Cisco Certified Network Consulting

Sending real-time voice and video over IP (VoIP and Video over IP) has advanced from simply being being a smart method to cut phone carrier bills to a required technology for collaboration and productivity. Converged IP communications, at one time restricted to combining Internet-based voice calls and faxing on a single platform to replace traditional PBX systems, today incorporates voice and video, mobile communications, chat, presence, services, and more all within a centralized ecosystem that is manageable, scalable, highly secure, resilient, cost-effective, and intuitive.

Cisco is the market leader in supplying solutions required to support the new model of unified communications (UC). Cisco's UC architecture enhances the efficiency of information systems by cutting operating costs; combining multiple collaboration features with popular software applications to increase worker output; supporting teamwork among employees, associates, and suppliers to save time and improve business outcomes; and simplifying the administration of your converged voice and data infrastructure.

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

• Call Control Agents for controlling calls and sessions
• IP Phones and Softphones to optimize end-user engagement
• Unified Communications Applications for simplified access to real-time, IM, voice and video, voice messages, desktop sharing, and conferencing
• IP Gateways for interfacing with public networks and teleworkers

Call Processing Software - Unified Communications Manager/CallManager
The call-processing agent is the centerpiece of the Cisco IP telephony portfolio infrastructure and gives you the flexibility to implement a central call-processing design, a decentralized design, or a mix of the two. In a centralized deployment, Unified Communications Manager (UC Manager or CUCM) expands enterprise phone features to packet devices such as VoIP handsets, media management devices, Voice over IP gateways, and mixed media applications across the IT environment. Unified Communications Manager enables extra multimedia services including unified messaging, video conferencing, and collaborative client communication networks.

The most recent release of Unified CM, formerly branded CallManager, offers a wealth of enhancements that speed up your return on investment by lowering management and support costs, increasing user output, enhancing collaboration, supporting the bring-your-own-device (BYOD) style of working, strengthening security, and allowing efficient use of network resources. Top innovations include automatic dial-plan replication, simplified certificate management, expanded support for single sign-on (SSO) for managers and users, hardware-independent call recording, mobile connectivity without the need for VPN, a revamped self-provisioning interface that makes it simple for end users to manage their options and preferences for all of their devices, and support for Transport Layer Security for mobile users.

In cases where you deploy a central Unified Communications Manager cluster to control voice processing for customers at remote locations, administrators can help ensure non-stop phone operation through Cisco SRST, an IOS Software image for Cisco routers. If a Wide Area Network connection fails, Cisco SRST incorporated in the router provides core Cisco Unified Communications Manager capabilities until the link is repaired. For a description of Progent's consulting support services for Cisco routers, see consulting and troubleshooting services for Cisco Integrated Services routers.

For small business networks, branch locations, and retail deployments that do not require the complete feature set offered by Unified CM, Cisco Unified Communications Manager Express, formerly known as CallManager Express offers a budget-friendly PBX alternative that handles the requirements of locations with up to 450 workers. Since Cisco Unified Communications Manager Express Unified Communications Manager Express (Unified CCX) is embedded in the Cisco IOS Software running on a Cisco router, smaller organizations can quickly implement a converged voice/data solution.

The Cisco BE6000 is a family of end-to-end solutions that provide fundamental collaboration features such as routing, gateway, high definition voice and video, messaging, IM and presence, teleconferencing, and paging support, allowing any end user to connect on any endpoint device from any site. All Business Edition 6000 solutions come preconfigured with a virtualization hypervisor and collaboration applications, making implementation fast and simple and reducing cost of ownership for organizations with up to 1000 workers. All BE6000 solutions are shipped preconfigured with a virtualization hypervisor and Unified Communications applications. You can simply activate Unified Communications applications when their requirements dictate.

The office-in-a-box BE6000S supports five preselected UC software applications installed on one combination ISR router/gateway/virtualized blade server platform and supports a maximum capacity of 150 users and 300 endpoint devices. The mid-market BE6000M supports four UC software application options activated on a single virtualized C220 M4 server platform and can handle up to 1000 users, 1200 devices, and 100 contact center agents. The top-of-the-line Business Edition 6000H includes eight unified communications application options enabled on a single virtualized C220 M4 server and has the ability to support up to 1000 workers, 2500 devices, and 100 contact center agents.

