Cisco Network Consulting

Sending real-time voice and video over IP (VoIP and Video over IP) has progressed from simply being being a savvy way to save money on phone carrier bills to a required tool for collaboration and productivity. Converged IP communications, once restricted to integrating Internet-based voice and faxes on the same platform in order to take the place of traditional PBX systems, now includes rich media, mobility, chat, presence, collaboration services, and more within a centralized environment that is easy to manage, scalable, highly secure, resilient, cost-effective, and user friendly.

Cisco is the market leader in providing solutions required to support the modern paradigm of unified communications (UC). Cisco's unified communications product line adds to the efficiency of IT networks by cutting operational costs; combining multiple collaboration functions with popular software programs to increase worker output; supporting collaboration among workers, associates, and vendors to save time and enhance business results; and streamlining the support of your communications ecosystem.

Cisco's Unified Communications technology include several primary product areas:,

• Call Control Platforms for controlling rich media calls and sessions
• Collaboration Endpoints to enhance worker productivity
• UC Software Applications for simplified access to presence, IM, voice and video, phone messages, desktop sharing, and conferencing
• IP Gateways for interfacing with public networks and telecommuters

Call Control Agents - Unified Communications Manager (CallManager)
The call-processing agent is the centerpiece of Cisco's IP Communications solution and provides the versatility to implement a centralized call-processing model, a decentralized design, or a mix of the two. In a centralized deployment, Unified Communications Manager (UC Manager or CUCM) extends enterprise telephony features to packet telephony network devices such as IP handsets, media processing products, VoIP gateways, and mixed media programs throughout the network. Unified Communications Manager supports additional voice, video, and data functions such as unified messaging, video conferencing, and collaborative customer interaction networks.

The latest version of Cisco Unified Communications Manager, previously named CallManager, includes a wealth of enhancements that expedite ROI by cutting management and support costs, improving user output, enhancing collaboration, supporting the bring-your-own-device (BYOD) model of computing, fortifying security, and making optimal use of IT infrastructure. Headline new features include automatic dial-plan replication, streamlined certificate management, extended support for standards-based single sign-on for managers and users, hardware-independent call recording, mobile connectivity without the need for VPN, a revamped self-provisioning utility that makes it simple for end users to install their preferences for all endpoint devices, and support for Transport Layer Security and Secure Real-Time Transport Protocol for mobile users.

When you deploy a centralized Unified Communications Manager cluster to manage call processing for users at distributed sites, IT managers 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 in the Cisco router offers core UC Manager functions until the connection is repaired. To learn about Progent's consulting support services for Cisco ISR routers, refer to consulting and troubleshooting services for Cisco routers.

For small business networks, branch offices, and retail deployments that do not require the complete feature set offered by Unified CM, Unified Communications Manager Express, previously named CallManager Express provides an economical PBX alternative that handles the requirements of locations with as many as 450 workers. Because Cisco Unified Communications Manager Express Unified Communications Manager Express (Unified CCX) is embedded in the IOS Software running on a Cisco Integrated Services Router (ISR), smaller organizations can rapidly deploy a converged voice and data environment.

The Cisco Business Edition 6000 is a line of turn-key solutions that offer essential unified communications capabilities including routing, gateway, premium voice/video, messaging, instant messaging and presence, conferencing, and paging services, enabling any user to collaborate on any device from any location. All Business Edition 6000 versions come packaged preconfigured with a virtualization hypervisor and collaboration applications software, making implementation quick and simple and reducing operating expenses for companies with up to 1000 workers. All solutions are shipped preinstalled with a virtualization hypervisor and Unified Communications applications software. You can instantly enable Unified Communications applications when their requirements grow.

The small-scale Business Edition 6000S includes five standard collaboration software applications installed on a single combination router/gateway/virtualized E1600 M2 server platform and can handle a maximum capacity of 150 workers and 300 devices. The medium-scale BE6000M supports 4 collaboration application options activated on a virtualized Cisco UCS C220 M4 server platform and can handle up to 1000 users, 1200 devices, and 100 contact center agents. The high-end BE6000S includes 8 UC application options activated on a single virtualized C220 M4 server platform and has the capacity for as many as 1000 workers, 2500 endpoint devices, and 100 contact center agents.

