Cisco Certified Network Consulting

Exchanging live voice and video over IP has progressed from simply being being a savvy means to reduce phone carrier bills to a required tool for collaboration and productivity. Converged IP communications, at one time restricted to combining Internet-based voice and faxes on one system to replace expensive PBX equipment, now includes voice and video, mobile communications, IM, presence, collaboration services, and more in a cohesive framework that is easy to manage, extensible, secure, fault-tolerant, cost-effective, and intuitive.

Cisco is the global leader in providing solutions required to support the current paradigm of unified communications (UC). Cisco's UC architecture adds to the efficiency of information networks by cutting operating costs; integrating rich media functions with popular software programs to improve worker output; supporting collaboration among workers, associates, and suppliers to save time and enhance business outcomes; and simplifying the management of your communications environment.

Cisco's UC technology include several primary product categories:,

• Call Control Agents for managing calls and sessions
• Communications Endpoints to optimize worker engagement
• Unified Communications Applications for integrated access to presence, chat, voice and video, phone messages, desktop sharing, and conferencing
• Communications Gateways for accessing outside networks and telecommuters

Call Control Software - Unified Communications Manager (CallManager)
Cisco's call-processing agent is the heart of the Cisco IP Communications solution and provides the flexibility to deploy a centralized call-processing model, a decentralized design, or a mix of both. In a centralized approach, Unified Communications Manager (UC Manager or CUCM) extends enterprise phone capabilities to packet telephony network devices such as IP handsets, media management devices, Voice over IP gateways, and multimedia applications throughout the network. Cisco Unified Communications Manager supports additional multimedia functions including unified messaging, video conferencing, and collaborative client interaction networks.

The latest release of Cisco Unified Communications Manager, previously known as CallManager, offers a wealth of improvements that speed up ROI by lowering management and maintenance costs, increasing user productivity, enhancing teamwork, supporting the BYOD model of computing, fortifying security, and making optimal utilization of IT infrastructure. Top innovations include automatic dial-plan replication and batch provisioning, simplified certificate management, extended support for single sign-on (SSO) for administrators and end users, device-agnostic call recording, mobile access without the need for VPN, a revamped self-care utility that makes it easy for users to set their preferences for all endpoints, and support for Transport Layer Security for mobile users.

When you deploy a central Cisco Unified Communications Manager cluster to manage voice processing for customers at distributed locations, administrators can help achieve non-stop phone availability using Cisco Survivable Remote Site Telephony, an IOS Software image for Cisco routers. If a Wide Area Network link fails, Cisco SRST incorporated in the router provides core Cisco Unified Communications Manager services until the connection is returned. To learn about Progent's consulting services for Cisco routers, see consulting and troubleshooting services for Cisco routers.

For small business networks, branch locations, and retail deployments that do not need the full functionality offered by Unified CM, Unified Communications Manager Express, previously named CallManager Express offers a budget-friendly PBX alternative that meets the needs of locations with up to 450 workers. Since Cisco Unified Communications Manager Express Unified Communications Manager Express (Unified CCX) is embedded in the IOS Software running on a Cisco ISR router, smaller offices can quickly deploy a unified voice/data solution.

The Cisco Business Edition 6000 is a family of complete platforms that offer essential collaboration capabilities including routing, gateway, premium voice/video, messaging, IM and presence, conferencing, and paging services, enabling any user to connect on any device from any place. All BE6000 systems are delivered preinstalled with a virtualization hypervisor and Unified Communications applications, making implementation fast and easy and cutting cost of ownership for organizations with as many as 1000 workers. All solutions are delivered preloaded with virtualization and UC applications software. Organizations can simply activate Unified Communications software applications whenever their requirements grow.

The entry-level BE6000S supports five standard collaboration software applications installed on one combination router/IP gateway/virtualized E1600 M2 server device and can handle up to 150 workers and 300 devices. The medium-scale BE6000M includes four unified communications software application options enabled on a virtualized C220 M4 server and can handle as many as 1000 users, 1200 endpoint devices, and 100 contact center agents. The high-end BE6000S Supports eight collaboration software application options enabled on a single virtualized C220 M4 server platform and has the capacity for up to 1000 workers, 2500 devices, and 100 contact center agents.