For additional information about Progent's expertise with Unified Communications Manager, see Cisco Unified Communications Manager (CUCM or Unified CM) and CallManager planning, integration, migration and troubleshooting.

Cisco IP Phones: IP Voice and IP Video Endpoints
A communications endpoint is a user device, and can be a physical phone or a software phone application that runs on a PC or handheld computer. In the Internet Protocol environment, every IP endpoint is Ethernet connected. Voice over IP phones offer all of the capabilities that an analog phone handset provides, but VoIP phones often offer additional features including being able to access websites or host productivity-enhancing applications.

In contrast to conventional PBX systems, in a Cisco IP phone environment you can perform almost instant relocations, adds, and changes. You simply take the IP handset to your new spot, plug it into an Ethernet connection, and the device announces itself with Cisco Unified Communications Manager. All user rights and configurations are automatically replicated, eliminating the expense and delay of sending technicians to rewire connections. An additional efficient capability is extension mobility, which enables you to sign into any Cisco IP phone and get your own phone ID and privileges.

Cisco offers a broad range of Unified CM phones. Cisco's entry-level SPA 300 Series are basic IP and Digital Enhanced Cordless Telecommunications phones that feature high-quality voice, support for hosted IP telephony systems or an IP private branch exchange (PBX), easy deployment and highly secure online installation, transparent software updates, and browser-based configuration. The value-priced SPA301 is a single-line IP phone with no display or speakerphone function, a base dialer with one Ethernet port, and a wired handset without a keypad. The SPA302D, intended exclusively for use with Cisco's SPA232D DECT ATA (Analog Telephone Adapter), is a multiple-line cordless Digital Enhanced Cordless Telecommunications handset that supports 10-lines, a 176 x 220 pixel color display, and a dial pad with a speakerphone. Cisco's SPA303 is an entry-level three-line IP phone with dual switched ports, a 128x64 monochrome screen and a speakerphone.

Cisco's SPA500 family IP phones are low-cost endpoints with support for both SIP and SPCP signaling protocols, two 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 buttons but no LCD display. The SPA502G VoIP phone supports a single line and has no soft buttons. The SPA504G IP Phone supports four lines and has four programmable keys. The SPA508G IP Phone supports eight lines and eight programmable buttons. The SPA509G supports 12 lines and has 12 soft keys. The SPA512G has four lines, no programmable keys and supports Gigabit Ethernet. The SPA514G VoIP phone supports four lines, has soft buttons, and supports 1xGb Ethernet. The high-end SPA525G2 VoIP phone has a 320 x 240 pixel color screen, supports five lines, and has five soft buttons.

Cisco's Unified IP Phones 3900 Series and 6900 Series are specialty IP voice devices intended for infrequent-use settings like cafeterias, hallways, and conference centers. The Unified SIP Phone 3905 IP Phone features a 128 x 32 monochrome screen, an integrated Ethernet switch, a speakerphone, and PoE. The bare-bones Cisco Unified IP Phone 6901 is a single-line device with no display and requires a hook switch for transferring a call and conferencing.

Cisco's 7800 family of value-priced IP phones are VoIP devices featuring backlit monochrome screens, four soft keys, 11 fixed-feature buttons, an integral Ethernet switch with Power over Ethernet (PoE), and a speakerphone. Cisco's 7800 Series IP Phones support only the SIP call control protocol. All devices in Cisco's 7800 Series feature the same high-fidelity speakers and microphones as Cisco's 8800 Series IP phones to provide a state-of-the-art audio experience. Cisco's EnergyWise power-save technology, available on the higher end 7800 units, reduces off-hours energy consumption by up to 60 percent. The Cisco IP Phone 7811 is a single-line phone designed for common areas as well as for employees with infrequent voice communications requirements. 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 extra-cost handset. Cisco's IP Phone 7821 is a dual-line VoIP endpoint with a 396 x 162 display. The IP Phone 7841 is a four-line VoIP phone with a 396 x 162 screen and is the only device in the 7800 line that provides 1xGb Ethernet. The high-end IP Phone 7861 is a 16-line endpoint targeted for administrators, call center personnel, and managers who have heavy call needs.