For additional details about Progent's expertise with Unified Communications Manager, visit Cisco Unified Communications Manager (CUCM or Unified CM) and Cisco CallManager design, integration, upgrades and troubleshooting.

Cisco IP Phones: VoIP and IP Video Phones
A communications endpoint is a user instrument, either a hardware phone set or a software phone application that runs on a desktop or mobile computer. In the IP environment, each VoIP endpoint is Ethernet connected. Voice over IP phones offer all of the features that an ordinary phone handset has, but IP phones often provide additional functions such as being able to access websites or run business applications.

In contrast to conventional PBX technology, in a Cisco IP communications network you can perform virtually instantaneous relocations, adds, and modifications. All you do is take the VoIP phone to your new spot, plug it into an Ethernet connection, and the phone registers itself with Cisco Unified Communications Manager (formerly CallManager). All user rights and configurations are programmatically replicated, doing away with the cost and hassle of sending support personnel to rewire connections. An additional efficient feature is extension mobility, which enables you to sign into any Cisco IP device and get your own phone ID and rights.

Cisco provides a wide selection of Unified CM hardware endpoints. Cisco's entry-level SPA 300 family are no-frills IP and Digital Enhanced Cordless Telecommunications devices offering wide-band audio, support for hosted Internet Protocol phone systems or an IP private branch exchange (PBX), simple installation and secure online installation, zero-downtime software updates, and web-based configuration. The value-priced SPA301 is a single-line IP phone with no screen or speakerphone, a base dialer with a single Ethernet port, and a corded handset with no a keypad. The SPA302D, designed exclusively for operation with Cisco's SPA232D DECT Analog Telephone Adapter, is a multiple-line wireless Digital Enhanced Cordless Telecommunications handset that offers 10-lines, a 176 x 220 color display, and a dial pad with speakerphone capability. The SPA303 is an economical 3-line IP phone with two switched Ethernet ports, a 128x64 mono display and a speakerphone.

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

Cisco's Unified IP Phones 3900 Series and 6900 Series are specialty VoIP devices intended for occasional-use settings like lobbies, elevators, and conference centers. The Unified SIP Phone 3905 IP Phone features a 128 x 32 mono screen, a 10/100 Ethernet switch, a speakerphone, and Power over Ethernet (PoE). The simple Cisco Unified IP Phone 6901 is a single-line endpoint with no screen and requires a hook switch for call transfer and joining a conference.

The 7800 line of economical IP phones are VoIP desktop endpoints with backlit monochrome displays, four programmable keys, 11 fixed-feature keys, an integral Ethernet port with PoE, and an integral speakerphone. Cisco's 7800 Series VoIP phones 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, offered on the advanced 7800 models, cuts after-hours energy consumption by as much as 60 percent. The Cisco IP Phone 7811 is a one-line VoIP phone designed for shared areas as well as for workers with occasional-to-light call needs. The IP 7811 comes with a 3.28-inch 384 x 106 display and a narrow-band speakerphone. Wideband audio is available via an extra-cost handset. Cisco's IP Phone 7821 is a dual-line phone with a 396 x 162 screen. The IP Phone 7841 is a four-line phone with a 396 x 162 screen and is the only device in the 7800 family that provides Gigabit Ethernet. The top-of-the-line 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 SIP and SCCP IP voice and video endpoints with a 320 x 240 pixel color display, an integral Gigabit Ethernet switch, Class 3 PoE, 10 fixed-feature buttons and a speakerphone. The Cisco Unified IP Phone 7945G is a dual-line device and the Cisco Unified IP Phone 7965G features four lines. Both VoIP phones include a 5-inch display and four soft keys. The Cisco Unified IP Phone 7975G unit is an eight-line media phone with a 5.6-inch touch screen and five programmable buttons.

Cisco's IP Phone 8800 Series is a portfolio of SIP-based IP phones that features desktop units, a conference phone, and mobile wireless IP Phones. The desktop models are five-line IP phones with a 5-inch 800 x 480 pixel screen, a Gigabit Ethernet switch, a speakerphone, four soft keys and 12 fixed-feature keys. Cisco's IP Phone 8811 features a backlit monochrome screen and supports Class 2 Power over Ethernet. Cisco's IP Phone 8841 features a WVGA color screen and supports Class 2 PoE. 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 display 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 screen, Bluetooth, dual USB ports with charging capability, and supports Cisco Intelligent Proximity for Mobile Voice, Wi-Fi, and Class 4 Power over Ethernet. The Cisco IP Phone 8865 includes a WVGA color display, 720p HD video, an adjustable camera, Bluetooth, dual USB ports with charging capability, and supports Cisco Intelligent Proximity for Mobile Voice, Wi-Fi, and Class 4 Power over Ethernet.

