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Sending real-time voice and video over IP (VoIP and Video over IP) has evolved from simply being being a savvy means to save money on phone carrier bills to being a required tool for collaboration and productivity. Converged communications, once restricted to integrating Internet-based voice and faxes on the same platform in order to take the place of traditional PBX systems, today incorporates VoIP and video, mobility, messaging, real-time presence, collaboration services, and more in a centralized ecosystem that is manageable, scalable, highly secure, fault-tolerant, economical, and user friendly.

Cisco is the global leader in supplying solutions for supporting the modern paradigm of unified communications (UC). Cisco's UC product line adds to the productivity of IT networks by cutting operating expenses; combining multiple collaboration functions with popular software programs to improve worker output; facilitating collaboration among workers, associates, and suppliers to save time and improve business results; and simplifying the support of your communications environment.

Cisco's UC technology cover these important product areas:,

• Call Control Agents for managing calls and sessions
• Collaboration Endpoints to enhance end-user productivity
• Unified Communications Software Applications for simplified access to presence, IM, voice and video, phone messages, white boarding, and conferencing
• IP Gateways for accessing outside networks and telecommuters

Call Processing Agents - Unified Communications Manager (CallManager)
Cisco's call-processing agent is the core of the Cisco IP Communications portfolio and provides the versatility to deploy a centralized call-processing design, a decentralized model, or a mix of both. In a centralized deployment, Unified Communications Manager (UC Manager or CUCM) extends enterprise telephony features to packet products such as IP handsets, media management devices, Voice over IP gateways, and multimedia programs throughout the IT environment. Cisco Unified Communications Manager enables additional mixed media functions including unified messaging, multimedia conferencing, and group-based client communication networks.

The latest release of Unified Communications Manager, formerly named Cisco CallManager, includes a variety of improvements that speed up ROI by cutting management and support expenses, increasing user output, facilitating teamwork, accommodating the BYOD style of computing, elevating security, and allowing efficient utilization of network infrastructure. Headline innovations include automatic dial-plan replication, streamlined certificate management, expanded support for standards-based single sign-on for administrators and end users, hardware-agnostic call recording, mobile access with no need for VPN tunneling, a revamped self-provisioning interface that makes it easy for end users to set their options and preferences for all devices, and support for Transport Layer Security and Secure Real-Time Transport Protocol for mobile users.

In cases where you deploy a central Cisco Unified Communications Manager cluster to manage voice processing for users at remote sites, IT managers can help ensure continuous call operation through Cisco Survivable Remote Site Telephony (SRST), a Cisco IOS Software image for Cisco routers. If a Wide Area Network link fails, Cisco SRST incorporated in the Cisco router offers core Cisco Unified Communications Manager capabilities until the link is returned. For information about Progent's consulting support for Cisco routers, refer to consulting services for Cisco routers.

For small business networks, branch locations, and retail environments that do not need the complete functionality available from Unified CM, Unified Communications Manager Express, formerly named CallManager Express offers an economical solution that handles the requirements of sites with as many as 450 users. Because Cisco Unified Communications Manager Express Unified Communications Manager Express (Unified CCX) is built into the IOS Software operating on a Cisco router, smaller organizations can quickly implement a converged voice and data solution.

The Cisco BE6000 is a family of turn-key platforms that provide essential collaboration capabilities including routing, gateway, high definition voice and video, messaging, IM and real-time presence, teleconferencing, and paging services, allowing any user to connect on any device from any place. All Business Edition 6000 versions are delivered preinstalled with a virtualization hypervisor and UC applications software, making deployment fast and simple and reducing cost of ownership for organizations with up to 1000 employees. All versions come preloaded with a virtualization hypervisor and UC applications software. You can simply activate Unified Communications software applications as their needs evolve.

The small-scale Business Edition 6000S includes five preselected collaboration applications preloaded on one integrated router/gateway/virtualized blade server platform and can handle a maximum capacity of 150 workers and 300 endpoint devices. The medium-scale Business Edition 6000M supports four unified communications application options activated on a virtualized Cisco UCS C220 M4 server platform and supports as many as 1000 users, 1200 devices, and 100 contact center agents. The top-of-the-line Business Edition 6000H includes 8 collaboration application options activated on a virtualized C220 M4 server platform and has the capacity for up to 1000 users, 2500 devices, and 100 contact center agents.

