Cisco Certified Network Consulting

A wealth of network management utilities from Cisco and third-party vendors underscores the value and complexity of maintaining networks. Progent's seasoned network management consultants are expert at assisting companies develop network management solutions utilizing on SNMP, Syslog, and Cisco Netflow protocols to create powerful mechanisms for tracking network bandwidth usage and latency, viewing key router and switch operational metrics, and identifying traffic patterns, applications, and devices utilizing network resources.

Progent can assist customers to deploy a rich range of open source and proprietary management products to maintain a Cisco-powered environment. Utilities used by Progent's consultants include Cacti, Nagios, Paessler Router Traffic Grapher, Cisco Adaptive Security Device Manager (ASDM), Cisco Monitor Manager, Cisco Security Manager, OpenView, Concord E-Health, AlterPoint DeviceAuthority, Adventnet Netflow, Solarwinds Orion, and NetMRI.

Network management platforms can help IT administrators to be aware of existing system usage and intelligently plan for downstream capacity increases. Management utilities can also be used to detect poor or improper uses of network services, for example streaming video, peer-to-peer sharing, etc. that can eat up expensive and scarce network bandwidth. A carefully planned network management solution can also aid companies to make intelligent choices on WAN and LAN upgrades once they recognize the amount of network resources actually needed at specific times.

Having an efficient network management solution in place ahead of time is vital to avoid severe disruptions that can be due to Denial Of Service (DoS) attacks and dangerous viruses. These assaults can leave the network unstable and in the absence of appropriate utilities it can be difficult, and in some cases virtually impossible, to find the location of the problem.

Network Management Products from Cisco
Cisco offers an assortment of powerful tools that should be the foundation for any management solution. Utilized in combination with appropriate outside vendor applications, Cisco's network management software can enhance the competitive value of networks for organizations of all sizes by helping with key areas such as resource utilization, performance, availability, security, troubleshooting, and capacity planning. Cisco's top network management products include:

Cisco Adaptive Security Device Manager is a web utility that lets you configure and operate the software built into network devices. Adaptive Security Device Manager is loaded by the adaptive security appliance, and allows you to set up, monitor, and control the unit.

Cisco Monitor Manager is a management solution developed to handle the requirements of small and midsize companies. Monitor Manager actively checks key appliance parameters on voice and data networks serving 5 to 250 users and with as many as 250 VoIP phones. Cisco Monitor Manager offers:

• Real-time monitoring of important device processes on Cisco SMB-class routers and switches, Communications Manager Express, Unity Express, security appliances, access points, and IP phones
• Compatibility with the Unified Communications 500 Series appliance for businesses with as many as 50 workers

• Voice and data network discovery and physical topology
• Physical and process looks at Cisco Unified Communications implementation
• Networkwide device identification logging and documentation
• Highly secure and dependable communication
• Appliance performance tracking
• Cisco Unified IP Telephony monitoring
• Interface status and data traffic monitoring
• Real-time alarms and event notification
• Documentation
• Setup log

Network Assistant is a PC-hosted management application optimized for LANs and WLANS for expanding companies with up to 40 switches and routers. By running Smartports technology, the application streamlines setup, installation, and continuing management and maintenance of Cisco networks. It provides a centralized system view and allows network managers to deploy its functions across switches, routers, and wireless access points.

Cisco Security Manager is a powerful but simple to operate solution for centrally provisioning all facets of device set up and policies for firewalls, virtual private networks, and IPS. Security Manager effectively manages even small networks consisting of no more than than ten devices, but also expands to control enterprise systems with thousands of appliances. Scalability is achieved through intelligent policy-driven management procedures that can streamline administrative overhead. Key features of Cisco Security Manager are:

• Supports control of Cisco routers running a Cisco IOS security image, Cisco ASA 5500 Series security appliances, Cisco PIX security appliances, IPS 4200 sensors, and Cisco Catalyst 6500 Series security modules
• Respond faster. more rapidly to threats: define and apply new security policies to many hundreds of devices in a few simple steps
• Rich graphical user interface provides exceptional ease-of-use
• Multiple looks that provide versatile ways to manage appliances and security policies such as the option to manage the security network graphically on a system topology image
• Comprehensive video help for the novice operator to accelerate learning period
• Globally specify which policies are common and inherited by additional appliances to make sure company-wide policies are implemented regularly, while offering sufficient flexibility to modify policies at the local appliance level
• Capability to create a common rule table for Cisco platforms with smart analysis of firewall policies to determine anomalies within the rule table
• Easily set up location-to-location, hub-spoke, full mesh, or extranet VPN connections by means of a few mouse clicks
• Integration with Cisco ACS for low-level role based connection management to devices and management functions
• Operation with security MARS system to compare monitored data with related security appliance rules to help with faster management decisions and enhanced network up time
• Capability to assign specific tasks to every administrator in the course of the implementation of a policy, with structured change control and tracking; permits the security and network operations staff to work cooperatively as a cohesive group with effective teamwork

Progent can also help you to utilize network management utilities to analyze and classify network data to implement traffic shaping, which allows you to set up routers to impose different throughput constraints on certain types of activity according to the priorities you assign. By storing and sorting data packets above your committed volume, and by giving priority to business-critical applications, traffic shaping can prevent ISP overage charges from spinning out of control and/or eliminate lost worker productivity caused by indiscriminate enforcement of your network traffic volume restrictions during peak use.

Progent's CISA and ISSAP security consultants can show you how to develop an end-to-end security plan that incorporates your network management processes, and Progent's remote and on-premises network specialists and Cisco CCIE and CNA qualified engineers can use advanced network monitoring and analysis tools to identify and remediate problems rapidly to keep your IT system running smoothly.

To find out more details concerning Progent's professional help for Cisco technology, select a topic:

• Overview of Cisco Consulting Services
• Timely Remote Help from a Cisco CCIE Network Engineer
• Cisco Firepower Series Firewalls: Configuration and Management Services
• Cisco ASA 5500-X Series Firewall with Cisco Firepower: Setup and Troubleshooting Support
• ASA 5500 Series Firewall Troubleshooting Assistance
• PIX Series Firewall Upgrade. Migration Help
• Cisco Routers Consulting Support
• Cisco Wireless Deployment Services
• Cisco Aironet APs Consulting Support
• Cisco Small Business 100, 300 and 500 WiFi Access Points System Design Services
• Cisco WiFi Controllers Consultants
• Meraki Wireless APs Engineering Help
• Cisco Unified Communications Manager (CUCM or Unified CM) and CallManager Configuration and Troubleshooting
• Cisco Voice over IP Phones and IP Video Phones Consulting and Wireless IP Phone Configuration
• Cisco Jabber and Management Expertise
• Catalyst Switches Engineering Expertise
• Cisco Nexus Switches Configuration and Maintenance Expertise
• Meraki MS Switches Configuration and Maintenance Services
• Cisco VPN and Network Security Engineering Assistance
• SIP and CUBE Integration Solutions: SIP PSTN Trunks and CUBE Integration Consulting
• Design and Support for Cisco-based Datacenters
• Infrastructure Optimization Consulting for Service Providers