Cisco Certified Network Consulting

Exchanging real-time voice and video over IP has progressed from simply being being a smart way to cut phone bills to being a required tool for collaboration and productivity. Converged communications, at one time limited to combining Internet-based voice and faxes on one platform to replace traditional PBX systems, today incorporates voice and video, mobility, messaging, presence, collaboration services, and more all within a single ecosystem that is easy to manage, scalable, secure, fault-tolerant, cost-effective, and user friendly.

Cisco is the global leader in supplying solutions required to support the modern model of unified communications (UC). Cisco's unified communications product line adds to the efficiency of information networks by slashing operational expenses; combining multiple collaboration functions with familiar software programs to increase user output; supporting teamwork among workers, partners, and vendors to save time and improve business results; and simplifying the management of your converged voice and data environment.

Cisco's Unified Communications technology include these important product categories:,

• Call Control Agents for controlling calls and sessions
• IP Phones and Softphones to enhance worker productivity
• Unified Communications Software Applications for easy access to real-time, chat, voice and video, voice messages, desktop sharing, and conferencing
• IP Gateways for accessing outside networks and teleworkers

Call and Session Control Agents - Unified Communications Manager (CallManager)
The call-processing agent is the core of Cisco's IP collaboration portfolio and provides the versatility to implement a central call-processing model, a decentralized model, or a combination of both. In a centralized approach, Cisco Unified Communications Manager (UC Manager or CUCM) extends corporate telephony capabilities to packet network devices such as VoIP handsets, media management products, VoIP gateways, and mixed media applications throughout the network. Unified Communications Manager enables extra mixed media functions such as unified messaging, multimedia conferencing, and group-based customer interaction networks.

The most recent version of Unified CM, previously known as Cisco CallManager, includes a wealth of enhancements that speed up ROI by lowering management and support costs, improving worker output, facilitating collaboration, supporting the bring-your-own-device (BYOD) model of working, fortifying security, and making efficient use of network resources. Top innovations include automatic dial-plan replication, streamlined certificate control, expanded support for single sign-on (SSO) for managers and end users, hardware-agnostic call recording, mobile access without the need for VPN tunneling, a revamped self-care utility that makes it easy for users to specify their preferences for all endpoint devices, and support for Transport Layer Security and Secure Real-Time Transport Protocol for mobile users.

In cases where you implement a centralized Cisco Unified Communications Manager cluster to control call processing for users at distributed locations, administrators can help achieve continuous phone operation using Cisco Survivable Remote Site Telephony, a Cisco IOS Software image for routers. If a Wide Area Network connection fails, Cisco Survivable Remote Site Telephony incorporated in the router offers basic UC Manager capabilities until the link is returned. For a description of Progent's consulting services for Cisco ISR 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 full functionality offered by Unified CM, Cisco Unified Communications Manager Express, formerly named CallManager Express offers an economical PBX alternative that handles the requirements of sites with as many as 450 users. Since Cisco Unified Communications Manager Express Unified Communications Manager Express (Unified CCX) is embedded in the IOS Software operating on a Cisco Integrated Services Router (ISR), smaller organizations can rapidly deploy a unified voice and data environment.

The Cisco Business Edition 6000 is a line of complete platforms that offer essential unified communications capabilities including routing, gateway, high definition voice/video, messaging, chat and real-time presence, voice and video conferencing, and paging support, enabling any user to connect on any endpoint device from any place. All solutions are shipped preconfigured with a virtualization hypervisor and collaboration applications, making deployment fast and easy and reducing cost of ownership for companies with as many as 1000 workers. All BE6000 versions are delivered preloaded with a virtualization hypervisor and UC applications. Organizations can simply activate collaboration applications as their needs evolve.

The entry-level Business Edition 6000S supports five preselected collaboration software applications installed on one combination ISR router/gateway/virtualized blade server platform and can handle up to 150 workers and 300 devices. The medium-scale Business Edition 6000M includes four collaboration software application options enabled on a single virtualized C220 M4 server and supports a maximum capacity of 1000 workers, 1200 endpoint devices, and 100 contact center agents. The top-of-the-line BE6000S Supports 8 collaboration software application options activated on a single virtualized C220 M4 server platform 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 (CallManager), see Cisco Unified Communications Manager (CUCM or Unified CM) and CallManager design, configuration, migration and technical support.

