Cisco Expert Network Consulting
Cisco VoIP Phones and CUCM/CallManager Support
From Cisco CCIE Collaboration-Certified Telephony Professionals
Exchanging live voice and video over Internet Protocol has advanced from simply being being a savvy method to cut phone bills to a strategic technology for collaboration and productivity. Converged communications, once limited to integrating Internet-based voice and faxes on one platform to take the place of traditional PBX equipment, now includes VoIP and video, mobility, chat, real-time presence, services, and much more all in a single environment that is manageable, extensible, secure, fault-tolerant, economical, and user friendly.
Cisco is the market leader in supplying solutions for supporting the new model of unified communications (UC). Cisco's UC architecture enhances the productivity of information systems by cutting operating expenses; integrating rich media features with familiar software applications to improve worker output; supporting collaboration among workers, partners, and suppliers to save effort and improve business outcomes; and simplifying the management of your communications environment.
Cisco's Unified Communications solutions address several primary product areas:,
- Call Control Platforms for controlling rich media calls and sessions
- IP Phones and Softphones to enhance end-user engagement
- UC Applications for more productive access to real-time, IM, voice and video, voice messages, desktop sharing, and voice/video conferencing
- IP Gateways for connecting to outside networks and remote users
Call and Session Control Agents - Unified Communications Manager/CallManager
Cisco's call-processing agent is the centerpiece of Cisco's IP telephony infrastructure and gives you the flexibility to implement a centralized call-processing design, a decentralized model, or a combination of both. In a centralized deployment, Cisco Unified Communications Manager (UC Manager or CUCM) expands corporate phone features to packet telephony network devices such as VoIP handsets, media management devices, VoIP gateways, and multimedia applications across the IT environment. Cisco Unified Communications Manager enables additional multimedia functions including unified messaging, multimedia conferencing, and group-based client communication networks.
The most recent version of Cisco Unified CM, previously branded Cisco CallManager, offers a wealth of enhancements that speed up your return on investment by lowering management and maintenance expenses, improving user output, facilitating teamwork, accommodating the bring-your-own-device model of computing, elevating data protection, and allowing optimal use of network resources. Top new features include automatic dial-plan replication and batch provisioning, simplified certificate control, extended support for standards-based single sign-on for administrators and end users, device-agnostic call recording, mobile access without requiring VPN, a new self-care interface that makes it easy for users to specify their preferences for all devices, and support for Transport Layer Security for mobile users.
In cases where you deploy a centralized Unified Communications Manager cluster to manage call processing for users at remote locations, administrators can help achieve continuous call availability using Cisco SRST, an IOS Software image for routers. If a WAN connection fails, Cisco SRST in the Cisco router provides core UC Manager services until the link is restored. For a description of Progent's consulting services for Cisco ISR routers, see consulting support for Cisco Integrated Services routers.
For small businesses, branch offices, and retail environments that do not need the full functionality offered by Unified CM, Cisco Unified Communications Manager Express, previously known as CallManager Express offers an economical solution that handles the needs of sites with as many as 450 workers. Since Unified Communications Manager Express Unified Communications Manager Express (Unified CCX) is embedded in the IOS Software running on a Cisco Integrated Services Router (ISR), smaller offices can rapidly implement a converged voice and data environment.
Cisco's Business Edition 6000 is a family of turn-key platforms that offer essential unified communications capabilities including routing, gateway, high definition voice and video, messaging, instant messaging and real-time presence, voice and video conferencing, and paging services, enabling any end user to connect on any device from any location. All Business Edition 6000 versions are shipped preconfigured with a virtualization hypervisor and UC applications, making deployment fast and easy and cutting cost of ownership for companies with from 25 to 1000 employees. All solutions come preloaded with a virtualization hypervisor and UC applications software. You can simply activate collaboration software applications when their needs grow.
The office-in-a-box BE6000S supports five fixed unified communications software applications preloaded on a single integrated ISR router/gateway/virtualized blade server platform and can handle up to 150 users and 300 devices. The medium-scale Business Edition 6000M supports four collaboration application options enabled on a virtualized C220 M4 server and can handle as many as 1000 users, 1200 devices, and 100 contact center agents. The top-of-the-line Business Edition 6000H Supports 8 collaboration software application options enabled on a virtualized Cisco UCS C220 M4 server 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 (CallManager), visit Cisco Unified Communications Manager (CUCM) and Cisco CallManager planning, configuration, migration and troubleshooting.
Cisco IP Phones: IP Voice and IP Media Phones
A communications endpoint is an end-user device, either a hardware handset or a software phone application on a desktop or mobile computer. In the IP world, every VoIP endpoint has an Ethernet connection. Voice over IP phones have all of the functions that an analog phone handset provides, but IP phones can also provide extra features including the ability to connect to websites or host business applications.
