Cisco Certified Network Consultants

Sending real-time voice and video over IP (VoIP and Video over IP) has progressed from simply being being a smart means to reduce phone carrier bills to being a required technology for collaboration and productivity. Converged communications, once restricted to integrating Internet-based voice and faxes on a single platform to take the place of expensive PBX systems, now incorporates voice and video, mobility, chat, real-time presence, collaboration services, and more in a centralized environment that is manageable, scalable, highly secure, resilient, cost-effective, and user friendly.

Cisco is the global leader in providing solutions for supporting the current paradigm of unified communications (UC). Cisco's UC architecture adds to the productivity of IT systems by slashing operating costs; integrating rich media functions with familiar software programs to increase worker output; supporting collaboration among workers, associates, and suppliers to save effort and improve business results; and simplifying the management of your communications ecosystem.

Cisco's UC technology address these primary product categories:,

• Call Control Agents for managing rich media calls and sessions
• Communications Phones and Softphones to optimize end-user productivity
• UC Software Applications for more productive access to presence, IM, voice and video, voice messages, white boarding, and voice/video conferencing
• Communications Gateways for interfacing with public networks and telecommuters

Call and Session Processing Software - Unified Communications Manager (CallManager)
The call-processing agent is the centerpiece of the Cisco IP telephony infrastructure and provides the flexibility to deploy a central call-processing model, a decentralized model, or a mix of the two. In a centralized approach, Unified Communications Manager (UC Manager or CUCM) extends enterprise telephony features to packet telephony products such as IP handsets, media management devices, VoIP gateways, and multimedia applications throughout the IT environment. Unified Communications Manager supports extra mixed media services including unified messaging, multimedia conferencing, and group-based client interaction networks.

The latest release of Unified Communications Manager, previously named CallManager, includes a wealth of enhancements that expedite ROI by lowering management and support expenses, increasing user productivity, facilitating collaboration, supporting the bring-your-own-device model of working, strengthening data protection, and making efficient use of network infrastructure. Top new features include Global Dial Plan Replication (GDPR), streamlined certificate management, expanded support for standards-based single sign-on (SSO) for administrators and end users, device-independent call recording, mobile connectivity without requiring VPN tunneling, a new self-care utility that makes it simple for end users to select their preferences for all of their devices, and support for Secure Real-Time Transport Protocol for mobile users.

In cases where you implement a central Cisco Unified Communications Manager cluster to manage call processing for users at distributed locations, IT managers can help ensure continuous phone availability through Cisco SRST, a Cisco IOS Software image for Cisco routers. If a Wide Area Network link fails, Cisco SRST in the router provides basic Unified Communications Manager capabilities until the link is returned. For a description of Progent's consulting support services for Cisco ISR routers, refer to consulting and troubleshooting support for Cisco Integrated Services routers.

For small business networks, branch offices, and retail deployments that do not require the full functionality available from Unified CM, Cisco Unified Communications Manager Express, formerly named CallManager Express offers an economical PBX alternative that meets the requirements of sites with as many as 450 workers. Because Unified Communications Manager Express Unified Communications Manager Express (Unified CCX) is built into the Cisco IOS Software operating on a Cisco ISR router, smaller offices can quickly set up a converged voice/data solution.

Cisco's BE6000 is a family of end-to-end solutions that offer essential collaboration features including routing, IP gateway, premium voice and video, messaging, chat and presence, conferencing, and paging services, allowing any user to connect on any device from anywhere. All solutions come preinstalled with virtualization and Unified Communications applications, making deployment fast and simple and cutting operating expenses for organizations with as many as 1000 workers. All solutions come packaged preconfigured with a virtualization hypervisor and UC applications software. You can instantly activate collaboration applications whenever their needs dictate.

The office-in-a-box Business Edition 6000S supports five standard unified communications applications installed on a single combination ISR router/IP gateway/virtualized E1600 M2 blade server platform and supports as many as 150 users and 300 endpoint devices. The mid-market BE6000M supports 4 unified communications application options activated on a single virtualized Cisco UCS C220 M4 server platform and can handle up to 1000 users, 1200 endpoint devices, and 100 contact center agents. The top-of-the-line Business Edition 6000H includes eight collaboration application options activated on a single virtualized Cisco UCS C220 M4 server platform and supports as many as 1000 workers, 2500 endpoint devices, and 100 contact center agents.

For more details about Progent's expertise with Unified Communications Manager, visit Cisco Unified Communications Manager and CallManager planning, integration, migration and troubleshooting.