For additional information about Progent's support for Unified Communications Manager, see Unified Communications Manager (Unified CM) and Cisco CallManager design, configuration, migration and technical support.

Cisco IP Phones: IP Voice and IP Media Endpoints
A communications endpoint is a user instrument, and can be a hardware handset or a software phone program on a desktop or mobile computer. In the IP world, every VoIP phone is Ethernet connected. IP phones have all of the functions that an analog phone handset has, but IP phones can also offer additional features including being able to access websites or host productivity-enhancing applications.

In contrast to conventional Private Branch Exchange systems, in a Cisco IP telephony network you can implement almost instantaneous relocations, adds, and modifications. All you do is move the VoIP handset to your new location, attach it to an Ethernet connection, and the handset registers itself with Cisco Unified Communications Manager. All user rights and settings are automatically re-established, doing away with the cost and hassle of dispatching technicians to wiring closets. Another useful feature is location independence, which enables you to sign into any Cisco VoIP device and get your personal phone extension and rights.

Cisco provides a broad range of Unified CM phones. The low-cost SPA 300 Series are basic IP and DECT phones that feature wide-band audio, support for hosted IP phone environments or an IP PBX, simple installation and safe online installation, unobtrusive software upgrades, and web-based set up. The value-priced SPA301 is a single-line VoIP endpoint with no display or speakerphone function, a base dialer that has one Ethernet connector, and a corded handset with no a keypad. The SPA302D, designed solely for operation with the Cisco SPA232D DECT ATA (Analog Telephone Adapter), is a multiline wireless Digital Enhanced Cordless Telecommunications (DECT) handset that offers 10-lines, a 176 x 220 color display, and a keypad with a speakerphone. Cisco's SPA303 is an entry-level three-line IP phone with dual Ethernet ports, a 128x64 mono graphical display and a speakerphone.

The SPA500 line VoIP phones are low-cost devices that support SIP and SPCP signaling protocols, two integral switch ports, speakerphones, built-in web servers, Power over Ethernet (PoE), and voice conferencing support. Most models have a 128 x 64 pixel mono screen display, The SPA501G VoIP phone supports eight lines and has eight programmable keys but no hi-res display. The SPA502G has a single line and has no soft buttons. The SPA504G IP Phone supports four lines and has four programmable keys. The SPA508G has eight lines and eight soft keys. The SPA509G supports 12 lines and features 12 programmable keys. The SPA512G has four lines, no soft keys and supports 1xGb Ethernet. The SPA514G IP Phone supports four lines, has programmable keys, and supports 1xGb Ethernet. The high-end SPA525G2 includes a 320 x 240 color display, supports five lines, and has five programmable keys.

Cisco's IP Phones 3900 Series and 6900 Series are specialty VoIP endpoints intended for occasional-use settings such as lobbies, hallways, and conference facilities. The Unified SIP Phone 3905 IP Phone features a 128 x 32 pixel mono non-backlit display, a 10/100 Ethernet switch, a speakerphone, and PoE. The simple Cisco Unified IP Phone 6901 is a one-line device with no display and requires a hook switch for call transfer and conferencing.

The 7800 family of budget-priced IP phones are VoIP desktop endpoints with backlit mono displays, four programmable buttons, 11 dedicated buttons, an Ethernet port with Power over Ethernet (PoE), and an integral speakerphone. Cisco's 7800 Series VoIP phones support only the SIP signaling protocol. All models in the 7800 Series incorporate the same high-fidelity speakers and microphones as Cisco's 8800 Series IP phones to deliver a best-in-class audio experience. Cisco's EnergyWise power-save technology, available on the advanced 7800 units, cuts after-hours energy consumption by as much as 60 percent. The Cisco IP Phone 7811 is a one-line phone intended for common areas as well as for workers with occasional-to-light voice communications requirements. The IP 7811 comes with a 3.28-inch 384 x 106 screen and a narrow-band speakerphone. Wideband audio is offered through an optional wideband handset. Cisco's IP Phone 7821 is a dual-line VoIP phone with a 396 x 162 screen. The IP Phone 7841 is a four-line phone with a 396 x 162 display and is the only model in the 7800 family that provides Gigabit Ethernet. The high-end IP Phone 7861 VoIP phone is a 16-line endpoint targeted for administrators, call center agents, and managers who have heavy voice communications requirements.