The Cisco Unified IP Phone 7900 Series are dual-protocol (SIP/SCCP) IP voice and video devices with a 320 x 240 color screen, an integral 10/100/1000 Ethernet switch, Class 3 Power over Ethernet, 10 fixed-feature 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 screen and four soft buttons. The Cisco Unified IP Phone 7975G device is an eight-line IP voice and video phone featuring a 5.6-inch touch screen and five programmable buttons.

Cisco's IP Phone 8800 Series is a line of SIP-only endpoints that includes desktop devices, a conference IP phone, and wireless IP Phones. The desktop models are five-line IP phones with 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 features a mono display and supports Class 2 Power over Ethernet. The Cisco IP Phone 8841 has a WVGA color screen and supports Class 2 Power over Ethernet. Cisco's IP Phone 8845 features a WVGA color display, 720p HD video, an adjustable camera, Bluetooth, Cisco Intelligent Proximity for Mobile Voice, and supports Class 2 PoE. The Cisco IP Phone 8851 has a WVGA color screen and a 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. 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, 802.11ac Wi-Fi, and Class 4 PoE. The Cisco IP Phone 8865 has a WVGA color display, 720p HD video, a tiltable camera, Bluetooth, two USB connections with charging capability, and supports Cisco Intelligent Proximity for Mobile Voice, 802.11ac Wi-Fi, and Class 4 Power over Ethernet.

Cisco's wireless IP phones are industrial-grade Wi-Fi handsets designed for workers who are on the move within office, hospitality, health-care or other environments where IT management requires portable phones that provide more administrative control, security and ruggedness than is possible with the BYOD mode of workplace communications. Cisco's 8821 and 8812-EX wireless IP phones provide mobile on-premises workers the benefits of voice over wireless LAN communications in environments that support 802.11x Wi-Fi. Cisco's 8821 Wireless VoIP Phone includes a hi-res color screen, a durable shell rated Mil-SPEC 810G to withstand dropping and IP67 for dust and splash resistance, long-life batteries, a built-in full-duplex speakerphone, and a Bluetooth 4.0 radio for hands-free operation with wireless headsets. The 8821-EX Wireless IP Phone adds spark suppression for potentially combustible work sites. The 8821-EX also features a shell composed of industry-standard yellow plastics, which makes the device easy to find the event of an emergency. Find out about Progent's Wireless IP Phone integration and troubleshooting support.

Cisco's discontinued 9900 line of powerful VoIP phones mix high-definition voice with hi-res color displays to provide a productive collaborative experience for managers and executives. The two models in this line have an SD VGA color display, a Bluetooth radio to support a wide range of headsets, and a built-in 10/100/1000 Ethernet port. Cisco's EnergyWise power-save feature is optional and can cut off-work power use by as much as 90 percent. The Cisco IP Phone 9951 features a 5-inch display and supports up to 2 Cisco IP Expansion Modules for adding programmable line and function keys. The IP Phone 9971 features a 5.6-inch display, an integrated Wi-Fi radio for connecting to Voice-over-wireless LAN (VoWLAN) networks, and 4 programmable touchscreen keys to invoke Cisco UC functions. The 9971 allows up to 3 IP Color Key Expansion Modules for adding programmable line and function keys.

Cisco Unified Communications Application Software
Under Cisco's Unified Communications architecture, IP voice, IP video, and other UC applications are physically independent from the call- and voice-processing mechanism, and they may reside anywhere within the network. A cohesive connectivity infrastructure provides an open platform for powerful applications and provides a firm basis for future convergence-based applications. Cisco cooperates with leading IT industry companies to provide a wide range of IP phone and video applications and products. Cisco also enables the capability to develop and manage customized in-house applications.

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

Jabber
Cisco Jabber is a unified communications client application that supports presence, IM, business-quality voice, HD video, voicemail, desktop sharing, and real-time conferencing features for PCs, Macs, Apple and Android tablets as well as smartphones. Cisco Jabber is an evolution and integration of the Cisco Unified Personal Communicator soft phone, Cisco Mobile, and Cisco WebEx Connect, with important enhancements in the areas of video capabilities and desktop sharing, and extending the team environment to additional platforms and endpoint hardware. Jabber works in conjunction with Cisco Unified Communications Manager for call and session control, Cisco Unified Presence for IM and presence, Cisco Unity Connection for voicemail and automated attendant, and Cisco WebEx Meeting for conferencing.

