voice Solutions for Remote Workers
Extending the company PBX system to include telecommuters is vital to supporting a productive work-at-home solution. A variety of cloud-centric digital PBX products are used by SMBs to server teleworkers. Many enterprises rely on Cisco's current or legacy products for IP voice management. Progent can assist businesses of all sizes to plan or maintain a remote IP voice environment that provides the flexibility, convenience and security needed for teleworkers. Progent's Cisco-certified CCIE Voice experts offer advanced support to help businesses optimize their current Cisco IP voice systems to support an expanding remote workforce.

  • Cisco Unified Communications Manager (Cisco Unified CM) delivers advanced IP telephony features to devices such as VoIP phones, media processing products, VoIP gateways, and mixed media software used across the network. CUCM supports other combined media services like unified messaging, voice/video conferencing, and team collaboration networks. For details about Progent's Cisco Unified CM or CUCM expertise, visit Cisco Unified CM expertise.
  • Cisco CallManager is Cisco's legacy call-processing software and has been superseded by Cisco Unified CM or CUCM. Progent can help you to support your current CallManager deployment or upgrade efficiently to Cisco's current IP telephony solutions. To find out about Progent's expertise for CallManager and Cisco's other older IP voice products, visit CallManager consulting services.
  • Cisco IP Gateways provide connectivity with public telephony networks and with users working beyond the corporate firewall like telecommuters. Progent can provide consulting expertise for Cisco's earlier generation IP gateways like the UC520, UC540 and UC560 products and for modern Cisco Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) gateways. See Cisco Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) gateway configuration expertise.
  • Other VoIP Platforms supported by Progent include Vonage, Intermedia Unite and 8x8. Progent can assist you to update your wide area network architecture to work with these solutions and deliver online integration and troubleshooting expertise.

Video Conferencing for Teleworkers
A wide range of video conferencing platforms from major technology companies enable virtual discussions, video conferencing, chat sessions, and content sharing for both local users and teleworkers. Many companies use a mix of conferencing products to accommodate their various partners and clients. Progent can help your organization to manage your existing voice/video conferencing ecosystem and optimize the experience of your at-home workforce.

  • Skype for Business is Microsoft's leading communications product that supports presence, instant messaging, audio and video calling and conferencing plus the seamless integration of these functions within Office desktop and Microsoft 365 productivity software including PowerPoint, Word, Excel and Outlook. Progent offers the expertise of Microsoft-certified consultants who can help you to deploy and maintain Skype for Business clients to support your at-home workforce. For details about Progent's consulting services for Skype for Business, see Skype for Business consulting experts.
  • FaceTime is Apple's multiuser video phone app for iOS and Mac devices. FaceTime runs over Wi-Fi or cellular Internet connections. Newer versions of FaceTime allow up to 32 simultaneous users for voice/video sessions. For details about Progent's support expertise for Apple FaceTime, visit Progent's FaceTime configuration expertise.
  • Webex Meeting Center supports remote conferencing for virtually all desktop or mobile devices. Delivered through Cisco's Webex Cloud, Webex capabilities include sharing discrete content or screens, presentations that embed rich media such as Microsoft PowerPoint, session recording, plus revision and playback for future reference. For details about Progent's consulting services for Cisco Webex as well as for other video conferencing solutions from Cisco, visit Progent's Webex Meeting Center support services.
  • Teams is Microsoft's next-generation replacement for Skype for Business. Teams provides a portal for conferencing, contacts, and content with capabilities such as video conferencing, persistent threaded chat, plus data sharing. For details about Progent's consulting expertise for Teams as well as for other Microsoft 365 products, see Progent's Microsoft Teams consulting services.
  • Other Conferencing Platforms supported by Progent's conferencing experts include Google Meet, Amazon Chime, Zoom, and Slack. Progent can deliver configuration and debugging services for these conferencing platforms and help you to optimize your WAN infrastructure to host them.