The Cisco Unified IP Phone 7900 Series are SIP and SCCP IP voice and video devices with a 320 x 240 color display, a 10/100/1000 Ethernet switch, Class 3 Power over Ethernet (PoE), 10 dedicated buttons and a speakerphone. The Cisco Unified IP Phone 7945G is a dual-line unit and the Cisco Unified IP Phone 7965G supports four lines. Both VoIP phones include a 5-inch screen and four programmable keys. The Cisco Unified IP Phone 7975G unit is an eight-line IP voice and video phone with a 5.6-inch touch screen and five programmable keys.

Cisco's IP Phone 8800 Series is a portfolio of SIP-based IP phones that features desktop devices, a conference IP phone, and mobile wireless IP Phones. The desktop units are five-line IP phones with a 5-inch 800 x 480 screen, a Gigabit Ethernet switch, a speakerphone, four programmable buttons and 12 fixed-feature buttons. The Cisco IP Phone 8811 includes a mono display and supports Class 2 PoE. The Cisco IP Phone 8841 has a WVGA color screen and supports Class 2 Power over Ethernet. Cisco's IP Phone 8845 has a WVGA color display, 720p HD video, a tiltable camera, Bluetooth, Cisco Intelligent Proximity for Mobile Voice, and supports Class 2 Power over Ethernet. The Cisco IP Phone 8851 features a WVGA color screen and one USB port with charging capability, supports Intelligent Proximity for Mobile Voice and Class 3 Power over Ethernet, and is offered in Bluetooth and non-Bluetooth models. Cisco's IP Phone 8861 has a WVGA color display, Bluetooth, two USB connections with charging capability, and supports Cisco Intelligent Proximity for Mobile Voice, Wi-Fi, and Class 4 Power over Ethernet. The Cisco IP Phone 8865 includes a WVGA color display, 720p HD video, a tiltable camera, Bluetooth, dual USB connections with charging capability, and supports Cisco Intelligent Proximity for Mobile Voice, Wi-Fi, and Class 4 PoE.

Cisco's wireless IP phones are industrial-grade Wi-Fi devices intended for workers who are on the move within office, warehouse, health-care or other environments where management requires user endpoints that offer more administrative control, data security and durability than is possible with the Bring-Your-Own-Device mode of mobile communications. Cisco's 8821 and 8812-EX wireless IP phones offer on-the-move onsite users the benefits of voice over wireless LAN technology in workplaces that support 802.11a/b/g/n/ac Wi-Fi infrastructure. Cisco's 8821 Wireless VoIP Phone features a hi-res color display, a durable case designed to withstand dropping and IP67 for particulate and moisture resistance, long-life batteries, a full-duplex speakerphone, and a Bluetooth 4.0 radio to support cordless headsets. Cisco's 8821-EX Wireless VoIP Phone adds protection against sparking for use in hazardous environments. The 8821-EX also features a shell fabricated out of yellow plastics, which makes the device easy to locate the event of a crisis. Find out about Progent's Cisco Wireless IP Phone integration consulting.

Cisco's discontinued 9900 Series of advanced IP endpoints mix high-quality voice with business-grade color displays to deliver a productive collaborative experience for knowledge professionals and executive management. Both models in this line have a Standard Definition VGA color display, a Bluetooth transceiver to work with a wide range of headsets, and an integrated Gigabit Ethernet switch. The Cisco EnergyWise feature is offered as an option and can reduce off-hour energy consumption by as much as 90 percent. The Cisco IP Phone 9951 features a 5-inch display and allows up to 2 Cisco IP Expansion Modules for adding scalability to customizable line and feature keys. The Cisco IP Phone 9971 features a 5.6-inch display, a built-in Wi-Fi radio for deployment with Voice-over-wireless LAN (VoWLAN) environments, and 4 soft-label programmable touchscreen keys to invoke Cisco UC features. The 9971 VoIP phone supports up to 3 IP Expansion Modules for adding scalability to customizable line and function keys.