For additional details about Progent's expertise with Unified Communications Manager, visit Cisco Unified Communications Manager (CUCM) and CallManager design, configuration, upgrades and technical support.

Cisco IP Phones: VoIP and IP Media Phones
An IP communications endpoint is an end-user instrument, and can be a hardware phone set or a soft phone program that runs on a PC or mobile computer. In the Internet Protocol environment, every IP handset or soft phone is Ethernet connected. VoIP phones offer all of the functions that an analog phone handset has, but VoIP phones often offer extra functions including the ability to connect to the web or host business applications.

Unlike conventional PBX systems, in a Cisco IP communications network you can perform almost instantaneous moves, additions, and changes. You merely take the IP phone to its new location, attach it to an Ethernet jack, and the handset announces itself with Cisco Unified Communications Manager (formerly CallManager). All user privileges and configurations are programmatically replicated, doing away with the cost and hassle of dispatching support personnel to wiring closets. Another efficient capability is location independence, which enables you to sign into any Cisco VoIP phone and receive your own phone extension and rights.

Cisco offers a wide range of collaboration hardware endpoints. The entry-level SPA 300 Series are no-frills IP and Digital Enhanced Cordless Telecommunications (DECT) devices offering high-quality voice, support for hosted Internet Protocol telephony systems or an IP private branch exchange, simple installation and safe remote provisioning, zero-downtime software upgrades, and web-based set up. The value-priced SPA301 is a single-line IP endpoint with no display or speakerphone, a base dialer that has one Ethernet port, and a wired handset without a keypad. The SPA302D, intended exclusively for operation with the Cisco SPA232D DECT ATA (Analog Telephone Adapter), is a multiple-line wireless DECT handset that supports 10-lines, a TFT 176 x 220 pixel color screen, and a keypad with a speakerphone. The SPA303 is an affordable three-line SIP-based phone with dual switched ports, a 128x64 monochrome screen and a speakerphone.

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

Cisco's IP Phones 3900 Series and IP Phones 6900 Series are specialty VoIP endpoints intended for infrequent-use environments like cafeterias, hallways, and conference centers. The Unified SIP Phone 3905 IP Phone features a 128 x 32 pixel mono display, an integrated 10/100 Ethernet switch, a speakerphone, and PoE. The simple Cisco Unified IP Phone 6901 is a one-line endpoint with no display and uses a hook switch for transferring a call and joining a conference.

Cisco's 7800 line of economical IP phones are VoIP endpoints with backlit monochrome screens, four programmable keys, 11 fixed-feature buttons, an integral Ethernet switch with Class 1 Power over Ethernet (PoE), and a speakerphone. The 7800 Series support only the SIP signaling protocol. All devices in the 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 solution. Cisco's EnergyWise power-save technology, available on the higher end 7800 models, reduces after-hours energy usage by as much as 60 percent. The Cisco IP Phone 7811 is a single-line VoIP phone intended for common areas and for employees with infrequent call needs. 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 endpoint with a 396 x 162 screen and is the only model in the 7800 line that provides Gigabit Ethernet. The high-end IP Phone 7861 VoIP phone is a 16-line endpoint targeted for administrators, call center personnel, and managers who have significant call needs.

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

Cisco's IP Phone 8800 Series is a portfolio of SIP-based IP phones that includes desktop devices, a conference IP phone, and mobile wireless IP Phones. The desktop units are five-line IP phones with a 5-inch 800 x 480 pixel screen, a Gigabit Ethernet switch, a speakerphone, four soft buttons and 12 dedicated buttons. The Cisco IP Phone 8811 includes a monochrome display and supports Class 2 PoE. The Cisco IP Phone 8841 features a WVGA color screen and supports Class 2 PoE. Cisco's IP Phone 8845 has 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 features a WVGA color display and a USB port with charging capability, supports Intelligent Proximity for Mobile Voice and Class 3 PoE, and is offered in Bluetooth and non-Bluetooth versions. The Cisco IP Phone 8861 includes a WVGA color display, Bluetooth, dual USB connections with charging capability, and supports Cisco Intelligent Proximity for Mobile Voice, Wi-Fi, and Class 4 PoE. The Cisco IP Phone 8865 has a WVGA color display, 720p HD video, a tiltable camera, Bluetooth, dual USB ports 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 hardened Wi-Fi devices intended for workers who are on the move within office, hospitality, health-care or other venues where IT management wants portable phones that provide more administrative control, data security and ruggedness than is achievable with the BYOD (Bring-Your-Own-Device) style of mobile collaboration. Cisco's 8821 and 8812-EX wireless VoIP phones provide mobile onsite users the benefits of voice over wireless LAN (VoWLAN) technology in workplaces with 802.11x Wi-Fi infrastructure. Cisco's 8821 Wireless IP Phone features a hi-res color screen, a rugged shell rated Mil-SPEC 810G for shock resistance and compliant with IP67 for dust and moisture resistance, long-life batteries, a speakerphone, and a Bluetooth transceiver to support wireless headsets. Cisco's 8821-EX Wireless VoIP Phone adds protection against sparking for use in potentially combustible work sites. Cisco's 8821-EX also features a case composed out of industry-standard yellow plastics, which makes it easy to locate in an emergency. Learn about Progent's Wireless VoIP Phone integration and troubleshooting support.