Unlike ordinary Private Branch Exchange technology, in a Cisco IP telephony network you can implement almost instantaneous relocations, additions, and changes. You merely move the VoIP phone to its new spot, attach it to an Ethernet jack, and the device registers itself with Cisco Unified Communications Manager (formerly CallManager). All client privileges and settings are programmatically replicated, doing away with the cost and hassle of dispatching support personnel to rewire connections. Another useful capability is location independence, which enables you to sign into any Cisco IP device and receive your personal phone ID and rights.
Cisco offers a wide selection of Unified CM hardware endpoints. Cisco's low-cost SPA 300 family are basic IP and Digital Enhanced Cordless Telecommunications screenless or monochrome devices that feature wide-band audio, support for hosted IP phone environments or an IP private branch exchange (PBX), simple deployment and safe remote installation, unobtrusive software updates, and web-based configuration. The low-end SPA301 is a one-line VoIP phone with no screen or speakerphone function, a base dialer that has a single Ethernet port, and a wired handset with no keys. The SPA302D, intended exclusively for use with the Cisco SPA232D Multi-Line DECT ATA (Analog Telephone Adapter), is a multiple-line wireless Digital Enhanced Cordless Telecommunications IP phone that supports 10-lines, a TFT 176 x 220 color display, and a dial pad with speakerphone capability. The SPA303 is an affordable 3-line SIP-based phone with dual switched Ethernet ports, a 128x64 monochrome graphical display and a speakerphone.
The SPA500 Series VoIP phones are low-cost endpoints with support for both SIP and SPCP call control protocols, two Ethernet switch ports, speakerphones, Power over Ethernet, and voice conferencing capability. Most versions have a 128 x 64 pixel monochrome screen display, The SPA501G has eight lines and has eight soft keys but no LCD screen. The SPA502G has a single line and has no programmable keys. The SPA504G IP Phone supports four lines and has four soft buttons. The SPA508G IP Phone supports eight lines and eight soft buttons. The SPA509G supports 12 lines and features 12 programmable buttons. The SPA512G has four lines, no soft keys and supports 10/100/1000 Ethernet. The SPA514G VoIP phone supports four lines, has programmable keys, and supports 10/100/1000 Ethernet. The top-of-the-line SPA525G2 VoIP phone has a 320 x 240 color display, supports five lines, and features five soft buttons.
Cisco's IP Phones 3900 Series and 6900 Series are specialty VoIP endpoints designed for infrequent-use environments such as cafeterias, hallways, and conference centers. Cisco's Unified SIP Phone 3905 IP Phone features a 128 x 32 pixel mono non-backlit screen, a 10/100 Ethernet switch, a speakerphone, and Power over Ethernet. The bare-bones Cisco Unified IP Phone 6901 is a single-line endpoint with no screen and uses a hook switch for call transfer or conferencing.
The 7800 Series of budget-priced IP phones are VoIP desktop devices with backlit mono displays, four programmable buttons, 11 dedicated keys, an Ethernet switch with Power over Ethernet (PoE), and an integral speakerphone. Cisco's 7800 Series VoIP phones support only the SIP call control protocol. All devices in the 7800 family feature the same advanced speakers and microphones as Cisco's 8800 Series IP phones to provide a state-of-the-art audio experience. Cisco's EnergyWise power-save feature, available on the advanced 7800 units, reduces after-hours energy usage by up to 60 percent. The Cisco IP Phone 7811 is a single-line VoIP phone designed for shared areas and for employees with infrequent voice communications needs. The IP 7811 comes with a 3.28-inch 384 x 106 display plus a narrow-band speakerphone. Wideband audio is available through an optional handset. Cisco's IP Phone 7821 is a two-line VoIP endpoint with a 396 x 162 display. The IP Phone 7841 is a four-line VoIP endpoint with a 396 x 162 display and is the only unit in the 7800 line to support 1xGb Ethernet. The top-of-the-line IP Phone 7861 is a 16-line endpoint targeted for administrators, contact center agents, and supervisors who have heavy voice communications requirements.
Cisco Unified IP Phone 7900 Series are dual-protocol (SIP/SCCP) media devices with a 320 x 240 pixel color display, a 1xGb Ethernet switch, Class 3 PoE, 10 dedicated keys and a speakerphone. The Cisco Unified IP Phone 7945G is a dual-line device and the Cisco Unified IP Phone 7965G features four lines. Both VoIP phones have a 5-inch screen and four soft buttons. The Cisco Unified IP Phone 7975G device is an eight-line media phone with a 5.6-inch touch screen and five soft keys.