Unified Communications Application Software
Under Cisco's Unified Communications platform, IP voice, video, and other UC applications are physically separate from the call-processing and voice-processing mechanism, and they may be anywhere within the network. A single connectivity infrastructure offers an open platform for feature-rich business applications and provides a firm foundation for downstream convergence-based software. Cisco cooperates with leading IT industry vendors to offer a wide range of IP phone and IP video software applications and products. Cisco also supports the ability to create and manage specialized in-house applications.

Collaborative application software available from Cisco and supported by Progent include:

Jabber
Cisco Jabber is a unified communications application that provides presence, IM, business-quality voice, HD video, voicemail, desktop sharing, and online conferencing capabilities for Windows PCs, Macs, Apple and Android tablets and smartphones. Jabber is an evolution and integration of the Unified Personal Communicator, Cisco Mobile, and WebEx Connect, with significant enhancements in the areas of video capabilities and screen sharing, and expanding the team experience to more platforms and endpoint hardware. Jabber operates in conjunction with Cisco Unified CM for call and session control, Cisco Unified Presence for instant messaging and presence, Unity Connection for voice messaging and programmable attendant, and Cisco WebEx Meeting for conferencing.

Because Jabber is built around key communication protocols, it can communicate with a wide selection of third-party products. For example, Extensible Messaging and Presence Protocol allows Cisco Jabber to trade instant messaging and presence information with various XMPP clients such as Adium for Mac, Sametime, and Microsoft Lync. Jabber capabilities can be accessed from Microsoft Office applications such as Microsoft Outlook and Microsoft SharePoint. This extensive platform support optimizes productivity by providing a consistent user experience and fully enabling the bring-your-own-device paradigm of computing. Progent can provide the services of Microsoft-certified Exchange and Outlook consultants and SharePoint experts who can help you to use Jabber with Microsoft's premier collaboration platforms. Progent also offers help with Apple iPhone integration as well as Android phone integration to help your organization to increase the business value of your BYOD ecosystem.

WebEX Meeting Center
WebEX Meeting Center enables online meetings for participants using a web browser or virtually any PC or mobile device. WebEx Meeting Center is delivered as SaaS through the Cisco WebEx Cloud. This makes it easy to deploy and scale, streamlines management, avoids high up-front investment, offers high availability and world-class data protection, and delivers fast performance. Important capabilities include support for sharing specific content or your entire screen display with online attendees in real time, the ability to embed rich media into presentations including Microsoft PowerPoint and Flash videos, session recording plus playback for training and demonstrations, single sign-on (SSO) and support for Cisco collaboration products such as Jabber and TelePresence, plus stringent data privacy and encrypted connections with strict policy control.

WebEX Meeting Center works with Microsoft Windows, Apple Mac, and Linux desktops and notebooks and permits mobile workers to initiate, schedule, and take part in meetings on Google Android smartphones and tablets, Apple iPhones and iPads, BlackBerry handhelds, and Microsoft Windows Phone. Users can also initiate online conferences with a few clicks from Microsoft Office, Outlook, Lotus Notes, and a selection of instant messaging solutions.

Cisco TelePresence Portfolio for On-premises Teleconferencing Environments
For midsize organizations and larger enterprises who wish to create a local or hybrid on-premises/cloud environment for video conferencing, Cisco provides a selection of Cisco TelePresence software and equipment that deliver high-quality and standards-based video conferencing for users with almost any IP endpoint at any site. Cisco TelePresence Server is a scalable video conferencing bridge that works with Cisco Unified CM to deliver multiparty video, audio and content sharing to converged deployments and can expand conferences to incorporate cloud-connected Cisco WebEx Meeting Center users. Cisco TelePresence Conductor software streamlines management of the way video conferencing resources are allocated for each participant, allowing managers to specify the exact service level and experience required for each user. Cisco TelePresence Content Server records video conference presentations for live distribution as well as on-demand playback.