Cisco's discontinued 9900 line of advanced IP phones combine high-quality voice with hi-res color screens to provide a productive multimedia communications solution for knowledge professionals, managers, and executives. The two models in this family have a Standard Definition 24-bit color screen, a Bluetooth radio to work with a wide choice of headsets, and a built-in 10/100/1000 Ethernet switch. Cisco's EnergyWise feature is optional and can cut off-hour energy use by as much as 90 percent. The Cisco IP Phone 9951 features a 5-inch display and allows up to 2 Cisco IP Expansion Modules for expanding programmable line and function keys. The Cisco IP Phone 9971 features a 5.6-inch screen, a built-in 802.11a/b/g Wi-Fi transceiver for deployment with Voice-over-wireless LAN (VoWLAN) environments, and 4 soft-label touchscreen keys to invoke Cisco UC functions. The 9971 VoIP phone allows up to 3 IP Color Key Expansion Modules for adding customizable line and feature keys.

Unified Communications Applications
Under Cisco's Unified Communications architecture, IP voice, IP video, and other UC applications are physically independent from the call/voice processing infrastructure, and they may reside anywhere within the system. A single network infrastructure provides a versatile environment for powerful applications and acts as a firm basis for future convergence-based applications. Cisco works with leading IT industry vendors to offer a wide range of IP phone and IP video applications and devices. Cisco also supports the ability to develop and administer specialized in-house applications.

Collaborative applications offered by Cisco and supported by Progent's consultants include:

Cisco Jabber
Jabber is a converge media application that provides presence, IM, voice, HD video, voice messaging, screen sharing, and real-time conferencing features for PCs, Apple Macs, Apple and Android tablets and iPhones, Android phones, and Blackberries. Jabber is a rebranding and combination of the Cisco Unified Personal Communicator soft phone, Cisco Mobile, and WebEx Connect, with important enhancements to HD video capabilities and desktop sharing, and expanding the team experience to more platforms and devices. Jabber works with Unified CM for call and session control, Cisco Unified Presence for instant messaging and presence, Cisco Unity Connection for voice messaging and programmable attendant, and Cisco WebEx Meeting for conferencing and online meetings.

Because Jabber utilizes popular communication standards, it can communicate with a wide range of third-party products. As an example, Extensible Messaging and Presence Protocol (XMPP) enables Cisco Jabber users to exchange instant messaging and presence data with various XMPP clients such as Adium, Sametime, and Microsoft Lync and Office Communications Server. Cisco Jabber features can be accessed from Microsoft Office applications including Microsoft Outlook and SharePoint. This cross-platform compatibility optimizes output by providing a consistent end-user environment and fully enabling the BYOD paradigm of networking. Progent offers the services of certified Exchange consultants and Microsoft SharePoint programmers who can show you how to use Jabber with Microsoft's premier collaboration products. Progent also offers help with Apple iPhone integration and Android smartphone and tablet integration to assist you to enhance the business value of your BYOD environment.

Cisco WebEx Meeting Center
WebEX Meeting Center enables web meetings for participants using a web browser or virtually any PC or handheld computer. Cisco WebEx is delivered as software as a service through Cisco's WebEx Cloud. This makes it simple to deploy and scale, streamlines administration, eliminates high initial investment, offers maximum uptime and enterprise-class data protection, and delivers excellent throughput. Key features include the ability to share discrete content or your whole screen display with online attendees in real time, the ability to embed rich media into your presentations including PowerPoint and Flash videos, recording plus editing and playback for training and demonstrations, single sign-on and integration with other Cisco collaboration applications such as Cisco Jabber and Cisco TelePresence, plus strong data privacy and encrypted access with tight policy management.