IP Phones: VoIP and IP Media Endpoints
A communications endpoint is an end-user device, and can be a physical phone set or a software phone application that runs on a desktop or mobile computer. In the IP world, every IP phone has an Ethernet connection. VoIP phones have all of the features that an ordinary phone handset has, but IP phones often have extra functions including being able to access the web or run productivity-enhancing software.

Unlike ordinary Private Branch Exchange technology, in a Cisco IP phone network you can implement virtually instantaneous moves, adds, and changes. All you do is move the VoIP phone to your new location, plug it into the Ethernet connection, and the phone announces itself with Cisco Unified Communications Manager. All user rights and settings are programmatically replicated, eliminating the expense and delay of sending technicians to wiring closets. Another efficient capability is extension mobility, which allows you to sign into any Cisco VoIP phone and get your personal phone number and rights.

Cisco offers a wide selection of collaboration handsets. The entry-level Small Business SPA 300 Series are basic IP and Digital Enhanced Cordless Telecommunications devices offering high-quality audio, support for hosted Internet Protocol telephony environments or an IP PBX, simple installation and secure remote provisioning, unobtrusive software updates, and browser-based configuration. The low-end SPA301 is a single-line VoIP endpoint with no screen or speakerphone, a base dialer that has one Ethernet connector, and a wired handset without keys. The SPA302D, intended exclusively for operation with the Cisco SPA232D Multi-Line DECT ATA (Analog Telephone Adapter), is a multiline cordless Digital Enhanced Cordless Telecommunications handset that supports 10-lines, a 176 x 220 pixel color screen, and a dial pad with speakerphone capability. The SPA303 is an affordable 3-line SIP-based IP phone with two switched Ethernet ports, a 128x64 mono display and a speaker.

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

Cisco's Unified IP Phones 3900 Series and IP Phones 6900 Series are specialty VoIP devices designed for infrequent-use settings such as lobbies, hallways, and conference centers. Cisco's Unified SIP Phone 3905 IP Phone features a 128 x 32 mono non-backlit screen, an integrated Ethernet switch, a speakerphone, and PoE. The simple Cisco Unified IP Phone 6901 is a single-line endpoint with no display and uses a hook switch for call transfer and conferencing.

Cisco's 7800 family of budget-priced IP phones are VoIP endpoints with backlit monochrome displays, four programmable buttons, 11 fixed-feature keys, an Ethernet port with Power over Ethernet (PoE), and a speakerphone. The 7800 Series VoIP 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 feature, available on the higher end 7800 units, reduces after-hours energy consumption by as much as 60 percent. The Cisco IP Phone 7811 is a one-line VoIP phone designed for common locations and for workers with infrequent voice communications requirements. The IP 7811 comes with a 3.28-inch 384 x 106 screen plus a narrow-band speakerphone. Wideband audio is available through an optional handset. Cisco's IP Phone 7821 is a two-line 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 unit in the 7800 family that provides 1xGb Ethernet. The high-end IP Phone 7861 is a 16-line endpoint intended for administrators, call center agents, and supervisors who have significant voice communications needs.

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

Cisco's IP Phone 8800 Series is a line of SIP-based IP phones that features desktop units, 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 keys and 12 dedicated keys. Cisco's IP Phone 8811 features a backlit mono screen and supports Class 2 PoE. 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, an adjustable 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 a USB connection with charging capability, supports Intelligent Proximity for Mobile Voice and Class 3 Power over Ethernet, and is offered in Bluetooth and non-Bluetooth models. Cisco's IP Phone 8861 includes a WVGA color display, Bluetooth, two USB connections with charging capability, and supports Cisco Intelligent Proximity for Mobile Voice, 802.11ac Wi-Fi, and Class 4 PoE. The Cisco IP Phone 8865 includes a WVGA color display, 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 VoIP phones are industrial-grade Wi-Fi handsets designed for professionals who are on the move within office, hospitality, health-care or other environments where management wants user endpoints that provide more control, data security and ruggedness than is achievable with the BYOD mode of mobile communications. Cisco's 8821 and 8812-EX wireless IP phones offer mobile onsite users the benefits of voice over wireless LAN technology in workplaces with 802.11a/b/g/n/ac Wi-Fi infrastructure. The 8821 Wireless VoIP Phone includes a hi-res color screen, a rugged case rated Mil-SPEC 810G for shock resistance and IP67 for particulate and splash resistance, extended batteries, a speakerphone, and an integrated Bluetooth radio for hands-free operation with wireless headsets. The 8821-EX Wireless VoIP Phone adds spark suppression for use in potentially combustible environments. The 8821-EX also has a shell fabricated out of yellow plastics, which makes the device easier to locate in an emergency. Find out about Progent's Cisco Wireless IP Phone integration and troubleshooting consulting.