Cisco's Unity Connection Platform and Unity Express for Unified Voicemail and Automated Attendant
Cisco's Unity Connection, an extension of Cisco Unified CM, is a unified voicemail solution that promotes productive collaboration by providing flexible set of alternatives for accessing calls and messages within an environment that is simple to implement and maintain. Cisco Unity Connection lets you read and manage voicemail from your email inbox, browser, Cisco Jabber messaging integration platform, a Cisco Unified VoIP endpoint, a smartphone, or an iPad or tablet. Unity Connection also provides advanced voice-recognition features for hands and eyes free management and powerful Automated Attendant functions such as intelligent routing for incoming calls and custom call-screening and message-alert options. The Unity Connection platform runs as a VM that can be hosted on a BE6000 server or a Cisco SRE 910 router service module and can accommodate as many as 20,000 mailboxes per server.

Cisco Unity Express (CUE), available in select Cisco Integrated Services routers, provides affordable voicemail, integrated messaging, IVR, and greeting services for small to mid-size businesses (SMBs) and enterprise branch offices with up to 500 voice mailboxes. Unity Express allows you to access and manage voicemail messages using a Cisco Unified IP Phone screen, your web browser, or your email client. Cisco routers for which Unity Express is offered as an advanced integration module include Cisco's 1861, 2900, and 3900 Series. Progent can provide certified consulting and troubleshooting services for Cisco routers.

Unified Contact Center
Cisco Unified Contact Center Enterprise (Unified CCE) works with Cisco Unified Communications Manager and agent desktop software such as Finesse to provide automatic call distribution features that allow an organization to match customers with the proper sales or service agent. Unified CCE or UCCE features intelligent call distribution, computer telephony integration, support for multichannel customer contact management, call queuing, interactive voice response (IVR) and advanced company-wide reporting to streamline the creation and management of a modern customer contact center. Cisco products incorporated in Unified CCE's customer interaction management ecosystem include Cisco Unified IP Phones, Cisco Voice Gateways, and Cisco network infrastructure.

Unified Contact Center Express (Unified CCX) provides a packaged solution for building a customer interaction management center for branch or midmarket deployments that support as many as 400 agents. Multiple packages are available, plus a selection of optional enhancements. Unified Contact Center Express works with Cisco CUCM and provides smart call distribution, contact interaction management, reporting, interactive voice response, and the ability to manage voice, email, chat, and social media requests. Cisco Unified Contact Center Express includes Cisco Finesse, a browser-based desktop agent that needs no client-side software setup. Special options include call-in-queue, projected-wait-time messages, and workforce quality management.

Cisco Mobile Connect and Single Number Reach (SNR)
Mobile Connect, commonly referred to as Single Number Reach, makes it possible for users to be called from a single number that rings simultaneously on their desktop VoIP Phone and their smartphone. Users can transfer live conversations between their desktop VoIP phone and their mobile phone without disruption. Calls that are not answered can be redirected to a Unity or Cisco Unity Connection voicemail account. Users can create personal access lists that determine which calls get directed to alternate endpoints.

Cisco Prime Collaboration Provisioning
Cisco Prime Collaboration Provisioning offers an automated platform for first-time deployments as well as for “day 2” moves, additions, changes, and deletions. An intuitive interface delivers a single look at a user and the user's services. Cisco Prime Collaboration significantly accelerates company-wide installations and minimizes the time needed to implement ongoing updates. Prime Collaboration in addition provides management analytics including application adoption and consumption trends, allowing organizations to make more efficient use of IT resources and further lower total cost of ownership.

Cisco Communications Gateways
Cisco's collaboration gateways permit Cisco Unified Communications deployments to communicate with public systems and with users working beyond the corporate firewall. Cisco's portfolio of gateways deliver UC support for all types of gateway as well as session-border-control deployments.