Because Cisco Jabber is based on key communication standards, it can interoperate with a wide selection of non-Cisco products. As an example, XMPP enables Jabber to exchange IM and presence information with various XMPP clients including as Adium for Mac OS, Sametime, and Microsoft Lync. Cisco Jabber capabilities can be accessed from Microsoft Office applications including Microsoft Outlook and Microsoft SharePoint. This broad platform support optimizes productivity by delivering a common user environment and fully enabling the BYOD paradigm of computing. Progent offers the services of Microsoft-certified Exchange consultants and Microsoft SharePoint programmers who can assist you to use Jabber with Microsoft's premiere collaboration platforms. Progent also can provide help with iPhone and iPad integration and Google Android phone integration and management to assist your organization to enhance the business value of your BYOD ecosystem.

Cisco WebEx Meeting Center
Cisco WebEx Meeting Center provides web conferencing for users with a browser or almost any PC or mobile computer. Cisco WebEx is offered as software as a service through the Cisco WebEx Cloud. This makes it simple to deploy and expand, reduces the cost of management, eliminates heavy up-front expenditures, features high availability and world-class security, and delivers consistently high throughput. Key capabilities include the ability to share specific content or an whole screen display with online attendees in real time, the capability to add multimedia into presentations including PowerPoint and Flash animations, session recording plus playback for future reference and training, single sign-on (SSO) and integration with Cisco collaboration products such as Jabber and Cisco TelePresence, plus stringent data privacy and encrypted access with tight policy management.

Cisco WebEx Meeting Center runs on Microsoft Windows, Mac, and Linux desktops and permits mobile users to initiate, schedule, and participate in conferences on Android smartphones and tablets, iPhones and iPads, BlackBerry handhelds, and Windows Phone. You can also initiate online conferences with a few clicks from Microsoft Office, Microsoft Outlook, Notes, and a selection of IM solutions.

Cisco TelePresence Portfolio for In-house Teleconferencing Environments
For midsize businesses and larger enterprises who want to build an on-premises or hybrid local/cloud environment for video conferencing, Cisco provides a portfolio of Cisco TelePresence platforms that enable high-quality teleconferencing for attendees with virtually any endpoint device at any location. Cisco TelePresence Server is an expandable video conferencing bridge that works with Cisco Unified Communications Manager to bring multiparty telepresence to UC deployments and can expand conferences to support cloud-based WebEx Meeting Center users. Cisco TelePresence Conductor software streamlines the control of how teleconferencing resources are allotted for each participant, enabling managers to specify the precise service level and user experience required for each user. Cisco TelePresence Content Server captures video conference presentations for live streaming as well as video on demand playback.

Cisco Unity Connection and Unity Express for Converged Voice Messaging
Cisco's Unity Connection, an extension of Cisco Unified Communications Manager, is a converged voice messaging solution that promotes productive collaboration by offering flexible set of options for retrieving voice messages within a framework that is simple to implement and administer. Cisco Unity Connection lets you access and manage your voice messages from your Exchange inbox, browser, Jabber, a Cisco Unified VoIP endpoint, a smartphone, or a tablet. Cisco Unity Connection also offers sophisticated voice-recognition capabilities for hands and eyes free management and extensive Automated Attendant features that include smart routing for incoming phone calls and custom call-filtering and message-notification options. The Unity Connection platform runs as a fully virtualized system that can be hosted on a BE6000 server or a Cisco SRE 910 router blade service module and can support up to 20,000 mailboxes on each server.

Cisco Unity Express (CUE), offered in select Cisco Integrated Services routers, offers cost-effective voicemail, integrated messaging, IVR, and automated-attendant functions for small to medium businesses (SMBs) and corporate branch offices with as many as 500 users. Unity Express allows you to manage voicemail messages via a Cisco IP Phone screen, your web browser, or your email system. ISR Routers for which Unity Express is offered as a network module or advanced integration module include Cisco's 1861, 2900, 3800, and 3900 Series. Progent offers comprehensive consulting and troubleshooting services for Cisco routers.

Cisco Unified Contact Center
Unified Contact Center Enterprise (Unified CCE) works with CUCM and desktop agent software like Cisco Finesse to provide automatic call distribution capabilities that allow an organization to match customers with the right salesperson or service representative. Unified CCE features smart call routing, computer telephony integration (CTI), multiple channel contact management, network-wide call queuing, interactive voice response (IVR) and advanced company-wide reporting to streamline the creation and administration of a large-scale customer contact center. Cisco products supporting UCCE's customer interaction management solution include Unified IP Phones, Voice, and Cisco network infrastructure.