Cisco's discontinued 9900 Series of high-performance VoIP phones integrate high-definition voice with business-grade color video to offer a rich collaborative unified communications solution for knowledge professionals and executive management. Both models in the 9900 family include an SD 640x480 pixel color screen, a Bluetooth 2.0 radio to support a wide choice of headsets, and a built-in 10/100/1000 Ethernet switch. The Cisco Power Save feature is offered as an option and can lower off-hour power consumption 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 (VoWLAN) networks, and four programmable touchscreen keys to invoke Cisco UC functions. The 9971 IP phone supports up to 3 IP Color Key Expansion Modules for expanding programmable line and function keys.

Unified Communications Application Software
Under Cisco's Unified Communications architecture, IP phone, video, and other UC applications are isolated from the call/voice processing infrastructure, and they may be at any location within the system. A single connectivity framework provides an open platform for powerful applications and serves as a firm foundation for downstream convergence-based applications. Cisco works with third-party technology companies to offer a wide range of IP telephony and IP video applications and products. Cisco also supports the ability to develop and manage customized internal programs.

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

Cisco Jabber
Cisco Jabber is a UC client application that supports presence, instant messaging, business-quality voice, high-definition video, voicemail, screen sharing, and real-time conferencing capabilities for Windows PCs, Apple Macs, tablets plus iPhones, Android phones, and Blackberries. Cisco Jabber is a rebranding and integration of the Cisco Unified Personal Communicator soft phone application, Cisco Mobile, and Cisco WebEx Connect, with major improvements in the areas of video features and desktop sharing, and extending the team experience to additional platforms and devices. Cisco Jabber operates in conjunction with Cisco Unified Communications Manager for call control, Cisco Unified Presence for instant messaging and presence, Unity Connection for voice messaging and automated attendant, and WebEX Meeting for conferencing and online meetings.

Because Cisco Jabber is built around key industry protocols, it can interoperate with a broad range of third-party platforms. For instance, XMPP allows Jabber to trade instant messaging and presence information with a variety of XMPP clients including as Adium for Mac OS, Sametime, and Microsoft Lync and Office Communications Server. Cisco Jabber features can be accessed from Microsoft Office programs including Outlook and Microsoft SharePoint. This extensive platform compatibility maximizes productivity by delivering a common end-user experience and accommodating the BYOD model of networking. Progent can provide the services of certified Exchange consultants and Microsoft SharePoint programmers who can show you how to use Jabber with Microsoft's powerful collaboration products. Progent also can provide help with Apple iPhone integration and management as well as Android smartphone integration and management to assist you to enhance the business value of your BYOD ecosystem.

Cisco WebEx Meeting Center
Cisco WebEx Meeting Center provides online meetings for users with a web browser or almost any PC or handheld device. WebEx Meeting Center is delivered as software as a service (SaaS) through Cisco's WebEx Cloud. This makes it easy to deploy and scale, reduces the cost of administration, avoids high up-front expenditures, features maximum uptime and world-class data protection, and delivers consistently high throughput. Important capabilities include support for sharing discrete content or your whole screen display with remote attendees in real time, the ability to embed multimedia into your presentations including PowerPoint and Flash animations, session recording plus playback for future reference and training, single sign-on and integration with Cisco collaboration applications such as Cisco Jabber and TelePresence, plus strong data privacy and encrypted connections with tight policy control.