Cisco's IP Phone 8800 Series is a portfolio of SIP-based IP phones that features desktop units, a conference phone, and wireless IP Phones. The desktop units are five-line IP phones featuring a 5-inch 800 x 480 screen, a Gigabit Ethernet switch, a speakerphone, four programmable buttons and 12 dedicated keys. Cisco's IP Phone 8811 includes a backlit mono display and supports Class 2 PoE. Cisco's IP Phone 8841 features a WVGA color screen and supports Class 2 Power over Ethernet. Cisco's IP Phone 8845 has a WVGA color display, 720p HD video, an adjustable 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 connection with charging capability, supports Intelligent Proximity for Mobile Voice and Class 3 Power over Ethernet, and is available in Bluetooth and non-Bluetooth models. The Cisco IP Phone 8861 includes a WVGA color screen, Bluetooth, dual USB ports with charging capability, and supports Cisco Intelligent Proximity for Mobile Voice, Wi-Fi, and Class 4 PoE. The Cisco IP Phone 8865 includes a WVGA color display, 720p HD video, an adjustable camera, Bluetooth, two USB connections with charging capability, and supports Cisco Intelligent Proximity for Mobile Voice, Wi-Fi, and Class 4 PoE.
Cisco's wireless VoIP phones are industrial-grade wireless devices designed for workers who are on the move within campus, hospitality, retail or other environments where management requires user endpoints that provide more control, data security and durability than is achievable with the BYOD mode of workplace communications. Cisco's 8821 and 8812-EX wireless IP phones provide on-the-move on-premises users the benefits of voice over wireless LAN technology in environments with 802.11a/b/g/n/ac Wi-Fi. Cisco's 8821 Wireless VoIP Phone includes a hi-res color display, a rugged case rated Mil-SPEC 810G for shock resistance and compliant with IP67 for dust and moisture resistance, long-life batteries, a full-duplex speakerphone, and a Bluetooth 4.0 transceiver to support wireless headsets. The 8821-EX Wireless IP Phone adds protection against sparking for hazardous environments. The 8821-EX also features a case made out of industry-standard yellow plastics, which makes it easy to locate the event of an emergency. Find out about Progent's Cisco Wireless IP Phone integration consultants.
Cisco's discontinued 9900 Series of powerful VoIP endpoints combine high-definition voice with business-grade color displays to offer a rich collaborative communications solution for knowledge professionals and executives. The two models in this family have a Standard Definition VGA color display, a Bluetooth radio to support a broad range of headsets, and an integrated 1 GE Ethernet switch. Cisco's EnergyWise power-save function is optional and can reduce off-work power draw by as much as 90 percent. The Cisco IP Phone 9951 features a 5-inch screen and supports up to 2 Cisco IP Color Key Expansion Modules for adding scalability to customizable line and feature keys. The Cisco IP Phone 9971 features a 5.6-inch display, an integrated 802.11a/b/g Wi-Fi radio for connecting to voice-over-wireless LAN environments, and 4 soft-label programmable touchscreen keys to invoke Cisco UC features. The 9971 IP phone supports up to 3 Cisco IP Expansion Modules for adding programmable line and feature keys.
Unified Communications Applications
Under Cisco's Unified Communications platform, IP voice, IP video, and other converged applications are physically independent from the call/voice processing mechanism, and they may reside anywhere within the network. A single network infrastructure provides an open environment for feature-rich applications and provides a solid foundation for downstream convergence-based software. Cisco works with third-party IT industry companies to provide a wide range of IP telephony and video software applications and products. Cisco also supports the capability to develop and manage customized internal programs.
UC application software offered by Cisco and supported by Progent include:
Jabber
Jabber is a unified communications application that supports presence, IM, business-quality voice, high-definition video, voice messaging, screen sharing, and online conferencing features for Windows PCs, Macs, iPads and Android tablets plus iPhones, Android phones, and Blackberries. Cisco Jabber is a rebranding and combination of the Cisco Unified Personal Communicator soft phone, Cisco Mobile, and WebEx Connect, with major enhancements to video features and desktop screen sharing, and expanding the collaboration experience to more platforms and devices. Cisco Jabber works in conjunction with Cisco Unified CM for call and session management, Cisco Unified Presence for instant messaging and presence, Unity Connection for voice messaging and automated attendant, and Cisco WebEx Meeting for conferencing.
Because Cisco Jabber is built around popular communication standards, it can communicate with a broad selection of third-party products. For example, XMPP allows Cisco Jabber users to exchange IM and presence data with a variety of XMPP clients such as Adium, Sametime, and Microsoft Lync and Office Communications Server. Cisco Jabber collaboration features can be accessed from Microsoft Office programs such as Microsoft Outlook and Microsoft SharePoint. This broad platform support optimizes productivity by delivering a consistent end-user environment and fully enabling the bring-your-own-device model of networking. Progent can provide the assistance of Microsoft-certified Exchange and Outlook consultants and SharePoint application developers who can show you how to take advantage of Jabber with Microsoft's powerful collaboration platforms. Progent also can provide help with Apple iPhone integration and management as well as Android smartphone and tablet integration to assist you to enhance the business value of your BYOD ecosystem.