Cisco Unified Contact Center Express (Unified CCX or CCX) offers a packaged bundle for building a customer contact center for branch or midmarket deployments that handle as many as 400 agents. Multiple packages are offered, plus a selection of optional advanced features. Cisco Unified CCX integrates closely with Unified CM and offers smart call routing, contact management, reporting, interactive voice response, and management of voice, email, chat, and social media requests. Unified CCX includes Cisco Finesse, a browser-based desktop agent that needs no client installation. Special options include conditional routing, projected-wait-time messages, and workforce and quality management.

Cisco Mobile Connect for Single Number Reach
Mobile Connect, commonly known as Single Number Reach, allows users to be reached from one phone number that rings at the same time on their desktop IP Phone and their cell phone. Users can transfer active conversations between their desktop VoIP phone and their cell phone seamlessly. Unanswered calls can be transferred to a Unity or Cisco Unity Connection voicemail account. Users can create personal access lists that specify which calls are extended to different phones.

Cisco Prime Collaboration Provisioning
Prime Collaboration provides an automated process for first-time deployments as well as for “day 2” moves, adds, changes, and deletions. An intuitive console provides a single look at a user and the subscriber's services. Prime Collaboration substantially speeds up site rollouts and reduces the time required to implement ongoing updates. Prime Collaboration also provides management analytics including application adoption and usage rates, allowing administrators 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 environments to communicate with public systems and with users operating beyond the corporate firewall. Cisco's portfolio of communication gateways provide unified communications services for a wide variety of gateway as well as session-border-control applications.

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

Cisco Expressway Collaboration Gateway
Cisco's Expressway is a powerful unified communications and collaboration gateway that allows companies to allow employees, vendors, customers, or partners who are using various outside network environments, workgroup applications, or endpoint equipment to access to Cisco Unified Communication services. Cisco's Expressway collaboration gateway works with a Cisco Communications Manager system or Cisco Business Edition 6000, or can be run through the cloud with Cisco Hosted Collaboration Solution (HCS) to make collaboration more universal. Important capabilities of Expressway are include:

• Mobile and Remote Connectivity: Remote workers who have any Jabber-supported desktop or handheld computer or teleworkers with Cisco TelePresence endpoints get the benefit of single-sign-on as well as Transport Layer Security (TLS) and are able to access all their collaboration applications (high-definition video, high-quality voice, rich content instant messaging, and presence) without requiring the extra step of starting a VPN connection. Also, telecommuters can utilize their Cisco TelePresence endpoints without a VPN tunnel, providing a user experience at home identical to the corporate office.
• Jabber Guest Support: Expressway is critical for supporting Jabber Guest, which permits “guests” to interact with your organization simply and securely using lightweight browser and mobile multimedia calls.
• Cisco Cloud Connectivity: Cisco Expressway can function as a gateway that connects between onsite Cisco or non-Cisco collaboration solutions and Cisco's WebEx cloud. By offering support for Cisco Collaboration Meeting Rooms, Cisco Expressway deliver an advanced, scalable meeting environment that seamlessly combines high-quality voice, video, and data sharing to any client, anywhere, using any device.
• Interoperability: If your organization currently has third-party video systems, Expressway can assist you to move easily to Cisco products when you choose. Cisco Expressway provides video compatibility with industry standard H.323, H.264 SVC, or SIP systems. Internetworking standards supported by Cisco Expressway include IPv4 to IPv6, H.323 to Session Initiation Protocol (SIP), and Microsoft Lync 2013 H.264 Scalable Video Coding to H.264/AVC.

• WebEx Cloud Connected Audio (CCA) for SIP-media-connected conferencing
• Voice/Video recording
• Enterprise Call-center and interactive-voice-response (IVR) solutions
• Policy-led evaluation of voice calls
• Business-to-business teleconferencing over SIP

Cisco's End-of-Life UC520, UC540 and UC560 VoIP Gateways
The end-of-life Cisco Unified Communications 500 product line is an all-in-one VoIP communications system for small businesses. UC500 packages provide voice, data, voicemail, auto attendant, IP video, security, and wireless capabilities, work with older Cisco IP Voice endpoints, and support public switched telephone network connections.