IP Phones: IP Voice and IP Video Endpoints
An IP communications endpoint is an end-user device, either a hardware phone or a soft phone program that runs on a PC or handheld computer. In the IP world, each IP handset or soft phone is Ethernet connected. VoIP phones offer all of the functions that a conventional telephone provides, but Voice over IP phones can also offer extra functions including the ability to connect to websites or run productivity-enhancing software.

In contrast to ordinary Private Branch Exchange technology, in a Cisco IP communications environment you can perform virtually instant relocations, additions, and modifications. All you do is move the VoIP handset to its new location, attach it to the Ethernet jack, and the phone announces itself with Cisco Unified Communications Manager. All client permissions and settings are automatically replicated, eliminating the cost and delay of dispatching support personnel to rewire connections. An additional helpful feature is extension mobility, which allows you to sign into any Cisco VoIP phone and get your personal phone extension and rights.

Cisco provides a wide selection of VoIP phones. The entry-level SPA 300 family are basic IP and Digital Enhanced Cordless Telecommunications (DECT) devices offering wide-band voice, compatibility with hosted IP phone systems or an IP private branch exchange (PBX), easy deployment and secure remote provisioning, transparent software updates, and browser-based configuration. The value-priced SPA301 is a one-line IP phone with no screen or speakerphone function, a base dialer with one Ethernet connector, and a wired handset with no keys. The SPA302D, intended solely for operation with the Cisco SPA232D Multi-Line DECT Analog Telephone Adapter, is a multiline wireless Digital Enhanced Cordless Telecommunications IP phone that supports 10-lines, a TFT 176 x 220 pixel color screen, and a dial pad with speakerphone capability. The SPA303 is an entry-level three-line SIP-based phone with two Ethernet ports, a 128x64 mono display and a speaker.

Cisco's SPA500 family VoIP phones are low-cost devices that support SIP and SPCP signaling protocols, two Ethernet switch ports, speakerphones, built-in web servers, Power over Ethernet (PoE), and voice conferencing support. Most versions have a 128 x 64 mono screen display, The SPA501G has eight lines and has eight programmable buttons but no hi-res screen. The SPA502G VoIP phone supports a single line and has no soft keys. The SPA504G VoIP phone supports four lines and has four programmable buttons. The SPA508G VoIP phone supports eight lines and eight programmable keys. The SPA509G supports 12 lines and features 12 soft buttons. The SPA512G IP Phone supports four lines, no soft buttons and supports 10/100/1000 Ethernet. The SPA514G IP Phone supports four lines, has programmable keys, and supports Gigabit Ethernet. The high-end SPA525G2 IP Phone has a 320 x 240 pixel color display, supports five lines, and features five soft buttons.

Cisco's Unified IP Phones 3900 Series and IP Phones 6900 Series are specialty IP voice endpoints intended for infrequent-use environments like lobbies, hallways, and conference centers. Cisco's Unified SIP Phone 3905 IP Phone features a 128 x 32 monochrome screen, an integrated 10/100 Ethernet switch, a speakerphone, and Power over Ethernet. The bare-bones Cisco Unified IP Phone 6901 is a one-line device without a display and requires a hook switch for transferring a call or conferencing.

Cisco's 7800 line of value-priced IP phones are VoIP desktop devices with backlit monochrome screens, four soft buttons, 11 fixed-feature keys, an integral Ethernet port with Class 1 Power over Ethernet, and a speakerphone. Cisco's 7800 Series support only the SIP signaling protocol. All models in Cisco's 7800 family incorporate 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 higher end 7800 models, cuts off-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 occasional-to-light call needs. The IP 7811 VoIP phone comes with a 3.28-inch 384 x 106 screen plus a narrow-band speakerphone. Wideband audio is offered through an optional handset. Cisco's IP Phone 7821 is a two-line VoIP endpoint with a 396 x 162 screen. The IP Phone 7841 is a four-line VoIP phone with a 396 x 162 display and is the only unit in the 7800 line that provides Gigabit Ethernet. The high-end IP Phone 7861 is a 16-line device intended for administrative staff, call center agents, and managers who have heavy voice communications needs.

Cisco Unified IP Phone 7900 Series are dual-protocol (SIP/SCCP) media devices with a 320 x 240 color screen, a Gigabit Ethernet switch, Class 3 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 includes four lines. Both IP phones include a 5-inch display 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 programmable keys.