WebEX Meeting Center runs on Windows, Apple Mac, and Linux desktops and permits mobile workers to launch, calendarize, and participate in conferences on Android devices, Apple iPhones and iPads, BlackBerry handhelds, and Windows Phone. Users can also launch web meetings instantly from Microsoft Office, Microsoft Outlook, Lotus Notes, and a selection of IM solutions.

Cisco TelePresence Products for On-premises Teleconferencing Infrastructure
For midsize businesses and enterprises who wish to create an on-premises or hybrid on-premises/cloud solution for video conferencing, Cisco provides a portfolio of Cisco TelePresence products that enable high-quality and standards-based video conferencing for users with virtually any endpoint device at any location. Cisco TelePresence Server is a scalable teleconferencing bridge that works in conjunction with Cisco Unified CM to provide multiparty telepresence to UC environments and can expand conferences to incorporate cloud-connected Cisco WebEx Meeting Center participants. Cisco TelePresence Conductor software streamlines management of the way conferencing resources are rationed for each attendee, allowing administrators to specify the exact service level and experience required for every user. Cisco TelePresence Content Server records video conference presentations for real-time distribution as well as on-demand viewing.

Cisco's Unity Connection and Unity Express for Unified Voicemail
Cisco's Unity Connection, an integrated extension of Cisco Unified Communications Manager, is a converged voice messaging system that accelerates teamwork by providing a variety of options for accessing voice messages within an environment that is easy to deploy and maintain. Cisco Unity Connection lets you read and manage voice messages from your Exchange inbox, browser, Jabber, a Cisco Unified VoIP endpoint, a smartphone, or an iPad or tablet. Unity Connection also provides advanced voice-recognition features for hands-free management and powerful Automated Attendant functions such as intelligent routing for incoming calls and custom call-screening and message-notification options. The Unity Connection platform operates as a VM that can reside on a Business Edition 6000 server or a Cisco Services Ready Engine 910 router service module and can accommodate up to 20,000 mailboxes on each server.

Unity Express (CUE), offered in select Cisco ISR routers, provides affordable voicemail, integrated messaging, IVR, and greeting functions for small to medium businesses and enterprise branch locations with as many as 500 workers. Unity Express allows you to manage voicemail via a Cisco Unified IP Phone screen, your web browser, or an email client. ISR Routers for which Unity Express is offered as an advanced integration module include Cisco's 1861, 2900, 3800, and 3900 families. Progent offers certified configuration and support services for Cisco routers.

Unified Contact Center
Cisco Unified Contact Center Enterprise (Unified CCE) integrates closely with Unified Communications Manager and desktop agent apps like Finesse to offer automatic call distribution capabilities that allow an organization to match customers with the right sales or service agent. UCCE offers smart call routing, computer telephony integration (CTI), multiple channel customer contact management, network call queuing, interactive voice response and advanced company-wide reporting to streamline the creation and administration of a large-scale customer contact center. Cisco products incorporated in Unified CCE's client interaction management solution include Unified IP Phones, Voice, and Cisco LAN/WAN technology.

Cisco Unified Contact Center Express (Unified CCX) provides an out-of-the-box bundle for creating a customer contact center for mid-scale systems that support up to 400 agents. Multiple packages are offered, plus a variety of special options. Cisco Unified CCX works with Unified Communications Manager and offers intelligent call distribution, contact management, integrated reporting, interactive voice response, and management of voice, email, web chat, and social media inquiries. Cisco Unified Contact Center Express includes Cisco Finesse, a web-based customizable desktop agent that needs no client software setup. Advanced options include conditional routing, estimated-wait-time announcements, and productivity optimization with workforce and quality management.

Cisco Mobile Connect for Single Number Reach
Mobile Connect, popularly known as Single Number Reach (SNR), allows users to be reached via a single number that rings at the same time on their desktop VoIP Phone and their cell phone. Users can transfer live calls between their desktop IP phone and their mobile phone without disruption. Calls that are not answered can be redirected to a Unity or Cisco Unity Connection account. Users can create their own access lists that determine which calls get directed to alternate endpoints.

Prime Collaboration
Cisco Prime Collaboration Provisioning provides an automated process for initial installs as well as for follow-on moves, additions, changes, and deletions. An intuitive console provides a unified look at a subscriber and the user's services. Cisco Prime Collaboration significantly speeds up company-wide installations and minimizes the effort needed to implement ongoing updates. Prime Collaboration also provides advanced analytics including technology adoption and consumption rates, enabling administrators to optimize resources and further reduce total cost of ownership.