WebEX Meeting Center
Cisco WebEx Meeting Center provides web conferencing for participants using a browser or virtually any desktop or mobile computer. WebEx Meeting Center is offered as software as a service (SaaS) through Cisco's WebEx Cloud. This makes it simple to deploy and expand, streamlines administration, avoids major initial expenditures, offers maximum uptime and enterprise-grade security, and provides excellent performance. Key features include the ability to share specific content or an whole screen display with online participants in real time, the ability to incorporate rich media into your presentations including PowerPoint and Flash animations, session and content recording plus editing and playback for training and demonstrations, single sign-on and integration with other Cisco collaboration applications like Cisco Jabber and TelePresence, plus stringent data privacy and encrypted connections with strict policy control.
Cisco WebEx Meeting Center runs on Microsoft Windows, Mac, and Linux PCs and permits mobile workers to initiate, calendarize, and participate in conferences on Google Android smartphones and tablets, Apple iPhones and iPads, BlackBerry phones, and Windows Phone. Users can also initiate online meetings instantly from Microsoft Office, Microsoft Outlook, Notes, and a selection of instant messaging applications.
Cisco TelePresence Portfolio for In-house Teleconferencing Environments
For medium-size businesses and larger enterprises who wish to create an on-premises or hybrid on-premises/cloud environment for video conferencing, Cisco offers a portfolio of Cisco TelePresence software and equipment that deliver high-definition video conferencing for participants with almost any IP endpoint at any site. Cisco TelePresence Server is an expandable teleconferencing bridge that works with Cisco Unified CM to provide multiparty telepresence to unified communications environments and can expand conferences to incorporate cloud-based Cisco WebEx Meeting Center users. Cisco TelePresence Conductor software simplifies the control of how video conferencing resources are allotted for every individual participant, enabling administrators to specify the exact service level and experience needed for each user. Cisco TelePresence Content Server captures video and presentations for real-time streaming and video on demand playback.
Cisco Unity Connection Platform and Unity Express for Converged Voicemail
Cisco's Unity Connection, an extension of Unified Communications Manager, is a unified voice messaging platform that facilitates teamwork by providing a variety of alternatives for accessing calls and messages within an environment that is simple to implement and maintain. Cisco Unity Connection allows you to read and manage voicemail from your Exchange inbox, browser, Cisco Jabber, a Cisco Unified IP Phone, a smartphone, or an iPad or tablet. Unity Connection also offers sophisticated speech-recognition features for hands and eyes free management and extensive Automated Attendant capabilities such as intelligent routing for inbound phone calls and custom call-screening and message-notification settings. The Cisco Unity Connection platform operates as a VM that can reside on a BE6000 server or a Cisco Services Ready Engine 910 router blade and can support up to 20,000 voice mailboxes on each server.
Unity Express (CUE), available in select Cisco Integrated Services routers, provides affordable voicemail, integrated messaging, IVR, and automated-attendant functions for small to mid-size businesses and enterprise satellite locations with up to 500 workers. Unity Express allows you to manage voicemail using a Cisco IP Phone screen, a browser, or an email client. ISR Routers for which Unity Express is offered as an advanced integration module include Cisco's 1861, 2800, 2900, and 3900 Series. Progent can provide comprehensive consulting and troubleshooting services for all Cisco routers.
Cisco Unified Contact Center
Cisco Unified Contact Center Enterprise (Unified CCE or UCCE) integrates with Unified CM and desktop agent applications like Cisco Finesse to provide automatic call distribution (ACD) features that allow an organization to match customers with the right sales or service agent. Unified CCE offers smart call distribution, computer telephony integration, multiple channel contact management, network-wide call queuing, interactive voice response (IVR) and advanced enterprise-wide reporting to simplify the deployment and management of a modern contact center. Cisco products incorporated in UCCE's customer contact management solution include Cisco Unified IP Phones, Voice, and Cisco network infrastructure.
Cisco Unified Contact Center Express (Unified CCX or CCX) provides an out-of-the-box solution for building a customer interaction management center for mid-scale systems that handle up to 400 agents. Multiple packages are available, plus a variety of special options. Unified Contact Center Express integrates closely with CUCM and offers smart call routing, contact management, integrated reporting, interactive voice response, and management of voice, email, chat, and social media inquiries. Unified Contact Center Express comes with Finesse, a web-based customizable desktop agent that requires no client-side software setup. Optional enhancements include conditional routing, expected-wait-time messages, and workforce quality management.