Cisco's IP Phone 8800 Series is a family of SIP-only IP phones that includes desktop devices, a conference IP phone, and wireless IP Phones. The desktop units are five-line IP phones featuring a 5-inch 800 x 480 display, a Gigabit Ethernet switch, a speakerphone, four programmable buttons and 12 fixed-feature keys. Cisco's IP Phone 8811 includes a backlit mono screen and supports Class 2 Power over Ethernet. Cisco's IP Phone 8841 features a WVGA color display and supports Class 2 Power over Ethernet. Cisco's IP Phone 8845 features 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 has 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. Cisco's IP Phone 8861 has a WVGA color screen, Bluetooth, two USB ports with charging capability, and supports Cisco Intelligent Proximity for Mobile Voice, 802.11ac Wi-Fi, and Class 4 Power over Ethernet. The Cisco IP Phone 8865 has a WVGA color screen, 720p HD video, an adjustable camera, Bluetooth, dual USB ports with charging capability, and supports Cisco Intelligent Proximity for Mobile Voice, Wi-Fi, and Class 4 PoE.

Cisco's wireless IP phones are hardened wireless devices intended for professionals who are on the move within office, warehouse, retail or other environments where management wants portable phones that offer more control, data security and durability than is possible with the BYOD mode of mobile communications. Cisco's 8821 and 8812-EX wireless IP phones provide mobile onsite workers the advantages of voice over wireless LAN communications in environments that support 802.11x Wi-Fi. Cisco's 8821 Wireless VoIP Phone features a hi-res color screen, a durable shell rated Mil-SPEC 810G for shock resistance and compliant with IP67 for dust and moisture resistance, extended batteries, a built-in full-duplex speakerphone, and an integrated Bluetooth 4.0 radio to support cordless headsets. Cisco's 8821-EX Wireless IP Phone adds protection against sparking for hazardous environments. Cisco's 8821-EX also has a shell made of yellow plastics, which makes the 8821-EX easy to locate in an emergency. Find out about Progent's Wireless IP Phone integration consulting.

Cisco's discontinued 9900 family of powerful VoIP phones combine high-definition voice with hi-res color video to deliver a productive multimedia unified communications solution for knowledge professionals and executive management. Both models in the 9900 family incorporate an SD 640x480 pixel color screen, a Bluetooth 2.0 transceiver to work with a wide range of headsets, and an integrated 1 GE Ethernet switch. Cisco's EnergyWise power-save function is optional and can reduce off-hour power draw by as much as 90 percent. The IP Phone 9951 features a 5-inch display and allows up to 2 Cisco IP Color Key Expansion Modules for expanding programmable line and function keys. The IP Phone 9971 features a 5.6-inch screen, an integrated 802.11a/b/g Wi-Fi radio for deployment with wireless networks, and 4 customizable touchscreen keys to invoke Cisco UC features. The 9971 IP phone supports up to 3 IP Expansion Modules for adding scalability to customizable line and feature keys.

Unified Communications Applications
Under Cisco's Unified Communications architecture, IP telephony, video, and other UC applications are independent from the call/voice processing infrastructure, and they may be anywhere within the system. A single network framework provides a versatile platform for powerful business applications and acts as a solid foundation for downstream convergence-based applications. Cisco cooperates with third-party technology vendors to offer a wide range of IP telephony and video applications and products. Cisco also enables the ability to develop and administer customized in-house applications.

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

Cisco Jabber
Jabber is a UC application that supports presence, IM, business-quality voice, video, voicemail, screen sharing, and online conferencing functions for Windows PCs, Apple Macs, iPads and Android tablets plus iPhones, Android phones, and Blackberries. Jabber is an evolution and combination of the Cisco Unified Personal Communicator soft phone application, Cisco Mobile, and Cisco WebEx Connect, with major enhancements in the areas of video features and screen sharing, and extending the team experience to additional operating systems and endpoint hardware. Cisco Jabber operates with Cisco Unified CM for call control, Cisco Unified Presence for IM and presence, Unity Connection for voice messaging and automated attendant, and Cisco WebEx Meeting for online meetings.