Cisco Communications Gateways
Cisco's communications gateways allow Cisco converged communications environments to communicate with other networks and with users working outside the firewall. Cisco's portfolio of communication gateways provide UC services for a wide variety of gateway as well as session-border-control applications.

Collaboration gateways available from Cisco and supported by Progent include:

Cisco Expressway Converged Communication Gateway
Cisco's Expressway is a powerful unified communications and collaboration gatekeeper that enables organizations to allow employees, suppliers, customers, or business partners who are using various outside network environments, collaboration applications, or endpoint equipment to access to Cisco Unified Communication services. Cisco's Expressway collaboration gateway works in conjunction with a Cisco CM system or Cisco Business Edition 6000, or can be accessed via the cloud with Cisco Hosted Collaboration Solution (HCS) to make collaboration more pervasive. Key capabilities of Expressway are include:

• Mobile and Remote Access: Off-site workers with any Jabber-supported device or telecommuters with Cisco TelePresence endpoints have the convenience of one-time sign-on plus TLS security and can connect to all their collaboration workloads (video, voice, rich content IM, and presence) without the extra step of starting a VPN. In addition, teleworkers can utilize their Cisco TelePresence endpoints without the need for a VPN tunnel, delivering a user experience at home the same as the office.
• Jabber Guest Support: Cisco Expressway is integral for enabling the Cisco Jabber Guest, which allows “guests” to interact with your organization simply and securely using streamlined browser and mobile multimedia phone calls.
• Cisco Cloud Access: Expressway can act as a gateway that connects between on-premises Cisco or third-party collaboration solutions and the WebEx cloud. By supporting Cisco Collaboration Meeting Rooms, Cisco Expressway offers an advanced, scalable teleconferencing experience that seamlessly combines high-quality voice, high-definition video, and content sharing to anyone, anywhere, using any device.
• Interoperability: If your company currently has non-Cisco video products, Cisco Expressway can help you to migrate easily to Cisco products whenever it makes business sense. Cisco Expressway offers video compatibility with standards-based H.323, H.264 SVC, or Session Initiation Protocol systems. Gateway standards allowed by Cisco Expressway include IPv4 to IPv6, H.323 to Session Initiation Protocol, and Microsoft Lync 2013 H.264 Scalable Video Coding to H.264/AVC.

• Cisco WebEx Cloud Connected Audio for high-capacity SIP-media-connected conferencing
• Voice/Video recording
• SIP-based Call-center and interactive-voice-response solutions
• Policy-based security evaluation of phone calls
• Business-to-business immersive telepresence over SIP

Cisco's Legacy UC520, UC540 and UC560 VoIP Gateways
The end-of-life Cisco Unified Communications 500 product line is a VoIP gateway system for small organizations. UC500 packages provide voice, data, voicemail, automated attendant, video, security, and wireless capabilities, run with older Cisco VoIP endpoints, and support various public switched telephone network (PSTN) interfaces.

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

Progent's Cisco-certified VoIP experts can help you to maintain your legacy UC500 VoIP system or design and implement an efficient migration to a current VoIP system like the Cisco cloud-managed Business Edition 4000.

How Progent Can Assist You with Cisco VoIP and IP Media Phones, Cisco Unified CM, and Video Conferencing
Progent can provide online or on-premises help from a Cisco Certified Internetwork Expert (CCIE) Collaboration specialist to help your business to design, install, administer and troubleshoot converged communications networks based on Cisco Unified Communication technology in an in-house, cloud-based, or hybrid environment. Progent's Cisco-certified consultants have in-depth backgrounds with Unified Communications Manager and CallManager, Voice over IP and video phones and other endpoints, Unified Communications applications like Cisco Jabber and Unity Connection, Cisco's video conferencing technologies, collaboration gatekeepers, tools built into Cisco switches and routers. Progent can also provide expertise with technologies such as Cisco SRST, Cisco Unified Border Element, H.323 and SIP gateways, Call Admission Control, VoIP trunks, PSTN, and Cisco's architecture for voice, video and integrated data. Progent's SIP integration consultants can in addition assist you to build SIP connectivity solutions that incorporate SIP-based IP voice phones and video phones, SIP-based CUBE trunks, and SIP administration tools via Cisco Unified CM.