Communications gateways offered by Cisco and supported by Progent's certified consultants include:

Expressway Communication Gateway
Cisco's Expressway is an advanced unified communications and collaboration gateway that allows organizations to provide team members, suppliers, customers, or partners who are using various outside network environments, collaboration applications, or endpoint equipment to access to Unified Communication features. Cisco's Expressway gateway integrates with an enterprise Cisco Communications Manager deployment or Cisco BE6000, or can be accessed via the cloud with Cisco Hosted Collaboration Solution to help make collaboration more universal. Important capabilities of Expressway are include:

• Mobile and Off-site Connectivity: Off-site users who have any Jabber-compatible client or teleworkers with Cisco TelePresence endpoints have the convenience of single-sign-on (SSO) plus TLS security and are able to connect to all their collaboration applications (video, business-quality voice, rich content instant messaging, and presence) without the inconvenience establishing a VPN connection. In addition, teleworkers can utilize their Cisco TelePresence endpoints without a VPN tunnel, delivering a user environment at home the same as the corporate office.
• Cisco Jabber Guest Support: Expressway is critical for supporting the Cisco Jabber Guest, which allows “guests” to interact with your organization easily and securely through streamlined browser and mobile video calls.
• Cisco Cloud Connectivity: Cisco Expressway can function as a gateway that creates a path between on-premises Cisco or third-party systems and the WebEx cloud. By offering support for Cisco Collaboration Meeting Rooms, Cisco Expressway offers a world-class, extensible teleconferencing experience that transparently combines business-quality voice, HD video, and content sharing to any client, at any location, on any endpoint.
• Interoperability: If your company currently has third-party video systems, Expressway can assist you to migrate efficiently to Cisco technology whenever it makes business sense. Cisco Expressway provides video interoperability with standards-based H.323, H.264 Scalable Video Coding (SVC), or Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) systems. Interoperability capabilities allowed by Expressway include IPv4 to IPv6, H.323 to Session Initiation Protocol (SIP), and Microsoft Lync H.264 Scalable Video Coding (SVC) to AVC.

• Cisco WebEx Cloud Connected Audio (CCA) for high-capacity SIP-media-connected conferencing
• Voice/Video recording
• Enterprise Call-center and interactive-voice-response applications
• Policy-based security evaluation of phone calls
• B2B telepresence over SIP

Cisco's End-of-Life UC520, UC540 and UC560 VoIP Gateways
The legacy Cisco Unified Communications 500 (UC500) product line is an early VoIP and unified communications appliance and software package for small organizations. UC500 models deliver voice, data, voicemail, auto attendant, IP video, security, and WiFi capabilities, run with older generation Cisco IP Voice endpoints, and support various public switched telephone network connections.

All of UC500 packages include a desktop switch with 8 Power-over-Ethernet (PoE) interfaces plus additional FXS and FXO ports, a firewall, and VPN. Integrated WiFi is optional. User capacity can be expanded by connecting with Cisco Catalyst Express companion switches. Every UC500 offering also comes with licenses for Cisco Unified Communications Manager for VoIP call processing as well as Cisco Unity Express for voice messaging and automated attendant. The Cisco UC520 system supports 8 to 16 VoIP users and include 4 foreign exchange stations and 4 FXO interfaces. The Cisco UC540 system supports 32 users and provides 8 FXO interfaces. The Cisco UC560 system allows 48 VoIP clients and 12 FXO interfaces.

Progent's Cisco-certified VoIP consultants can help you to support your legacy UC500 VoIP gateway or design and implement a smooth migration to a current IP telephony and voicemail system such as the Cisco cloud-managed Business Edition 4000.

How Progent Can Assist You with Cisco VoIP and IP Media Phones, Cisco Unified CM, and Telepresence
Progent offers online or onsite help from a certified CCIE Collaboration specialist to help you to plan, install, administer and troubleshoot converged communications networks that incorporate Cisco Unified Communication products in a centralized, distributed, or hybrid deployment. Progent's Cisco-certified consultants have extensive backgrounds supporting Unified Communications Manager and Cisco CallManager, VoIP phones and soft phones, UC applications such as Jabber and Unity Connection, Cisco's video conferencing technologies, collaboration gateways, utilities built into Cisco switches and routers. Progent can also offer support for related technologies such as Cisco Survivable Remote Site Telephony, CUBE, H.323 gateways, Call Admission Control, VoIP trunks, PSTN, and AVVID. Progent's SIP infrastructure experts can also assist you to create SIP connectivity environments that include SIP-based IP voice phones and media phones, SIP trunks, and SIP management tools via CUCM.