Because Cisco Jabber is built around key industry protocols, it can communicate with a broad selection of non-Cisco products. As an example, XMPP allows Cisco Jabber to exchange instant messaging and presence information with various XMPP clients such as Adium for Mac, Sametime, and Microsoft Lync and Office Communications Server. Jabber collaboration features can be accessed from Microsoft Office applications such as Outlook and Microsoft SharePoint. This cross-platform compatibility maximizes productivity by providing a common user experience and accommodating the bring-your-own-device paradigm of computing. Progent offers the assistance of certified Exchange consultants and Microsoft SharePoint experts who can help you to use Jabber with Microsoft's powerful collaboration platforms. Progent also offers expertise with Apple iPhone integration as well as Android phone integration to help you to enhance the productivity of your BYOD environment.

WebEX Meeting Center
WebEX Meeting Center enables online conferencing for users with a browser or virtually any PC or handheld device. Cisco WebEx Meeting Center is offered as software as a service (SaaS) through the Cisco WebEx Cloud. This makes it simple to deploy and scale, streamlines administration, avoids high initial expenditures, offers maximum uptime and enterprise-grade security, and delivers excellent performance. Important features include support for sharing specific content or an entire screen display with online participants in real time, the ability to embed rich media into your presentations including PowerPoint and Flash animations, recording plus playback for training and demonstrations, single sign-on (SSO) and support for Cisco collaboration applications such as Cisco Jabber and Cisco TelePresence, plus stringent data protection and encrypted connections with tight policy control.

WebEX Meeting Center runs on Microsoft Windows, Apple Mac, and Linux-powered desktops and notebooks and allows mobile users to initiate, calendarize, and attend meetings on Android smartphones and tablets, Apple iPhones and iPads, BlackBerry handhelds, and Windows Phone. You can also initiate web meetings instantly from Microsoft Office, Outlook, Notes, and a variety of instant messaging solutions.

Cisco TelePresence Portfolio for On-premises Teleconferencing Infrastructure
For medium-size businesses and larger enterprises who wish to create an on-premises or hybrid local/cloud environment for video conferencing, Cisco provides a selection of Cisco TelePresence platforms that enable high-quality and standards-based video conferencing for participants with virtually any IP endpoint at any location. Cisco TelePresence Server is a scalable teleconferencing bridge that works with Cisco Unified CM to bring multiparty telepresence to converged environments and can expand conferences to include cloud-based Cisco WebEx Meeting Center users. Cisco TelePresence Conductor software streamlines management of how teleconferencing bandwidth and features are allotted for each participant, allowing administrators to specify the exact service level and experience needed for each user. Cisco TelePresence Content Server captures video conference presentations for live streaming as well as on-demand playback.

Cisco's Unity Connection Platform and Unity Express for Unified Voicemail and Automated Attendant
The Cisco Unity Connection, an integrated extension of Cisco Unified Communications Manager, is a unified voice messaging system that accelerates teamwork by offering a variety of alternatives for retrieving calls and messages within a framework that is easy to implement and administer. Cisco Unity Connection allows you to access and manage voice messages from your Exchange inbox, web browser, Jabber, a Cisco Unified IP Phone, an iPhone or other smartphone, or a tablet. Unity Connection also offers advanced speech-recognition features for hands and eyes free operation and extensive Automated Attendant functions that include smart routing for incoming phone calls and easily customizable call-screening and message-notification options. The Cisco Unity Connection system runs as a virtual machine that can be hosted on a Business Edition 6000 server or a Cisco Services Ready Engine 910 router blade service module and can support as many as 20,000 voice mailboxes per server.

Cisco Unity Express (CUE), available in certain Cisco Integrated Services routers, offers cost-effective voicemail, integrated messaging, IVR, and automated-attendant services for small to medium businesses and enterprise satellite offices with up to 500 users. Cisco Unity Express permits users to access and manage voicemail messages using a Cisco IP Phone display, a browser, or your email system. Cisco routers for which Unity Express is available as a network module or advanced integration module include Cisco's 2800, 2900, 3800, and 3900 families. Progent offers certified configuration and troubleshooting services for all Cisco routers.

Unified Contact Center
Unified Contact Center Enterprise (Unified CCE) works with Unified Communications Manager and agent desktop apps such as Cisco Finesse to provide automatic call distribution (ACD) capabilities that allow an organization to connect customers with the proper sales or support person. UCCE offers intelligent call distribution, computer telephony integration, multiple channel contact management, network call queuing, interactive voice response (IVR) and consolidated enterprise-wide reporting to streamline the deployment and management of a large-scale contact center. Cisco platforms supporting UCCE's client interaction management solution include Unified IP Phones, Voice, and Cisco network infrastructure.