Cisco Mobile Connect and Single Number Reach
Mobile Connect, popularly referred to as Single Number Reach, makes it possible for users to be called from a single phone number that rings simultaneously on their desktop VoIP Phone and their mobile phone. Users can switch live conversations between their Cisco VoIP phone and their mobile phone without disruption. Unanswered calls can be transferred to a Unity or Unity Connection voicemail account. Users can create their own access lists that specify which calls get directed to alternate phones.
Prime Collaboration
Cisco Prime Collaboration Provisioning provides an automated platform for first-time deployments and for follow-on moves, additions, changes, and deletions. An intuitive console delivers a single view of a subscriber and the subscriber's services. Prime Collaboration Provisioning significantly speeds up company-wide installations and reduces the effort required for future changes. Prime Collaboration also offers management analytics including technology adoption and usage trends, enabling administrators to make more efficient use of resources and further reduce total cost of ownership.
Cisco Communications Gateways
Cisco's collaboration gateways permit Cisco Unified Communications deployments to connect with public systems and with users working outside the corporate firewall. Cisco's line of gateways provide UC support for a wide variety of gateway as well as session-border-control applications.
Communications gateways available from Cisco and supported by Progent include:
Cisco Expressway Collaboration Gateway
Cisco's Expressway is a powerful collaboration gatekeeper that enables companies to allow employees, vendors, customers and prospects, or business partners who are using various outside network environments, collaboration platforms, or endpoint equipment to access to Unified Communication functions. Cisco's Expressway gateway works in conjunction with an enterprise Cisco CM system or Cisco Business Edition, or can be run through the cloud with Cisco Hosted Collaboration Solution to help make collaboration more pervasive. Key features of Expressway are are:
- Mobile and Off-site Connectivity: Remote workers who have any Jabber-supported desktop or handheld computer or telecommuters with Cisco TelePresence endpoints have the convenience of single-sign-on (SSO) plus TLS security and are able to access all their Jabber workloads (high-definition video, high-quality voice, rich content IM, and realtime presence) without requiring the extra step of starting a VPN connection. Also, teleworkers can use their Cisco TelePresence endpoints without a VPN, providing a user experience at home that is the same as the corporate office.
- Cisco Jabber Guest Support: Expressway is critical for enabling the Cisco Jabber Guest, which allows “guests” to communicate with your organization easily and securely via streamlined web-browser and mobile video calls.
- Cisco Cloud Connectivity: Expressway can act as a gateway that creates a path between on-premises Cisco or non-Cisco collaboration solutions and the WebEx cloud. By supporting Cisco Collaboration Meeting Rooms, Cisco Expressway offers a world-class, extensible conferencing experience that transparently combines high-quality voice, HD video, and data sharing to any client, anywhere, on any endpoint.
- Interoperability: In case your organization currently has third-party video products, Expressway can help you to move easily to Cisco technology when you choose. Cisco Expressway provides video compatibility with standards-based H.323, H.264 SVC, or SIP systems. Internetworking capabilities supported by Expressway include IPv4 to IPv6, H.323 to Session Initiation Protocol, and Microsoft Lync 2013 H.264 Scalable Video Coding (SVC) to AVC/H.264.
The Cisco Unified Border Element is a collaboration edge session border controller that interconnects unified communications networks to the public switched telephone network (PSTN). In addition to providing session border control, CUBE provides easy and cost-efficient collaboration beyond the corporate firewall. Important collaboration features enabled by CUBE include:
- WebEx Cloud Connected Audio for SIP-based audio conferencing
- Voice and Video recording
- SIP-based Call-center and IVR solutions
- Policy-led evaluation of voice calls
- B2B telepresence over SIP
Cisco's End-of-Life UC520, UC540 and UC560 VoIP Phone Systems
The legacy Cisco Unified Communications 500 Series is a VoIP and unified communications appliance and software package for small businesses. UC500 models deliver voice, data, voicemail, auto attendant, video, firewall, and WiFi functionality, work with older Cisco VoIP endpoints, and support public switched telephone network (PSTN) connections.
All of Cisco's UC500 series bundles include a compact switch with 8 Power-over-Ethernet (PoE) interfaces plus additional foreign exchange stations (FXS) and foreign exchange office (FXO) ports, a firewall, and VPN. Integrated WiFi is optional. VoIP user capacity can be increased by connecting with Cisco Catalyst Express switches. Each UC500 model also comes with licenses for Cisco Unified Communications Manager for VoIP call processing and Cisco Unity Express software for voice messaging and automated attendant. The Cisco UC520 package supports 8 to 16 VoIP users and include 4 foreign exchange stations and 4 FXO interfaces. The Cisco UC540 system allows 32 users and has 8 FXO ports. The Cisco UC560 system supports 48 VoIP clients and 12 FXO interfaces.