WebEX Meeting Center works with Windows, Mac, and Linux desktops and allows mobile workers to initiate, calendarize, and participate in meetings on Google Android devices, Apple iPhones and iPads, BlackBerry handhelds, and Microsoft Windows Phone. You can also initiate web conferences with a few clicks from Microsoft Office, Microsoft Outlook, Lotus Notes, and a variety of IM solutions.

Cisco TelePresence Products for In-house Teleconferencing Ecosystems
For midsize organizations and larger enterprises who want to create a local or hybrid on-premises/cloud solution for video conferencing, Cisco provides a selection of Cisco TelePresence platforms that deliver high-quality teleconferencing for users with almost any IP endpoint at any location. Cisco TelePresence Server is an expandable teleconferencing bridge that runs in conjunction with Cisco Unified Communications Manager to bring multiparty video, audio and content sharing to converged deployments and can expand meetings to incorporate cloud-based Cisco WebEx Meeting Center participants. Cisco TelePresence Conductor software simplifies management of the way video conferencing bandwidth and features are allocated for every individual participant, allowing administrators to specify the precise service level and experience required for every user. Cisco TelePresence Content Server collects video conference presentations for real-time distribution as well as on-demand playback.

Cisco's Unity Connection and Unity Express for Converged Voice Messaging
The Cisco Unity Connection, an integrated extension of Cisco Unified Communications Manager, is a converged voice messaging solution that facilitates productive collaboration by offering a variety of options for retrieving voice messages within a framework that is easy to implement and administer. Cisco Unity Connection lets you read and manage voicemail from your email inbox, browser, Cisco Jabber messaging integration platform, a Cisco Unified IP endpoint, an iPhone or other smartphone, or an iPad or tablet. Unity Connection also provides advanced voice-recognition capabilities for hands and eyes free operation and powerful Automated Attendant capabilities such as smart routing for inbound calls and easily customizable call-screening and message-notification settings. The Unity Connection platform runs as a virtual machine that can be hosted on a BE6000 server or a Cisco SRE 910 router blade and can support as many as 20,000 mailboxes per server.

Cisco Unity Express (CUE), offered in select Cisco ISR routers, offers cost-effective voicemail, integrated messaging, interactive voice response (IVR), and automated-attendant services for small to medium businesses (SMBs) and enterprise branch offices with as many as 500 voice mailboxes. Unity Express allows users to access and manage voicemail messages using a Cisco Unified IP Phone screen, a browser, or an email system. Cisco routers for which Cisco Unity Express is available as a network module include Cisco's 1861, 2800, 2900, 3800, and 3900 families. Progent offers comprehensive deployment and support services for ISR routers.

Unified Contact Center
Cisco Unified Contact Center Enterprise (Unified CCE or UCCE) integrates with Cisco CUCM and agent desktop applications such as Finesse to provide automatic call distribution (ACD) capabilities that allow an organization to match customers with the proper salesperson or service representative. Unified CCE or UCCE features smart call distribution, computer telephony integration (CTI), multiple channel contact management, call queuing, IVR and advanced enterprise-wide reporting to simplify the deployment and management of a large-scale customer contact center. Cisco platforms supporting Unified CCE's client interaction management solution include Unified IP Phones, Voice, and Cisco network infrastructure.

Unified Contact Center Express (Unified CCX or CCX) provides an out-of-the-box bundle for building a customer contact center for branch or midmarket systems that support up to 400 agents. Multiple packages are available, as well as a selection of special options. Cisco Unified Contact Center Express works with Unified Communications Manager and offers intelligent call distribution, client interaction management, integrated reporting, IVR, and management of voice, email, chat, and social media requests. Cisco Unified Contact Center Express comes with Cisco Finesse, a browser-based customizable desktop agent that needs no client installation. Advanced options include call-in-queue, projected-wait-time announcements, and productivity optimization with workforce and quality management.