Microsoft Integrated Collaboration Software for Remote and Hybrid Workers
Microsoft's collaboration platforms are closely integrated with Microsoft's popular Office suites, offering a powerful environment of applications that create a consistent user experience for sharing information across multiple sites and on a broad selection of endpoints. Progent has provided remote consulting support for Microsoft SharePoint and Exchange Server since their first publication and can assist your company to deploy these flagship collaboration platforms to maximize the productivity of your at-home workforce.

Microsoft's collaboration platforms are tightly integrated with Microsoft's popular Office suite, providing a rich ecosystem of applications that deliver a consistent user experience for sharing information across multiple sites and on a wide variety of endpoint devices. Progent has provided remote consulting services for SharePoint and Exchange since their initial releases and can help at-home workers set up and use these flagship collaboration platforms to maximize productivity.

Microsoft Teams Solutions Experts for At-Home WorkersMicrosoft Teams works with Microsoft 365 and supports third-party cloud services to provide real-time collaboration. Designed as a replacement for Skype for Business Online, Microsoft Teams and Teams Premium can support chat, audio/video meetings that include screen sharing, phone calls, cloud voicemail, group email, plus file and application sharing. Teams is tightly integrated with Microsoft 365 and relies on Exchange Online, SharePoint Online, OneDrive for Business, and Microsoft Entra (previously branded Azure Active Directory) for delivering its complete range of features. For additional information about Progent's support services for Microsoft Teams and Teams Premium, see planning and deployment expertise for Microsoft Teams.

SharePoint Integration Consultants for Remote WorkersSharePoint utilizes web sites to promote collaboration and information delivery by offering policy-based delivery of content, workflow, and utilities for looking through company-wide business data. SharePoint enables you to create secure web portals that allows at-home workers to view and edit consolidated business intelligence via Intranets (Wikis), Blogs, social networking web sites, and Web Parts. For information about Progent's SharePoint consulting expertise, refer to SharePoint configuration and development consulting.

Exchange Deployment Consultants for Remote WorkersExchange and Exchange Online offer secure collaboration features including public folders, shared mailboxes, and shared calendars and contacts. Progent's Microsoft certified Exchange experts can show you how to activate and utilize these features for your at-home workers. To find out about Progent's Exchange consulting services, go to integration expertise for Exchange.

Onedrive Configuration Consultants for Remote WorkersOneDrive is Microsoft�s shared cloud-based storage service, comparable to GoogleDrive. At-home workers can save files to the OneDrive service, and co-workers anywhere can access them safely via a web browser. Included with Microsoft 365, OneDrive enables at-home employees to co-author files. Edits created offline are automatically uploaded when you reconnect to the Internet. To find out about Progent's consulting expertise for OneDrive, refer to Microsoft Onedrive configuration consulting.

Public Cloud Integration Services for Teleworkers
Progent can provide affordable online assistance for helping businesses to build, manage and repair integrated hybrid network models that include internal data centers, telecommuters, branch offices, plus cloud resources. Progent can provide expertise for all types of cloud service including Infrastructure as a Service, Platform as a Service, and Software as a Service. Progent can help at-home workers resolve issues with public cloud connectivity, authentication, and security.

Microsoft Azure Integration for TeleworkersAzure is a popular family of public cloud software and services that allows you to utilize IT infrastructure, servers, and key applications running on Microsoft's extensive cloud. Microsoft Azure includes over one hundred cloud-based services including the ability to host Windows and Linux-powered virtual machines, scalable cloud storage, email and messaging, app development with Visual Studio, and data protection. Progent can assist your organization to set up virtual machines on Azure Virtual Machines, configure storage on Azure Storage services, unify identity management with Azure AD, and plan data backup and recovery systems with Azure Backup. Progent can also show you how to establish secure access to Azure for teleworkers by setting up and troubleshooting firewall appliances and VPN tunnels. For information about Progent's consulting services for Azure, go to Microsoft Azure consulting.