Cisco's wireless VoIP phones are industrial-grade wireless devices intended for workers who are mobile within campus, warehouse, retail or other venues where management requires portable phones that provide more control, security and ruggedness than is possible with the BYOD (Bring-Your-Own-Device) mode of workplace communications. Cisco's 8821 and 8812-EX wireless VoIP phones offer on-the-move onsite workers the benefits of voice over wireless LAN communications in workplaces with 802.11a/b/g/n/ac Wi-Fi. The 8821 Wireless IP Phone features a hi-res color display, a rugged shell designed for shock resistance and IP67 for dust and moisture resistance, extended batteries, a speakerphone, and an integrated Bluetooth 4.0 transceiver for hands-free operation with cordless headsets. The 8821-EX Wireless IP Phone adds anti-sparking protection for hazardous environments. Cisco's 8821-EX also features a shell composed of yellow plastics, which makes it easier to locate during an emergency. Learn about Progent's Cisco Wireless IP Phone integration consulting.

Cisco's legacy 9900 family of high-performance IP endpoints mix high-definition voice with business-grade color video to deliver a rich collaborative unified communications solution for knowledge professionals and executives. Both IP phones in this line include an SD 24-bit color screen, a Bluetooth 2.0 radio to work with a broad range of headsets, and a built-in 10/100/1000 Ethernet switch. The Cisco EnergyWise power-save function is optional and can lower off-work power consumption by 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 IP Phone 9971 features a 5.6-inch display, a built-in 802.11a/b/g Wi-Fi transceiver for connecting to voice-over-wireless LAN networks, and four customizable touchscreen keys to invoke Cisco UC features. The 9971 allows up to 3 IP Color Key Expansion Modules for adding scalability to programmable line and function keys.

Cisco Unified Communications Applications
Under Cisco's Unified Communications architecture, IP telephony, IP video, and other UC applications are isolated from the call- and voice-processing mechanism, and they may be at any location within the system. A single network framework provides a versatile environment for powerful applications and provides a firm foundation for downstream convergence-based software. Cisco works with leading technology partners to provide a broad selection of IP telephony and IP video applications and products. Cisco also enables the capability to create and manage specialized in-house applications.

UC applications offered by Cisco and supported by Progent include:

Cisco Jabber
Jabber is a UC application that supports presence, instant messaging, business-quality voice, HD video, voice messaging, screen sharing, and real-time conferencing capabilities for PCs, Apple Macs, Apple and Android tablets as well as smartphones. Cisco Jabber is a rebranding and integration of the Unified Personal Communicator soft phone application, Cisco Mobile, and Cisco WebEx Connect, with major improvements to HD video features and desktop sharing, and expanding the collaboration experience to additional platforms and devices. Jabber works with Unified CM for call control, Cisco Unified Presence for IM and presence, Cisco Unity Connection for voice messaging and programmable attendant, and WebEX Meeting for conferencing and online meetings.

Since Cisco Jabber utilizes popular communication standards, it can communicate with a broad selection of third-party platforms. As an example, XMPP allows Jabber to exchange instant messaging and presence information with various XMPP clients such as Adium for Mac, IBM Sametime, and Microsoft Lync. Cisco Jabber features can be accessed from Microsoft Office applications such as Microsoft Outlook and SharePoint. This cross-platform compatibility maximizes output by providing a consistent end-user environment and accommodating the BYOD paradigm of networking. Progent offers the assistance of certified Exchange and Outlook consultants and Microsoft SharePoint experts who can show you how to use Jabber with Microsoft's powerful collaboration products. Progent also can provide expertise with Apple iPhone and iPad integration and Google Android smartphone and tablet integration to assist your organization to increase the business value of your BYOD ecosystem.