Cisco Mobile Connect and Single Number Reach (SNR)
Mobile Connect, popularly known as Single Number Reach, allows users to be reached from one number that rings simultaneously on their Cisco desktop IP Phone and their smartphone. Users can transfer live conversations between their desktop IP phone and their cell phone seamlessly. Unanswered calls can be transferred to a Unity or Cisco Unity Connection account. Users can create personal access lists that determine which calls get extended to different phones.

Cisco Prime Collaboration Provisioning
Prime Collaboration Provisioning offers an automated process for initial deployments as well as for follow-on moves, adds, changes, and deletions. An intuitive console delivers a single look at a subscriber and the user's services. Cisco Prime Collaboration significantly speeds up site installations and minimizes the time needed to implement ongoing updates. Prime Collaboration also offers management analytics that show application adoption and usage rates, enabling administrators to optimize resources and further lower TCO.

Cisco Collaboration Gateways
Cisco's collaboration gateways allow Cisco Unified Communications networks to connect with public systems and with clients operating beyond the corporate firewall. Cisco's line of communication gateways deliver unified communications support for all types of gateway as well as session-border-control applications.

Collaboration gateways available from Cisco and supported by Progent include:

Cisco Expressway Collaboration Gateway
Cisco's Expressway is a powerful unified communications and collaboration gatekeeper that enables companies to provide workers, vendors, customers and prospects, or business partners who are using different networks, workgroup applications, or endpoint devices to connect to Unified Communication services. The Expressway integrates with an enterprise Cisco CM system or Cisco Business Edition 6000, or can be run through the cloud with Cisco HCS to make productive collaboration more universal. Key features of Expressway are include:

• Mobile and Remote Access: Remote workers who have any Jabber-compatible desktop or handheld computer or teleworkers with Cisco TelePresence endpoints have the benefit of one-time sign-on and of Transport Layer Security (TLS) and can connect to all their Jabber applications (video, voice, content IM, and realtime presence) without requiring the inconvenience starting a VPN. In addition, teleworkers can use their Cisco TelePresence endpoints without a VPN, providing a user experience at home that is the same as the corporate office.
• Cisco Jabber Guest Support: Expressway is integral for supporting Jabber Guest, which makes it possible for “guests” to interact with your business easily and safely using streamlined browser and mobile multimedia phone calls.
• Cisco Cloud Access: Cisco Expressway can act as a gateway that creates a path between on-premises Cisco or third-party collaboration solutions and Cisco's WebEx cloud. By offering support for Cisco Collaboration Meeting Rooms (CMRs), Expressway deliver an advanced, scalable meeting experience that seamlessly integrates high-quality voice, high-definition video, and content sharing to any client, at any location, using any endpoint.
• Interoperability: If your company currently has non-Cisco video systems, Cisco Expressway can assist you to migrate easily to Cisco products when it makes business sense. Cisco Expressway provides video compatibility with industry standard H.323, H.264 SVC, or Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) systems. Gateway standards allowed by Cisco Expressway include IPv4 to IPv6, H.323 to Session Initiation Protocol, and Microsoft Lync 2013 H.264 SVC to H.264/MPEG-4 AVC.

• WebEx Cloud Connected Audio (CCA) for SIP-based conferencing
• Voice and Video recording
• SIP-based Call-center and interactive-voice-response solutions
• Policy-led security evaluation of voice calls
• B2B immersive telepresence over SIP

Cisco's Legacy UC520, UC540 and UC560 VoIP Gateways
The end-of-life Cisco Unified Communications 500 (UC500) Series is an all-in-one VoIP gateway solution for small businesses. UC500 packages deliver voice, data, voicemail, auto attendant, video, security, and wireless functionality, work with older generation Cisco VoIP phones, and support PSTN connections.

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

Progent's seasoned VoIP consultants can help you to support your legacy UC500 VoIP gateway or design and implement a smooth migration to a modern VoIP system like the Cisco Business Edition 4000.