Cisco Unified Contact Center Express (Unified CCX) provides a packaged solution for creating a customer interaction management center for branch or midmarket deployments that support up to 400 agents. Several packages are available, as well as a variety of special options. Unified Contact Center Express integrates with Cisco CUCM and provides smart call routing, client management, reporting, IVR, and management of voice, email, chat, and social media requests. Unified CCX comes with Cisco Finesse, a web-based customizable desktop agent that needs no client software setup. Optional enhancements include conditional routing, estimated-wait-time messages, and quality management.

Cisco Mobile Connect for Single Number Reach
Mobile Connect, commonly known as Single Number Reach (SNR), allows users to be called via one phone number that rings simultaneously on their desktop VoIP Phone and their smartphone. Users can switch live conversations between their desktop IP phone and their mobile phone seamlessly. Unanswered calls can be transferred to a Unity or Unity Connection account. Users can create personal access lists that determine which calls get directed to alternate phones.

Cisco Prime Collaboration
Prime Collaboration Provisioning provides an automated platform for first-time installs and for follow-on moves, adds, changes, and deletions. An intuitive console delivers a single view of a subscriber and the user's services. Prime Collaboration substantially accelerates company-wide installations and minimizes the time required to implement ongoing changes. Prime Collaboration in addition offers management analytics that show application adoption and usage trends, enabling administrators to make more efficient use of resources and further lower total cost of ownership.

Cisco Collaboration Gateways
Cisco's communications gateways permit Cisco converged communications networks to communicate with other systems and with users working beyond the corporate firewall. Cisco's portfolio of gateways deliver unified communications services for a broad range of gateway as well as session-border-control deployments.

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

Cisco Expressway Converged Communication Gateway
Cisco's Expressway is an advanced collaboration gatekeeper that allows organizations to allow team members, suppliers, consumers, or partners who are working on various outside network environments, collaboration platforms, or endpoint equipment to access to Unified Communication functions. The Expressway collaboration gateway works in conjunction with a Cisco CM system or Cisco Business Edition 6000, or can be run through the cloud with Cisco HCS to make productive collaboration more pervasive. Important capabilities of Expressway are include:

• Mobile and Off-site Access: Off-site workers with any Jabber-compatible device or teleworkers with Cisco TelePresence endpoints have the benefit of single-sign-on plus Transport Layer Security (TLS) and are able to access all their collaboration applications (high-definition video, voice, rich content instant messaging, and realtime presence) without requiring the inconvenience starting a VPN connection. In addition, telecommuters have the ability to utilize their Cisco TelePresence endpoints without the need for a VPN, providing a user environment at home that is the same as the office.
• Jabber Guest Support: Expressway is critical for supporting Cisco's Jabber Guest, which allows “guests” to communicate with your business easily and safely via streamlined web-browser and mobile multimedia phone calls.
• Cisco Cloud Access: Expressway can act as a gateway that creates a path between on-premises Cisco or third-party collaboration solutions and the WebEx cloud. By supporting Cisco Collaboration Meeting Rooms, Cisco Expressway deliver an advanced, extensible conferencing experience that seamlessly combines high-quality voice, video, and data sharing to anyone, anywhere, using any device.
• Interoperability: If your organization already has non-Cisco video products, Expressway can assist you to move efficiently to Cisco products whenever you choose. Cisco Expressway offers video interoperability with standards-based H.323, H.264 Scalable Video Coding (SVC), or Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) environments. Interoperability capabilities supported by Expressway include IPv4 to IPv6, H.323 to SIP, and Microsoft Lync 2013 H.264 Scalable Video Coding (SVC) to MPEG-4/H.264 AVC.

• Cisco WebEx Cloud Connected Audio (CCA) for high-capacity SIP-based conferencing
• Voice and Video recording
• SIP-based Call-center and interactive-voice-response solutions
• Policy-led security evaluation of voice calls
• Business-to-business teleconferencing over SIP

Cisco's Legacy UC520, UC540 and UC560 VoIP Phone Systems
The legacy Cisco Unified Communications 500 (UC500) Series is an early VoIP gateway appliance and software package for small businesses. UC500 models deliver voice, data, voicemail, auto attendant, IP video, security, and wireless functionality, work with older generation Cisco VoIP phones, and support various public switched telephone network (PSTN) connections.