Microsoft 365 Integration Services for Remote WorkersMicrosoft 365, formerly called Office 365, is Microsoft's growing family of client productivity software and cloud services available by subscription. Microsoft apps and services are provided in a selection of plans designed for users ranging from students and small offices to large enterprises. Progent offers quick and affordable remote access to consultants familiar with Microsoft 365-compatible endpoints based on Windows, Mac, iOS, and Google Android operating systems. Progent's experts can help your business to assess the numerous subscription plans available for Microsoft 365 and configure 365 apps for your telecommuters to achieve top business value. For details about Progent's consulting services for Microsoft 365, visit Microsoft 365 integration expertise.

Exchange Online Integration Services for At-Home WorkersMicrosoft 365 Exchange Online is one of the most popular cloud-based applications in the Microsoft 365 product line. Exchange Online offers the benefits of reduced costs for data center infrastructure, simplified management, on-demand scaling, high availability, and other benefits associated with cloud computing. Microsoft has designed Exchange Online to run seamlessly with local Exchange environments, allowing customers to build hybrid information systems. Progent's Exchange experts can provide occasional help to guide you through tough IT roadblocks and also offer comprehensive project management outsourcing to make sure your remote workers have easy and secure access to your Exchange Online environment. For information Progent's consulting services for Exchange Online, visit Exchange Online configuration and support expertise.

Amazon AWS Integration for TeleworkersAmazon Web Services (AWS) is a trailblazer in the public cloud computing arena and is the world's biggest provider of cloud services. Progent can provide quick and affordable online access to cloud integration consultants who can assist your business to design, deploy, manage, and troubleshoot hybrid information networks that incorporate Amazon AWS cloud services with local data centers and with other public clouds such as Microsoft Azure. Progent also can provide the skills of Cisco-certified CCIE networking experts to help your company to build a high-availability network model so your employees have a productive computing environment regardless of whether they are working from your main office, a branch office, from home, or on the road. For information about Progent's expertise for Amazon AWS, see Amazon AWS consulting services.

Google Cloud Integration for Remote WorkersGoogle Cloud Platform is a leading collection of public cloud services that offers Infrastructure-as-a-Service (IaaS) and Platform-as-a-Service products. Progent's Microsoft, Linux, and Cisco consulting experts can help your business to expand your existing IT resources with the Google Cloud Platform, and Progent's database experts can help you make your key applications cloud friendly so your teleworkers can take full advantage of Google Cloud Platform services. Progent can assist your organization to deploy virtual machines on GCP Compute Engine, design a cost-effective storage system with GCP Storage, and streamline access management for at-home workers with GCP Cloud Identity services. Progent's experts can also help your business to utilize GCP's management tools to administer and track your GCP environment. To find out, visit Google Cloud Platform integration services.

Help Desk Call Center Services for Telecommuters
A rapid, organization-wide switchover to a telecommuter workforce, which might be driven by a pandemic or as a component of a business continuity process, can overstretch even the most efficient in-house Help Desk. Progent's Help Desk services allow businesses of any size to outsource or supplement their Call Desk with Progent's remote Technical Response Center (TRC) services.

  • Progent's Standard Help Desk Call Center support services leverage Progent's extensive network of online technical support experts along with enterprise-class ticketing and tracking technology to provide an affordable, state-of-the-art Call Desk. Progent's Standard Help Desk Services provide an end-to-end solution that addresses all aspects of remote Level 1 PC technical support from initial help requests through ticket creation, desktop sharing, problem resolution, and reporting. A browser-based User's Service Portal allows teleworkers to track or edit the status of their active tickets, add details, and upload screenshots and attachments. Support services are provided at a significant discount off Progent's ordinary Level 1 desktop service charges, and Progent makes available optional fast hand-off to Level 2 and Level 3 support experts to resolve advanced problems. For more information, visit Progent's Standard Helpdesk Services for small businesses.
  • Progent's Call Center Augmentation Service allows you to expand your current Support Desk organization by splitting delivery of Call Center support seamlessly between your regular IT support personnel and Progent's extensive roster of desktop support technicians and subject matter specialists. Progent's shared Support Desk service is based on a collaborative support model based on the number one professional services automation platform for managing help requests and trouble tickets, assigning responsibility, tracking progress, and generating management reports. For details about how Progent's Support Desk Supplementation Services can enable your business to provide world-class technical support to your at-home workforce, see Progent's Support Desk supplementation Services.

