Cisco Certified Network Consulting and Support

A wealth of network management utilities from Cisco and third-party vendors highlights the importance and complexity of maintaining networks. Progent's Cisco qualified network management engineers are experienced at helping businesses design management strategies based on Simple Network Management Protocol, SYSLOG services, and Cisco NetFlow to build powerful mechanisms for understanding network utilization and network latency, viewing key router and switch operational metrics, and identifying traffic profiles, applications, and devices utilizing network services.

Progent can help customers to utilize a rich selection of free and license-based monitoring and management products to maintain a Cisco network. Tools used by Progent's engineers include MRTG, Cacti, Nagios, PRTG, Cisco Cisco ASDM, Cisco Monitor Manager, CiscoWorks, Cisco Security Manager, OpenView, Wireshark/Ethereal, Concord E-Health, Advent and Firewall Analyzer, Solarwinds Orion, and Necordia NetMRI.

Network management tools can allow organizations to understand existing network usage and intelligently plan for future capacity expansion. Management tools can also be used to identify inefficient or inappropriate uses of network services, such as streaming audio and video, peer-to-peer file sharing, etc. that can use up valuable or scarce network resources. A well planned network management solution can also aid organizations to arrive at intelligent choices on system improvements after they understand the amount of network resources actually required at specific times.

Putting an efficient network management platform in place beforehand is essential to avoid major problems that can result from DoS attacks and malicious viruses. Such events can leave the network unstable and without proper utilities it can be difficult, and in some cases virtually impossible, to find the source of the trouble.

Network Management Solutions from Cisco
Cisco provides a variety of powerful tools that should be the basis for any management strategy. Utilized in conjunction with the top third-party applications, Cisco's network management software can enhance the business value of networks for organizations of any size by dealing with important areas such as system utilization, performance, resilience, security, repair, and capacity planning. Cisco's most popular network management tools include:

Adaptive Security Device Manager (ASDM) is a web utility that allows you to set up and operate the management utilities built into network appliances. Cisco ASDM is loaded by the Cisco device, and allows you to configure, track, and manage the unit.

Cisco Monitor Manager is a management and monitoring application designed to handle the requirements of small and midsize organizations. Monitor Manager actively tracks key device parameters on voice/data networks used by five to 250 workers and with up to 250 Voice over IP phones. Cisco Monitor Manager offers:

• Up-to-date monitoring of important device parameters on small and midsize business-class network appliances, Cisco Communications Manager Express, Unity Express, security appliances, access points, and VoIP phones
• Support for the Cisco Unified Communications 500 for companies with up to 50 workers

• Voice and data network discovery and topology
• Physical and process looks at Unified Communications implementation
• Networkwide device identification collection and documentation
• Advanced security and reliable communication
• Device operations tracking
• IP Telephony monitoring
• Interface status and traffic tracking
• Real-time alerts and notices
• Documentation
• Setup log

Network Assistant is a desktop-based network management tool designed for for wired and wireless LANs (WLANs) for growing companies with up to 40 switches and routers. By using Smartports technology, Cisco Network Assistant streamlines configuration, deployment, and continuing management and maintenance of Cisco-based networks. It offers a unified network view and permits IT managers to deploy its features among Cisco switches, routers, and WAPs.

Cisco Security Manager is a highly functional but simple to operate application for managing all aspects of device configuration and security policies for firewalls, VPNs, and Intrusion Prevention Systems (IPS). Cisco Security Manager effectively manages even small networks consisting of no more than than ten appliances, but also scales to control enterprise networks composed of thousands of Cisco routers, security appliances, and switch services modules. Expansion is achieved via smart policy-driven management techniques that can streamline administrative overhead. Highlights of Security Manager are:

• Supports provisioning for Cisco router platforms running an IOS security image, Cisco ASA 5500 family security appliances, PIX security appliances, Cisco IPS 4200 family sensors, and Cisco Catalyst 6500 family security modules
• Reacts more quickly to attacks: define and apply updated policies to thousands of appliances in just a few steps
• Rich graphical user interface provides superior ease-of-use
• Multiple looks that offer versatile methods to manage appliances and policies including the ability to administer the security network visually on a system topology image
• Comprehensive video training for the novice operator to accelerate training time
• Globally call out which policies are common and automatically inherited by additional devices to make sure corporate policies are implemented regularly, while offering optional versatility to customize policies at the local appliance level
• Capability to build a common rule table for all Cisco firewalls with intelligent evaluation of firewall policies to detect anomalies in the rule table
• Easily configure location-to-location, hub-spoke, full-mesh IPsec, or extranet VPN connections with a few mouse clicks
• Compatibility with Cisco Access Control Server (ACS) for low-level role based access management to appliances and management functions
• Operation with security MARS system to compare monitored data with corresponding security appliance rules to promote quicker decision making and enhanced system up time
• Capability to allocate specific tasks to every manager in the course of the implementation of a rule, with structured change control and tracking; permits the security and network operations staff to work together as a single unit with efficient teamwork

Progent can also assist you to utilize network management applications to analyze and classify system data to implement traffic shaping, which permits you to configure routers to enforce different throughput restrictions on certain classes of activity according to the priorities you assign. By buffering and queuing data packets above your committed rates, and by giving preference to business-critical applications, traffic shaping can keep ISP overage charges from spinning out of reach and/or avoid lost worker productivity resulting from brute force enforcement of your network traffic volume restrictions during periods of heavy demand.

Progent's CISA and ISSAP security consultants can show you how to create a comprehensive security plan that encompasses your network management solution, and Progent's remote and on-premises support experts and Cisco CCIE-certified consultants can utilize the latest network management tools to identify and remediate problems quickly to keep your network in business.

To learn more information about Progent's professional assistance for Cisco products, pick a subject:

• Overview of Progent's Cisco Engineering Services
• Timely Remote Assistance from a Cisco CCIE Network Engineer
• Cisco Firepower NGFW Firewalls: Configuration and Troubleshooting Expertise
• Cisco ASA 5500-X Firewalls with Firepower: Setup and Troubleshooting Support
• Cisco ASA 5500 Series Firewall Troubleshooting Help
• PIX Firewall Consulting Help
• Cisco Routers Consulting Services
• Cisco Wireless Network Design Help
• Cisco Aironet APs Deployment Help
• Cisco Small Business Wireless Access Points System Design Expertise
• Cisco Catalyst 802.11ax Wi-Fi 6 Wireless APs Planning, Configuration and Debugging Services
• Cisco WiFi Controllers Integration Consulting
• Meraki Access Points Engineering Support
• Cisco Unified Communications Manager (CUCM or Unified CM) and CallManager Configuration and Troubleshooting
• Cisco VoIP Phones and IP Video Desktop Phones Consulting and Wireless VoIP Phone Configuration
• Cisco Jabber Migration and Support Services
• Catalyst Switches Deployment Expertise
• Cisco Nexus Switches Deployment Services
• Meraki MS Switches Consulting and Support Services
• Cisco VPN and Network Security Consulting Help
• SIP and CUBE Infrastructure Solutions: SIP Trunks and Cisco CUBE Integration Consulting
• Design and Support for Cisco-based Datacenters and Colocation Centers
• Network Optimization Services for Service Providers