WebEX Meeting Center
WebEX Meeting Center enables 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 via the Cisco WebEx Cloud. This makes it easy to roll out and scale, streamlines administration, avoids major up-front expenditures, features high availability and enterprise-grade security, and provides fast throughput. Important capabilities include support for sharing discrete content or your whole screen display with remote attendees in real time, the ability to add rich media into your presentations including PowerPoint and Flash animations, network-based recording plus playback for training and demonstrations, single sign-on (SSO) and integration with other Cisco collaboration products like Jabber and TelePresence, plus stringent data protection and encrypted connections with strict policy management.

WebEX Meeting Center works with Windows, Mac, and Linux desktops and permits mobile workers to initiate, calendarize, and participate in meetings on Android devices, iPhones and iPads, BlackBerry handhelds, and Microsoft Windows Phone. Users can also launch online meetings instantly from Microsoft Office, Microsoft Outlook, Notes, and a variety of IM applications.

Cisco TelePresence Portfolio for On-premises Teleconferencing Infrastructure
For medium-size businesses and enterprises who wish to build an on-premises or hybrid local/cloud solution for video conferencing, Cisco offers a selection of Cisco TelePresence products that deliver high-quality teleconferencing for users with virtually any endpoint device at any location. Cisco TelePresence Server is a scalable video conferencing bridge that works in conjunction with Cisco Unified Communications Manager to provide multiparty video, audio and content sharing to UC environments and can extend conferences to incorporate cloud-connected Cisco WebEx Meeting Center participants. Cisco TelePresence Conductor software simplifies management of how video conferencing bandwidth and features should be allotted for each participant, enabling managers to define the exact service level and user experience required for each user. Cisco TelePresence Content Server captures video and presentations for live streaming as well as video on demand playback.

Cisco's Unity Connection and Unity Express for Unified Voicemail
Cisco's Unity Connection, an extension of Unified CM, is a unified voicemail system that accelerates productive collaboration by providing a variety of alternatives for retrieving voice messages within an environment that is simple to deploy and manage. Unity Connection allows you to read and manage your voicemail from your email inbox, web browser, Jabber, a Cisco Unified VoIP endpoint, a smartphone, or an iPad or tablet. Unity Connection also provides sophisticated speech-recognition capabilities for hands-free management and powerful Automated Attendant functions that include smart routing for incoming calls and custom call-screening and message-notification options. The Unity Connection platform runs as a fully virtualized system that can reside on a Business Edition 6000 server or a Cisco SRE 910 router blade and can accommodate as many as 20,000 mailboxes on each server.

Cisco Unity Express (CUE), offered in certain Cisco ISR routers, provides cost-effective voicemail, integrated messaging, IVR, and greeting services for small to medium businesses (SMBs) and corporate satellite offices with as many as 500 users. Unity Express permits users to manage voicemail via a Cisco Unified IP Phone display, your web browser, or your email client. ISR Routers for which Cisco Unity Express is available as a network module or advanced integration module include Cisco's 2800, 2900, 3800, and 3900 families. Progent can provide comprehensive deployment and support services for ISR routers.

Cisco Unified Contact Center
Cisco Unified Contact Center Enterprise (Unified CCE) integrates closely with Cisco Unified Communications Manager and agent desktop applications such as Cisco Finesse to provide automatic call distribution features that allow an organization to connect customers with the appropriate sales or support person. Unified CCE provides smart call routing, computer telephony integration, support for multichannel contact management, call queuing, interactive voice response (IVR) and advanced enterprise-wide reporting to streamline the creation and management of a large-scale customer contact center. Cisco products incorporated in Unified CCE's customer contact management ecosystem include Cisco Unified IP Phones, Voice, and Cisco LAN/WAN technology.

Unified Contact Center Express (CCX) offers a packaged solution for building a customer contact center for mid-scale systems that support up to 400 agents. Several bundles are available, as well as a variety of special options. Unified CCX integrates with Cisco Unified Communications Manager and offers intelligent call routing, client management, reporting, IVR, and management of voice, email, chat, and social media inquiries. Unified Contact Center Express includes Cisco Finesse, a web-based desktop agent that needs no client-side installation. Special options include conditional routing, projected-wait-time messages, and quality management.