Progent's seasoned VoIP experts can assist you to support your legacy UC500 VoIP gateway or design and carry out a smooth upgrade to a modern VoIP system such as the Cisco cloud-managed Business Edition 4000.
How Progent Can Assist You with Cisco IP Voice and IP Media Phones, CUCM, and Video Conferencing
Progent offers online or onsite access to a Cisco Certified Internetwork Expert (CCIE) Collaboration expert to help your business to design, deploy, manage and repair unified communications networks based on Cisco Unified Communication technology in a centralized, distributed, or hybrid environment. Progent's Cisco-certified consultants have in-depth experience integrating Unified Communications Manager and Cisco CallManager, Voice over IP and video phones and other endpoints, UC applications such as Jabber and Unity Connection, Cisco's teleconferencing technologies, communication gatekeepers, utilities incorporated into Cisco Catalyst switches and routers. Progent can also offer expertise with related technologies like Cisco Survivable Remote Site Telephony, CUBE, SIP gateways, Call Admission Control, VoIP trunks, PSTN, and Cisco's architecture for voice, video and integrated data. Progent's SIP integration experts can also assist you to create SIP connectivity environments that incorporate SIP-based IP voice phones and video phones, SIP-based CUBE trunks, and SIP management tools with Cisco Unified Communications Manager.
Progent's custom application programmers can build specialized unified communications software that will help your business to integrate the capabilities of Cisco Unified Communications Manager into your company operations for increased productivity. Progent can evaluate your current network and Internet connectivity architecture to determine whether your system is optimized to accommodate business-quality Voice over IP and HD video, assist you to select and integrate Cisco products that make sense for your current situation and future growth objectives, and integrate your Cisco Unified Communications products with technology from other suppliers. Progent's CISSP-ISSAP certified data security and compliance consultants can show you how to develop, deploy, and validate an enterprise-wide security strategy for your unified communications ecosystem. In addition, Progent can help your organization to configure Cisco high-availability mechanisms like Cisco Unified SRST for cost-effective call control redundancy in branch office and telecommuter environments, and Progent's disaster recovery and business continuity planning consultants can help you create a sensible disaster recovery plan to protect your vital unified communications system.
Cisco Unified Communications Manager/CallManager Upgrade Services
Versions of Unified Communications Manager 8.6 earlier than 8.6 and every version of CallManager have reached end-of-life. Therefore Cisco will cease to develop, fix, or test the product software. Security updates for this business-critical application will end, which in some circumstances may cause regulatory compliance or even legal liability problems.
Progent continues to provide premier support for end-of-life versions of Cisco Unified Communications Manager and Cisco CallManager, but if your business is now running a legacy version of this critical application your organization should begin now to plan your migration. Progent's Cisco-certified consultants can help your company to upgrade non-disruptively to the latest version of Cisco Unified Communications Manager and can routinely save customers as much as 50% off consulting service costs versus competing computer service firms because of Progent's documented procedures and hands-on experience in this area. By following best practices, Progent can make sure your organization gets a fast payback on your investment by helping you take full advantage of the new and improved feature set, reduced administrative and maintenance costs, more productive collaboration, and tighter security provided by the latest edition of Cisco Unified CM.
Progent's migration consulting services include ROI assessment, project management, pilot testing and validation, Cloud connectivity, configuring collaboration endpoints from Cisco and other providers, smartphone and tablet connectivity, security and compliance services, management automation, disaster recovery/business continuity planning, network infrastructure design, staff and user training, and continuing consulting and troubleshooting. Progent also has put together fixed-priced upgrade service bundles to keep your costs predictable and affordable.
To find out additional details concerning Progent's consulting expertise for Cisco networking products, select a subject:
- Overview of Progent's Cisco Network Support
- Fast Online Access to a Cisco CCIE Engineer
- Cisco Firepower NGFW Series Firewalls: Integration and Troubleshooting Expertise
- Cisco ASA 5500-X Firewall with Cisco Firepower: Consulting and Troubleshooting Expertise
- ASA 5500 Firewalls Engineering Support
- Cisco PIX Series Firewall Upgrade. Migration Services
- Cisco Routers Engineering Expertise
- Cisco Wireless Consulting Expertise
- Cisco Aironet APs Design Help
- Cisco Small Business 100, 300 and 500 WiFi Access Points Engineering Support
- Cisco Catalyst 802.11ax Wi-Fi 6/6E Wireless APs Solution Design, Deployment and Debugging Expertise
- Cisco WiFi Controllers Integration Consulting
- Meraki Wireless Access Points Design Help
- Cisco Unified Communications Manager (CUCM or Unified CM) and CallManager Integration and Technical Support
- Cisco Jabber Consulting and Support Expertise
- Catalyst Switches Deployment Expertise
- Nexus Switches Support and Troubleshooting Expertise
- Cisco Meraki MS Switches Support and Troubleshooting Expertise
- Cisco VPN and Network Security Integration Assistance
- SIP and CUBE Infrastructure Solutions: SIP Trunks and CUBE Integration Consulting
- Cisco Duo MFA Two-factor Authentication (2FA) Services for Teleworkers
- Design and Support for Cisco-powered Data Centers
- Network Optimization Expertise for ISPs
- Centralized Cloud-based and Hybrid Management Solutions for Cisco-powered Infrastructure
An index of content::
Remote Office Support Services
Branch Location Network Consultants
Years of background delivering Microsoft support and Cisco technology consulting has allowed Progent to develop a unique ability for serving branch offices that require IT service with the flexibility associated with with small companies but which offers effective client interaction, complete documentation, and compliance with corporate IT protocols. If your enterprise has a sales office located anywhere in or any area covered by Progent's consultants, Progent can offer a broad range of onsite and on-line network consulting services and network architecture assistance.