All of UC500 packages include a compact switch appliance with 8 PoE interfaces plus additional foreign exchange stations (FXS) and foreign exchange office (FXO) ports, a firewall, and VPN. Integrated WiFi is an option. VoIP user capacity can be increased by connecting with Cisco Catalyst Express companion switches. Every UC500 model also comes with software licenses for Cisco Unified Communications Manager for VoIP call processing as well as Cisco Unity Express software for voice messaging and automated attendant. The Cisco UC520 system supports 8 to 16 users and incorporate 4 foreign exchange stations and 4 FXO interfaces. The Cisco UC540 package allows 24 to 32 users and has 8 foreign exchange office ports. The Cisco UC560 package allows 48 users and 12 FXO ports.

Progent's seasoned VoIP consultants can assist you to maintain your legacy UC500 VoIP gateway or plan and implement an efficient upgrade to a modern VoIP solution like Cisco's Business Edition 4000.

How Progent Can Help You with Cisco VoIP and IP Media Phones, CUCM, and Telepresence
Progent can provide remote or onsite help from a certified CCIE Collaboration expert to assist your business to design, deploy, manage and repair unified communications networks built on Cisco Unified Communication technology in a centralized, cloud-based, or hybrid environment. Progent's Cisco-certified engineers have extensive backgrounds supporting Unified Communications Manager and CallManager, VoIP phones and soft phones, Unified Communications applications like Cisco Jabber and Unity Connection, Cisco's teleconferencing products, collaboration gatekeepers, tools built into Cisco switches and routers. Progent can also offer expertise with technologies like Cisco SRST, Cisco Unified Border Element, SIP gateways, CAC, IP voice trunks, various signaling protocols, and Cisco's architecture for voice, video and integrated data. Progent's SIP infrastructure experts can in addition help you to build SIP infrastructure environments that incorporate SIP IP voice phones and media endpoints, SIP trunks, and SIP management tools via CUCM.

Progent's application developers can create specialized unified communications software that will help your company to integrate the telephony capabilities of Cisco Unified Communications Manager into your company processes for enhanced productivity. Progent can revue your current network and Internet connectivity architecture to determine whether your system is optimized to accommodate business-quality VoIP and high-definition video, help you to select and deploy Cisco hardware and software appropriate for your present situation and downstream expansion goals, and integrate your Cisco collaborative communications solution with technology from other suppliers. Progent's CISSP-ISSAP certified network security and compliance consultants can assist you to develop, implement, and validate a comprehensive security and compliance strategy for your converged communications ecosystem. Also, Progent can assist your organization to configure Cisco high-availability mechanisms like Cisco Unified Survivable Remote Site Telephony (SRST) to provide affordable call control backup in remote-branch and home-office environments, and Progent's disaster recovery planning consultants can help you develop a sensible DR/BC strategy to protect your crucial communications system.

Unified Communications Manager/CallManager Migration Consulting
Releases of Cisco Unified Communications Manager 8.6 earlier than 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 this older software. Security updates for this pivotal application will end, which in some circumstances could cause regulatory compliance or legal liability issues.

Progent will continue to provide premiere consulting and troubleshooting support for end-of-life releases of Cisco Unified Communications Manager and CallManager, but if your company is still running a legacy release of this critical application your organization should start immediately to prepare for your upgrade. Progent's collaboration consultants can help you to upgrade efficiently to the current release of Unified CM and can often save customers as much as 50% off consulting fees versus most IT service firms because of Progent's documented procedures and experience in this practice area. By adhering to best practices, Progent can make sure your business realizes a fast payback on your investment by helping you take full advantage of the enhanced feature set, reduced administrative and maintenance costs, more productive collaboration capabilities, and tighter security offered by the newest release of Cisco Unified CM.

Progent's migration consulting services include return-on-investment analysis, project management or co-management, pilot testing and validation, Cloud integration, configuring collaboration endpoints from Cisco and third-party providers, smartphone and tablet connectivity, data protection consulting, management automation, disaster recovery/business continuity planning, network topology design, training for IT staff and end users, and ongoing consulting services and troubleshooting. Progent also offers fixed-priced upgrade packages to make sure your costs are visible and affordable.

To learn more information about Progent's engineering expertise for Cisco networking products, pick a topic:

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