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

Cisco Prime Collaboration Provisioning
Prime Collaboration Provisioning provides an automated process for initial deployments as well as for follow-on moves, adds, changes, and deletions. An intuitive interface delivers a single view of a subscriber and the user's services. Prime Collaboration Provisioning substantially speeds up site rollouts and minimizes the effort needed for future updates. Prime Collaboration in addition offers advanced analytics that show application adoption and consumption trends, enabling organizations to make more efficient use of IT resources and further lower TCO.

Cisco Collaboration Gateways
Cisco's collaboration gateways permit Cisco Unified Communications environments to connect with other networks and with users operating beyond the corporate firewall. Cisco's line of gateways deliver UC services for all types of gateway as well as session-border-control deployments.

Communications gateways offered by Cisco and supported by Progent include:

Expressway Communication Gateway
Cisco's Expressway is a powerful converged media gateway that enables organizations to allow colleagues, suppliers, customers and prospects, or business partners who are using various outside networks, collaboration applications, or endpoint devices to connect to Cisco Unified Communication services. Cisco's Expressway collaboration gateway integrates with an enterprise Cisco Communications Manager system or Cisco BE6000, or can be run via the cloud with Cisco Hosted Collaboration Solution to make productive collaboration more universal. Important capabilities of Expressway are include:

• Mobile and Off-site Access: Remote users who have any Jabber-compatible client or teleworkers with Cisco TelePresence endpoints get the convenience of one-time sign-on and of Transport Layer Security (TLS) and are able to access all their collaboration applications (high-definition video, high-quality voice, data IM, and presence) without the inconvenience establishing a VPN connection. In addition, teleworkers can utilize their Cisco TelePresence endpoints without the need for a VPN tunnel, delivering a user experience at home that is the same as the corporate office.
• Cisco Jabber Guest Support: Cisco Expressway is integral for enabling Cisco's Jabber Guest, which makes it possible for “guests” to communicate with your organization easily and securely using streamlined browser and mobile video calls.
• Cisco Cloud Access: Cisco Expressway can function as a gateway that connects between on-premises Cisco or third-party systems and the WebEx cloud. By supporting Cisco Collaboration Meeting Rooms (CMRs), Cisco Expressway deliver a world-class, scalable conferencing environment that transparently integrates high-quality voice, video, and content sharing to any client, anywhere, on any device.
• Interoperability: In case your organization currently has non-Cisco video products, Expressway can assist you to move efficiently to Cisco products whenever you choose. Cisco Expressway provides video interoperability with standards-based H.323, H.264 SVC, or SIP systems. Gateway capabilities 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/MPEG-4 AVC.

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

Cisco's Legacy UC520, UC540 and UC560 VoIP Phone Systems
The end-of-life Cisco Unified Communications 500 (UC500) Series is an early VoIP and unified communications system for small businesses. UC500 models deliver voice, data, voicemail, automated attendant, IP video, firewall, and WiFi functionality, run with older Cisco VoIP endpoints, and support various PSTN interfaces.

All of Cisco's UC500 packages include a compact switch appliance with 8 Power-over-Ethernet ports plus additional FXS and FXO interfaces, a firewall, and VPN. Built-in WiFi is optional. User capacity can be increased by attaching Cisco Catalyst Express switches. Every UC500 model also includes licenses for Cisco Unified Communications Manager for VoIP call processing and Cisco Unity Express for voice messaging and automated attendant. The Cisco UC520 package supports 8 to 16 users and include 4 foreign exchange stations and 4 FXO interfaces. The Cisco UC540 system supports 24 to 32 clients and has 8 FXO interfaces. The Cisco UC560 system supports 48 VoIP clients and 12 foreign exchange office interfaces.

Progent's Cisco-certified VoIP experts can assist you to support your legacy UC500 VoIP system or plan and implement an efficient migration to a modern IP telephony and voicemail solution like Cisco's cloud-managed Business Edition 4000.

How Progent Can Assist You with Cisco IP Voice and IP Media Phones, Cisco Unified CM, and Video Conferencing
Progent offers remote or onsite help from a Cisco Certified Internetwork Expert (CCIE) Collaboration consultant to assist you to design, implement, administer and repair unified communications networks that incorporate Cisco Unified Communication products in a centralized, distributed, or hybrid environment. Progent's Cisco consultants have extensive experience supporting Unified Communications Manager and Cisco CallManager, VoIP phones and soft phones, Unified Communications applications like Jabber and WebEx Meeting Center, Cisco's teleconferencing products, collaboration gatekeepers, utilities built into Cisco Catalyst switches and routers. Progent can also offer support for related technologies such as Cisco Survivable Remote Site Telephony, Cisco Unified Border Element, SIP gateways, Call Admission Control, VoIP trunks, PSTN, and Cisco's AVVID architecture. Progent's SIP infrastructure experts can in addition help you to create SIP connectivity environments that include SIP-based VoIP phones and media endpoints, SIP-based CUBE trunks, SIP conferencing and SIP administration tools with CUCM.