Setup and Support Meraki Switch Deployment
Meraki Switches Support and Setup
Cisco's Meraki MS family of access and distribution switches are designed for sites that go from small branches to campuses. Progent's Cisco-certified CCIE consultants can provide cost-effective online expertise to assist you to plan and implement a productive network architecture based on Meraki MS switches, streamline network administration with Meraki's cloud-based management tools, configure policies to ensure security, develop and test a disaster preparedness strategy, and resolve issues related to any facet of your Meraki deployment. Progent can also assist your company to connect Meraki switches with Cisco's Nexus or Catalyst core switches and with Meraki wireless access points to create a cohesive networking solution.
Windows 2000 Server Computer Consultant
Microsoft Windows Server 2000 Upgrade
Progent's certified Windows Server 2000 consultants can provide network help and IT consulting services for the complete line of Microsoft .NET Servers, Windows 2000 Server, and Windows Server 2003. Progent's Windows 2000 Server configuration, optimization, and support services include network planning, deployment, documentation, on-site and off-site technical support, Call Center outsourcing, expert security consulting, turn-key outsourcing, and economical co-sourcing.
Online Troubleshooting Windows Server 2019 USB Drive Witness
Windows Server 2019 Cybersecurity Configuration
Progent's certified Windows Server 2019 consultants can help your organization to plan and carry out an efficient migration to Windows Server 2019 using your current deployment architecture or a new cloud-hosted or hybrid deployment model. Windows Server 2019 offers significant enhancements in capacity, speed, manageability, virtualization, security and compliance, hybrid local/cloud deployments, resilience, and container support.
Internet Security and Acceleration Server 2006 Setup and Support
Microsoft Professional ISA 2006 Firewall
Internet Security and Acceleration Server 2006 is a multi-functional edge gateway that provides a powerful application layer firewall, virtual private network, proxy, and Web caching solution for safeguarding the Internet-facing applications of any sized business against a wide range of attacks. Progent's Microsoft-certified Internet Security and Acceleration Server 2006 engineers can help you plan, rationalize, pilot, implement, customize and support the any edition of ISA Server on your information system.
IT Consulting SQL 2008
24/7 SQL Server 2008 Consultant
Microsoft SQL Server 2008 offers powerful, standardized tools to IT experts as well as to information workers, reducing the difficulty of designing, deploying, managing, and accessing company data and database applications in environments ranging from handheld devices to enterprise data networks. The sophistication and integration requirements of Microsoft SQL Server 2008 call for a network consulting firm with hands-on expertise and broad knowledge in planning and deploying data-driven, end-to-end business technology solutions. The knowledge and experience of Progent's Microsoft-certified engineering staff, with an average of more than 10 years of professional work involving Microsoft integration, assures you success in planning, configuring and managing Microsoft SQL Server 2008 solutions that are well integrated with the Microsoft .NET environment.
Supplemental Service Desk IT Services
Call Desk Sharing Onsite Technical Support
Progent's Co-managed Help Desk service allows your business to split responsibilities for Help Desk services transparently between your in-house IT staff and Progent's nationwide pool of seasoned technical support engineers and subject matter experts. Progent's Help Desk Co-management service is an advanced support solution based on ConnectWise Manage, the top shared PSA tool for handling end-user service requests, ticketing, ownership, progress tracking, and reporting.