How Progent Can Help You with Cisco IP Voice and IP Media Phones, CUCM, and Video Conferencing
Progent offers online or on-premises access to a certified CCIE Collaboration expert to help your business to design, deploy, manage and troubleshoot unified communications environments built on Cisco Unified Communication products in an in-house, distributed, or hybrid environment. Progent's Cisco-certified engineers have extensive experience with Cisco Unified Communications Manager and CallManager, IP voice and video phones and soft phones, UC applications like Jabber and WebEx Meeting Center, Cisco's teleconferencing technologies, collaboration gatekeepers, tools incorporated into Cisco Catalyst switches and routers. Progent can also provide expertise with related technologies such as Cisco Survivable Remote Site Telephony, CUBE, H.323 and SIP gateways, Call Admission Control, VoIP trunks, various signaling protocols, and Cisco's architecture for voice, video and integrated data. Progent's SIP infrastructure consultants can also help you to create SIP infrastructure environments that incorporate SIP-based VoIP phones and video endpoints, SIP trunks, SIP conferencing and SIP administration tools via Cisco Unified Communications Manager.

Progent's application developers can create specialized unified communications software that will enable your organization to integrate the telephony capabilities of Cisco Unified Communications Manager into your business operations for enhanced productivity. Progent can analyze your current network and Internet connectivity infrastructure to determine whether your system is optimized to accommodate business-quality VoIP and HD video, assist you to select and deploy Cisco products appropriate for your current situation and downstream expansion plans, and interface your Cisco collaborative communications products with products from other vendors. Progent's CISSP-ISSAP certified data security and compliance consultants can assist you to create, implement, and test a comprehensive security and compliance plan for your converged communications ecosystem. In addition, Progent can help you to deploy Cisco fault-tolerant technologies such as Cisco Unified SRST for affordable call control backup in branch office and teleworker environments, and Progent's disaster recovery planning experts can help you create a viable disaster recovery strategy to protect your vital communications system.

Unified Communications Manager/CallManager Upgrade Services
Releases of Unified CM before 8.6 and all releases of its predecessor CallManager have arrived at end-of-life. Therefore Cisco will cease to develop, fix, or test the product software. Security updates for this business-critical application will stop, which in some situations may cause compliance or even legal liability problems.

Progent continues to offer premier consulting and support for outdated releases of Cisco Unified Communications Manager and Cisco CallManager, but if you are still running an out-of-dated edition of this critical application your organization should start immediately to plan your upgrade. Progent's collaboration consulting professionals can assist you to upgrade non-disruptively to the latest release of Unified CM and can often save customers up to 50% off consulting service fees versus competing IT service companies thanks to Progent's documented process and experience in this area. By following leading practices, Progent can ensure that your organization realizes a quick payback on your IT investment by showing you how to benefit fully from the enhanced features, reduced management and maintenance expense, more engaging collaboration, and tighter data protection provided by the latest version of Cisco Unified CM.

Progent's upgrade consulting services include ROI assessment, project management, system testing and validation, Cloud integration, configuring endpoint devices from Cisco and other suppliers, mobile connectivity, security and compliance services, management automation, business continuity planning, network architecture design, training for IT staff and end users, and continuing consulting services and technical support. Progent also has put together fixed-priced upgrade packages to make sure your costs are predictable and affordable.

To learn more information concerning Progent's professional assistance for Cisco technology, select a subject:

• Overview of Progent's Cisco Engineering Services
• Fast Remote Support from a Cisco CCIE Consultant
• Cisco Firepower Series Firewalls: Configuration and Troubleshooting Expertise
• ASA 5500-X Firewalls with Cisco Firepower: Integration and Troubleshooting Support
• ASA 5500 Firewalls Upgrade. Migration Assistance
• PIX 500 Firewall Engineering Expertise
• Cisco Routers Consulting Services
• Cisco Wireless Deployment Expertise
• Cisco Aironet Wireless Access Points Consulting Help
• Cisco Small Business WiFi APs System Design Services
• Cisco Catalyst Wi-Fi 6/6E APs Solution Design, Configuration and Troubleshooting Expertise
• Cisco Wireless Controllers Consulting
• Cisco Meraki Wireless Access Points Design Support
• Cisco Unified Communications Manager (CUCM or Unified CM) and Cisco CallManager Integration and Technical Support
• Cisco Jabber Configuration and Troubleshooting Expertise
• Catalyst Switches Deployment Services
• Nexus Switches Configuration and Maintenance Expertise
• Meraki Switches Consulting and Support Services
• Cisco VPN Integration Help
• SIP and CUBE Infrastructure Solutions: SIP Trunks and CUBE Integration Expertise
• Infrastructure Design for Cisco-powered Data Centers
• Network Design Consulting for ISPs
• Remote Network Management Technologies for Cisco-based Environments