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

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

How Progent Can Help You with Cisco VoIP and IP Media Phones, Cisco Unified CM, and Telepresence
Progent offers remote or onsite help from a Cisco Certified Internetwork Expert (CCIE) Collaboration expert to assist your business to plan, install, administer and troubleshoot converged communications environments that incorporate Cisco Unified Communication products in a centralized, cloud-based, or hybrid environment. Progent's Cisco-certified engineers have in-depth experience integrating Cisco Unified Communications Manager and Cisco CallManager, Voice over IP and video phones and soft phones, Unified Communications applications such as Cisco Jabber and WebEx Meeting Center, Cisco's video conferencing products, communication gatekeepers, tools incorporated into Cisco switches and routers. Progent can also offer expertise with related technologies like Cisco SRST, CUBE, H.323 and H.264 gateways, Call Admission Control, IP voice trunks, various signaling protocols, and Cisco's AVVID architecture. Progent's SIP integration consultants can in addition assist you to create SIP connectivity environments that include SIP VoIP phones and video phones, SIP-based CUBE trunks, SIP conferencing and SIP management tools via Cisco Unified Communications Manager.

Progent's application developers can create specialized unified communications applications that will help your business to incorporate the features of Cisco Unified Communications Manager into your business operations for increased productivity. Progent can audit your current network and Internet connectivity architecture to determine whether your system is optimized to accommodate high-quality IP voice and HD video, assist you to choose and install Cisco hardware and software that make sense for your current needs and future growth objectives, and integrate your Cisco collaborative communications solution with products from other vendors. Progent's CISSP-ISSAP certified network security and compliance consultants can show you how to create, carry out, and test a comprehensive security strategy for your unified communications solution. In addition, Progent can help you to deploy Cisco high-availability mechanisms such as Cisco Unified Survivable Remote Site Telephony to provide affordable call control redundancy in branch office and home-office environments, and Progent's disaster recovery preparedness experts can help you develop a sensible disaster recovery strategy to protect your vital unified communications system.

Unified Communications Manager/CallManager Upgrade Consulting
Releases of Cisco Unified Communications Manager 8.6 lower than 8.6 and all versions of its predecessor CallManager have reached end-of-life. Therefore Cisco will cease to enhance, repair, or validate the product software. Security patches for this pivotal application will end, which in certain situations could create regulatory compliance or potential liability problems.

Progent continues to provide premier support for outdated editions of Unified CM and Cisco CallManager, but if you are still running a legacy release of this pivotal application your organization should start immediately to plan your migration. Progent's collaboration consulting professionals can assist you to migrate efficiently to the current edition of Cisco Unified CM and can often save clients as much as 50% off consulting fees versus most IT service companies thanks to Progent's documented procedures and experience in this area. By following best practices, Progent can ensure that your organization sees a quick return on your IT investment by showing you how to benefit fully from the new and improved features, reduced management and maintenance costs, more engaging collaboration, and tighter security offered by the latest release of Unified Communications Manager.

Progent's migration services include ROI assessment, project management, pilot testing, Cloud connectivity, configuring collaboration endpoints from Cisco and third-party providers, smartphone and tablet integration, security and compliance services, streamlined management, disaster recovery/business continuity planning, network architecture design, training for IT staff and end users, and continuing consulting and troubleshooting. Progent also has put together ultra-affordable upgrade packages to make sure your costs are predictable and affordable.

To learn more details concerning Progent's professional support for Cisco technology, choose a subject:

• Overview of Progent's Cisco Support
• Timely Online Access to a Cisco CCIE Consultant
• Cisco Firepower Firewalls: Integration and Troubleshooting Services
• Cisco ASA 5500-X Series Firewall with Firepower Services: Configuration and Management Services
• Cisco ASA 5500 Series Firewall Troubleshooting Help
• PIX 500 Firewall Engineering Assistance
• Cisco Routers Engineering Expertise
• Cisco Wireless Deployment Support
• Aironet APs Engineering Help
• Cisco Small Business WiFi APs Consulting Expertise
• Cisco WiFi Controllers Consulting
• Meraki Access Points Deployment Services
• Cisco Unified Communications Manager (CUCM or Unified CM) and CallManager Configuration and Technical Support
• Cisco Jabber Migration and Support Expertise
• Cisco Catalyst Switches Configuration and Maintenance Expertise
• Cisco Nexus Switches Configuration and Maintenance Expertise
• Meraki Switches Deployment Services
• Cisco VPN Integration Help
• SIP and CUBE Integration Solutions: SIP Trunks and CUBE Integration Consulting
• Infrastructure Design for Cisco-based Data Centers
• Infrastructure Optimization Consulting for Service Providers
• Streamlined Network Management Strategies for Cisco Environments