Security and Compliance for Telecommuters
At-home employees commonly use their own computing devices and usually operate in an unsecured physical space. This increases their susceptibility to cyber threats and requires careful deployment of corporate firewalls, anti-malware tools, multi-factor authentication, remote monitoring, extensive user training, and the creation of policies built on leading practices. Progent's veteran roster of IT security support consultants can assist your business to plan, configure and maintain an effective cybersecurity solution that guards vital IT resources in networks that incorporate telecommuters.

Firewall Integration Services for At-Home WorkersFirewalls allow companies to create a network environment that can be securely utilized by on-premises users and by telecommuters, mobile users, vendors, customers, and the public. Next-generation firewall appliances allow you to configure and manage appropriate access rights to various groups of users and to scale your network and adjust your cybersecurity posture as your business evolves and as cyber threats grow more sophisticated. Progent works with both current and older security devices from all major manufacturers like Cisco, Palo Alto Networks, WatchGuard, Juniper, and Fortinet. To find out more about Progent's firewall configuration expertise, see firewall configuration and support expertise.

Remote Security Monitoring for At-Home WorkersRemote Endpoint Security Monitoring makes it possible to track the disparate devices utilized by telecommuters and either block or spot and respond to the latest threats like ransomware. With ProSight Active Security Monitoring services, a small-footprint software agent is put on each secured endpoint device, watching all activity and utilizing advanced machine learning from SentinelOne to identify new attacks on arrival. When a cyberattack is discovered, ProSight Active Security Monitoring immediately isolates the infected endpoint from the network to contain the malware. Since the ProSight ASM software agent is autonomous, endpoint devices remain protected even if they are offline. Progent is a SentinelOne Partner, reseller, and integrator. To find out more about ProSight ASM, visit remote endpoint monitoring for telecommuters.

Two-factor Authentication Services for Remote WorkersProgent's Duo MFA Service Plans utilize Cisco's Duo technology to defend against compromised passwords by using two-factor authentication (2FA). Duo enables single-tap identity verification with iOS, Google Android, and other personal devices. Using 2FA, when you sign into a protected application and give your password you are asked to confirm who you are via a unit that only you possess and that is accessed using a different network channel. A wide selection of out-of-band devices can be used as this second form of ID validation including an iPhone or Android or wearable, a hardware token, a landline phone, etc. You may register multiple verification devices. For more information about ProSight Duo two-factor identity validation services, visit Cisco Duo MFA two-factor authentication (2FA) services for an at-home workforce.

Security Audit Services for At-Home WorkersSecurity Audits can assess the exposure of your information system to all classes of external and internal security attacks for a network that incorporates teleworkers. Progent can run online, automated security inventory scanning for quickly and economically uncovering a broad range of security holes that can be found over the Internet. Progent's endpoint security audit experts, which can be provided by security professionals with advanced certifications including CISA, ISSAP, and GIAC, can assist your business to audit your workflows and governance policies and assess your network infrastructure to enable you to implement the highest level of security for your an at-home workforce.

NodeZero Pen Testing for Work-from-Home EnpointsHorizon3.ai's NodeZero PEN Testing Platform is a leading-edge penetration test (pentest) product family that can deliver automated testing of your at-home connectivity solution as well as your internal and perimeter networks so you can uncover, rank, fix, and confirm security vulnerabilities before malicious hackers can take advantage of them. Progent can help you to use NodeZero to carry out thorough penetration tests of your network perimeter and your internal network in order to evaluate your current security posture. Progent can also assist you to harden your network security and can assist you to plan and deploy a unified cybersecurity ecosystem that simplifies management and delivers maximum protection for on-prem, multi-cloud, at-home, and perimeter IT resources. To learn additional information about Progent's threat analysis services powered by on NodeZero's penetration test products, refer to Consulting Services for NodeZero's Pentest Platform.