Progent's custom application programmers can create specialized unified communications software that will enable your business to incorporate the features of Cisco Unified Communications Manager into your company operations for increased productivity. Progent can revue your existing network and Internet access architecture to determine whether your environment is optimized to accommodate business-quality IP voice and HD video, assist you to choose and install Cisco products that make sense for your present situation and downstream expansion goals, and interface your Cisco Unified Communications products with technology from other vendors. Progent's CISSP-ISSAP certified network security and compliance consultants can show you how to develop, carry out, and test an enterprise-wide security and compliance plan for your converged communications ecosystem. In addition, Progent can assist your organization to configure Cisco fault-tolerant mechanisms such as Cisco Unified Survivable Remote Site Telephony (SRST) to provide affordable call control backup in remote-branch and teleworker environments, and Progent's disaster recovery and business continuity planning experts can help you develop a viable disaster recovery plan to ensure the availability of your business-critical communications system.

Cisco Unified Communications Manager/CallManager Migration Services
Releases of Cisco Unified Communications Manager 8.6 before 8.6 and all releases of CallManager have reached end-of-life. This means Cisco will no longer enhance, repair, or validate the product software. Security updates for this pivotal product will end, which in some situations may create regulatory compliance or legal liability problems.

Progent will continue to provide world-class support services for end-of-life editions of Unified Communications Manager and CallManager, but if you are now using a legacy release of this critical software you should start now to plan your migration. Progent's collaboration consulting professionals can assist you to upgrade efficiently to the latest edition of Cisco Unified Communications Manager and can typically save customers up to 50% off consulting service expense versus competing computer service companies thanks to Progent's documented process and experience in this practice area. By adhering to best practices, Progent can ensure that your company gets a fast payback on your investment by helping you benefit fully from the enhanced features, reduced management and support costs, more productive collaboration, and stronger data protection provided by the current release of Cisco Unified CM.

Progent's upgrade services include ROI analysis, project management, pilot testing and validation, Cloud connectivity, configuring collaboration endpoints from Cisco and other suppliers, smartphone and tablet integration, security and compliance services, streamlined management, business continuity planning, network architecture design, staff and user training, and ongoing consulting and troubleshooting. Progent also offers ultra-affordable upgrade service bundles to make sure your costs are predictable and under control.

To see additional information about Progent's engineering help for Cisco networking products, select a topic:

• Introduction to Progent's Cisco Support
• Timely Online Help from a Cisco Certified Internetwork Expert (CCIE) Engineer
• Cisco Firepower NGFW Firewalls: Integration and Management Support
• Cisco ASA 5500-X Firewall with Firepower: Configuration and Management Expertise
• Cisco ASA 5500 Firewall Engineering Help
• PIX 500 Firewall Troubleshooting Expertise
• Cisco Routers Engineering Services
• Cisco Wireless Engineering Support
• Aironet APs Design Services
• Cisco Small Business WiFi Access Points Consulting Help
• Cisco Catalyst 802.11ax Wi-Fi 6 Access Points Solution Design, Configuration and Troubleshooting Expertise
• Cisco Wireless Controllers Consultants
• Cisco Meraki Wireless Access Points Design Support
• Cisco Unified Communications Manager (CUCM or Unified CM) and Cisco CallManager Consulting and Troubleshooting
• Cisco Jabber Deployment Services
• Catalyst Switches Deployment Expertise
• Cisco Nexus Switches Consulting and Support Expertise
• Meraki MS Switches Deployment Services
• Cisco Security and VPN Engineering Services
• SIP and CUBE Infrastructure Solutions: SIP Trunks and Cisco CUBE Integration Consulting
• Design Expertise for Cisco-based Datacenters
• Data Center Optimization Expertise for Service Providers
• Remote Management Strategies for Cisco-based Environments