ProSight DPS ECHO Cloud Backup Services Integration Services
ProSight ECHO Data Backup and Restore Services Professionals
ProSight Data Protection Services ECHO from Progent offer small and medium-sized businesses an affordable and fully managed solution for reliable backup/disaster recovery (BDR). For a fixed monthly price, ProSight Data Protection Services automates your backup activities and allows fast restoration of vital data, applications and virtual machines that have become lost or corrupted due to component breakdowns, software bugs, disasters, human error, or malware attacks like ransomware. ProSight DPS can help you back up, recover and restore files, folders, apps, system images, as well as Microsoft Hyper-V and VMware virtual machine images. Critical data can be protected on the cloud, to an on-promises storage device, or to both. Progent's BDR consultants can provide advanced expertise to configure ProSight Data Protection Services to to comply with regulatory requirements such as HIPAA, FIRPA, PCI and Safe Harbor and, whenever needed, can assist you to restore your business-critical data.
Support and Setup Database Programming
Database Consulting Services
Progent's Microsoft-certified database application consultants can provide businesses of any size remote DBA and programming services for popular database platforms including MS SQL Server, Oracle, MySQL, and Microsoft Office Access. Support services offered by Progent include software installation and configuration, database architecture and programming, administration support, synchronization strategies, capacity planning, performance optimization, migration, security and compliance, backup/restore systems, problem solving, and training.
Cisco Firepower 2000 Series Firewalls Remote Troubleshooting
Remote Consulting Cisco Firesight Management
The latest generation of ASA 5500-X Series Next-Generation Firewalls with Firepower Services deliver substantially more value than Cisco's previous firewalls and have replaced the ASA 5500 and PIX 500 firewalls for new deployments. Progent's Cisco-certified CCIE network experts can assist your company to manage your legacy PIX or ASA 5500 firewalls or migrate efficiently to Cisco ASA 5500-X firewalls with Firepower Services. Progent can also assist your business to plan, deploy, tune, administer and debug firewall solutions built on Cisco ASA firewalls with Firepower Services.
Sales Office Consultant Services
Sales Office Support and Help
Years of experience delivering Microsoft support and Cisco technology consulting has enabled Progent to develop an unmatched capability for supporting branch offices that require network service with the responsiveness associated with with small companies but which offers effective communications, complete documentation, and adherence to enterprise IT protocols. If your corporation maintains a sales office situated anywhere in California or any region covered by Progent's engineers, Progent can provide a wide array of onsite and remote network support services and network architecture assistance.
Live Online Windows 10 Instruction
Online Office 365 Word Training Network Security Consultant
Progent's webinar training classes provide small companies the affordability, ease, and flexibility of online seminars and the effective training methods of experienced instructors who utilize advanced technology to reproduce real-time, participatory learning environments. Progent offers webinar education for key desktop applications including components of Microsoft Office such as Office Excel, Word, Access, and Outlook: Microsoft Dynamics accounting and management reporting solutions including MS Dynamics GP (Great Plains); plus other popular desktop applications like Adobe Photoshop, Acrobat Writer, and Crystal Reports.
Postini Technical Support
Small Business Subscription Anti-Spam
E-Mail Guard represents a comprehensive solution for defending against spam and viruses. E-Mail Guard addresses the security and administration of corporate email by providing continually updated spam and virus blocking, policy management, content filtering, and defense against email-based directory harvesting and DDoS attacks. E-Mail Guard also features tracking, management and analysis utilities as well as outbound email testing to help you repair your e-mail system and define and regulate corporate security policy.
Accounting System Programming Firm
Customer Relationship Management Consulting
Progent's team of application experts can provide advanced support, software development, deployment help, and webinar classes for popular applications that address vital areas including ERP, general accounting, business reporting, web application development, and the Microsoft Office suite of business productivity software. As a Microsoft Partner with decades of experience delivering advanced consulting and troubleshooting services online, Progent can help small businesses anywhere in the United States to eliminate the lost productivity and expense associated with travel and on-premises activity without sacrificing the high quality of technical services.
Firewall patch management Specialists
IoT sensors patch management Consult
Progent's support services for patch management offer businesses of all sizes a flexible and cost-effective solution for assessing, validating, scheduling, implementing, and tracking updates to your servers, endpoint devices printers, infrastructure appliances such as routers and Wi-Fi access points, and Internet-of-Things devices like alarms and health monitors.
Top Quality IT Consultants wireless IP phones and CUCM
Cisco Certified Expert 5500 Wireless Controller Technology Consulting
Progent's Cisco-certified Wi-Fi technology experts can help you to deploy, manage, and debug Cisco wireless devices including Cisco's Aironet and Meraki 802.11ac Wi-Fi access points plus Cisco's Wireless Network Controllers.
Consultancy Virtual Server
Mission Critical IT Applications Technology Consulting
Server growth wreaks havoc on IT budgets and management resources. Server reduction through a virtual architecture promises lower TCO of servers and faster ROI, more efficient utilization of servers, simplified operations, increased system uptime, and easier manageability. Typical uses for virtual machines are hardware consolidation, economical hosts for line-of-business legacy applications based on obsolete operating systems, and inexpensive isolation of software development or pilot testing environments from on-line systems.