Progent's application programmers can create specialized IP telephony software that will help your business to incorporate the telephony capabilities of Cisco Unified Communications Manager into your company operations for enhanced productivity. Progent can analyze your current network and Internet connectivity infrastructure to make sure your system is configured to accommodate business-quality VoIP and high-definition video, help you to select and integrate Cisco hardware and software that make sense for your current needs and downstream growth objectives, and integrate your Cisco Unified Communications solution with technology from other suppliers. Progent's CISSP-ISSAP certified network security and compliance consultants can assist you to create, deploy, and test a comprehensive security and compliance strategy for your converged communications ecosystem. In addition, Progent can assist you to configure Cisco fault-tolerant technologies such as Cisco Unified SRST to provide cost-effective call control redundancy in branch office and teleworker sites, and Progent's disaster recovery planning experts can help you develop a viable DR/BC strategy to ensure the availability of your business-critical communications system.

Unified Communications Manager/CallManager Upgrade Consulting
Releases of Cisco Unified Communications Manager 8.6 before 8.6 and every release of its predecessor CallManager have arrived at end-of-life. This means Cisco Engineering will no longer enhance, repair, or validate the product software. Security updates for this pivotal application will stop, which in certain circumstances could cause regulatory compliance or legal liability problems.

Progent continues to provide premier consulting and support for outdated editions of Unified CM and Cisco CallManager, but if you are now running an out-of-dated version of this critical software you should start immediately to prepare for your migration. Progent's Cisco-certified consultants can help you to migrate smoothly to the current release of Cisco Unified CM and can routinely save customers up to 50% off consulting service expense versus most computer service companies thanks to Progent's documented process and hands-on experience in this practice area. By following best practices, Progent can ensure that your business realizes a fast return on your investment by showing you how to benefit fully from the new and improved feature set, lower administrative and maintenance expense, more engaging collaboration capabilities, and tighter security provided by the current edition of Unified Communications Manager.

Progent's upgrade consulting services include return-on-investment assessment, project management, system testing and validation, Cloud integration, setting up endpoint devices from Cisco and other suppliers, smartphone and tablet integration, data protection services, streamlined management, disaster recovery planning, network architecture design, staff and user training, and ongoing consulting services and troubleshooting. Progent also has put together ultra-affordable upgrade service bundles to make sure your costs are visible and affordable.

To find out additional information about Progent's consulting support for Cisco technology, choose a subject:

• Introduction to Cisco Engineering Services
• Fast Online Support from a CCIE Engineer
• Cisco Firepower Firewalls: Integration and Management Support
• ASA 5500-X Series Firewall with Cisco Firepower: Configuration and Troubleshooting Expertise
• ASA 5500 Firewalls Troubleshooting Help
• Cisco PIX Firewall Engineering Expertise
• Cisco Routers Configuration and Troubleshooting Support
• Cisco Wireless Network Design Help
• Cisco Aironet Wireless Access Points Engineering Expertise
• Cisco Small Business 100, 300 and 500 Wireless APs Deployment Help
• Cisco Wireless Controllers Support Services
• Cisco Meraki APs Engineering Help
• Cisco Unified Communications Manager (CUCM or Unified CM) and Cisco CallManager Integration and Technical Support
• Cisco Jabber Deployment Services
• Catalyst Switches Consulting and Support Services
• Nexus Switches Support and Troubleshooting Expertise
• Meraki Switches Consulting and Support Expertise
• Cisco VPN and Security Engineering Expertise
• SIP and CUBE Infrastructure Solutions: SIP Trunking and CUBE Integration Consulting
• Design Expertise for Cisco-powered Datacenters and Colocation Centers
• Network Optimization Consulting for Service Providers
• Centralized Management Strategies for Cisco-powered Environments