Download White Paper: Protecting a Work-From-Home Environment
To view or download a white paper describing critical things to focus on for securing an IT environment that supports telecommuters, click:
Securing a Work-From-Home Environment White Paper. (PDF - 2.4 MB)

Data Protection Solutions for Teleworkers
Data Protection involves backing up and recovering critical data in order to prevent data loss and minimize restoration time and effort in the event of storage failures resulting from equipment breakdowns, programming hiccups, operator error, malware, or any other reason. Reliable data protection strategies can be especially challenging to design and maintain in hybrid environments that incorporate private data centers, public clouds, and at-home workers.

  • Backup/Recovery solutions for remote workers must cover multiple kinds of personally owned endpoints. Progent offers quick remote access to experts knowledgeable about a wide range of products for backing up Microsoft Windows, Apple and Linux/UNIX servers and desktops as well as laptops, tablets and handhelds. Leading backup/restore solutions supported by Progent's backup/recovery consultants include Barracuda Backup, Microsoft Azure Backup, DoubleTake Software, CrashPlan, Mozy, and Time Machine. To back up resources distributed across a wide area network, Progent offers ProSight Data Protection Services, a managed backup/recovery subscription service that uses cloud-based storage and features fine-grained recovery and centralized management capabilities.
  • Disaster Recovery/Business Continuity strategies often envision circumstances that call for a temporary switch to telecommuting. Progent's expert disaster recovery preparedness experts and business continuity consultants can help you to create, document and test a DR/BC plan that includes the process of switching to telecommuting.

Unified Management for Telecommuters
Microsoft has rebranded and rebundled its endpoint management platforms under the name Microsoft Endpoint Manager, which includes Intune for cloud-based management of mobile and remote endpoints and Configuration Manager for managing local computers. Microsoft Endpoint Manager offers a unified solution for safeguarding corporate data by managing local, mobile, and at-home endpoint devices.

Intune
Intune is part of Microsoft's Endpoint Management suite that also features Microsoft Configuration Manager. Intune is a cloud-based service for managing and protecting mobile devices and software. Remote endpoint computers can be user owned or business owned. Network admins managing the endpoint computers of teleworkers can utilize Intune to deploy and validate apps on managed devices, push updates and certificates, configure policies for accessing information and networks, set passwords, create VPN connections, determine how teleworkers share information, set up threat protection, verify compliance, and delete sensitive data from lost, stolen or decommissioned endpoint devices. Intune runs with iOS, Google Android, Windows, and macOS/OS X devices. To find out about Intune and to find out how Progent can help you to use this platform to administer the devices of your telecommuters, go to Intune teleworker device management experts.

VMware Workspace ONE
VMware Workspace ONE is an advanced unified Mobile Device Management product that allows network administrators to keep off-premises endpoints up to date and secure. Workspace ONE incorporates VMware AirWatch technology for unified endpoint administration plus VMware's Horizon virtual software delivery technology for identity control, application management, and setup management of endpoints. Workspace ONE runs with endpoints based on Windows 10, macOS, Apple iOS, Google Android, Chrome OS, or leading distributions of Linux. VMware Workspace ONE is offered by subscription as a cloud-based service or as an on-premises deployment through a perpetual license. Key features of Workspace ONE include fast remote deployment of new laptops, quick onboarding of new employees, policy setting and enforcement for all classes of devices, unifies reporting and performance analytics, an email encryption gateway, and integration with Microsoft applications and cloud-based products. To learn about Progent's support services for VMware Workspace ONE, visit VMware Workspace ONE mobile endpoint management consultants.

Contact Progent for Telecommuter Support Services
To get in touch with Progent about creating and managing a productive work-from-home solution for your Allentown, Pennsylvania business, call 1-800-993-9400 or refer to Contact Progent.