Progent's custom application developers can build specialized IP telephony applications that will enable your company to integrate the features of Cisco Unified Communications Manager into your business operations for enhanced productivity. Progent can revue your current network and Internet access infrastructure to determine whether your environment is configured to support business-quality IP voice and high-definition video, assist you to select and deploy Cisco hardware and software that make sense for your present situation and future growth plans, and interface your Cisco collaborative communications solution with products from other vendors. Progent's CISSP-ISSAP certified information security consultants can assist you to create, carry out, and validate a comprehensive security and compliance strategy for your unified communications ecosystem. In addition, Progent can assist you to deploy Cisco fault-tolerant mechanisms like Cisco Unified Survivable Remote Site Telephony for cost-effective call control redundancy in branch office and teleworker environments, and Progent's disaster recovery planning consultants can help you develop a viable disaster recovery strategy to protect your vital communications system.

Cisco Unified Communications Manager/CallManager Upgrade Consulting
Versions of Cisco Unified CM lower than 8.6 and all versions of its predecessor CallManager have reached end-of-life. This means Cisco will cease to develop, repair, or validate the product software. Security updates for this pivotal application will stop, which in some circumstances may cause regulatory compliance or even legal liability issues.

Progent will continue to provide expert consulting and troubleshooting support for outdated releases of Unified CM and Cisco CallManager, but in case you are now running a legacy release of this essential software your organization should start immediately to plan your upgrade. Progent's collaboration consultants can assist your company to migrate smoothly to the latest version of Cisco Unified Communications Manager and can typically save customers up to 50% off consulting service costs versus most computer service firms because of Progent's documented process and experience in this practice area. By adhering to best practices, Progent can make sure your business realizes a quick return on your IT investment by helping you benefit fully from the enhanced feature set, reduced administrative and maintenance costs, more engaging collaboration, and stronger data protection provided by the newest version of Unified Communications Manager.

Progent's migration consulting services include return-on-investment assessment, project management or co-management, pilot testing, Cloud connectivity, configuring endpoint devices from Cisco and third-party suppliers, smartphone and tablet connectivity, security and compliance consulting, management automation, disaster recovery/business continuity planning, network infrastructure design, staff and user training, and ongoing consulting services and troubleshooting. Progent also has put together ultra-affordable migration packages to keep your costs visible and under control.

To find out more details about Progent's consulting support for Cisco technology, pick a subject:

• Introduction to Cisco Engineering Services
• Fast and Affordable Online Access to a Cisco CCIE Engineer
• Cisco Firepower Firewalls: Integration and Management Services
• ASA 5500-X Series Firewall with Firepower: Integration and Management Expertise
• ASA 5500 Firewall Consulting Expertise
• Cisco PIX Series Firewall Consulting Help
• Cisco Routers Consulting Expertise
• Cisco Wireless Engineering Expertise
• Aironet Wireless APs Engineering Expertise
• Cisco Small Business 100, 300 and 500 WiFi APs System Design Help
• Cisco Catalyst Wi-Fi 6/6E Wireless APs Planning, Configuration and Troubleshooting Services
• Cisco Wireless Controllers Consultants
• Meraki Access Points Deployment Support
• Cisco Unified Communications Manager (CUCM or Unified CM) and Cisco CallManager Configuration and Technical Support
• Cisco Jabber Consulting and Support Expertise
• Cisco Catalyst Switches Engineering Expertise
• Nexus Switches Deployment Expertise
• Meraki Switches Support and Troubleshooting Services
• Cisco VPN Integration Services
• SIP and CUBE Infrastructure Solutions: SIP PSTN Trunks and CUBE Integration Expertise
• Cisco Duo MFA Two-factor Authentication (2FA) Services for Remote Workers
• Design and Support for Cisco-powered Data Centers
• Infrastructure Optimization Consulting for Internet Service Providers
• Centralized Cloud-based and Hybrid Management Technologies for Cisco-powered Infrastructure