Cisco Certified Network Consulting

Exchanging live voice and video over Internet Protocol has progressed from simply being being a savvy method to reduce phone bills to being a required technology for collaboration and productivity. Converged communications, at one time restricted to integrating Internet-based voice calls and faxing on the same network platform to take the place of expensive PBX equipment, now incorporates rich media, mobile communications, chat, real-time presence, collaboration services, and much more all in a single ecosystem that is manageable, scalable, secure, fault-tolerant, cost-effective, and user friendly.

Cisco is the market leader in providing solutions for supporting the modern model of unified communications (UC). Cisco's UC solution enhances the productivity of IT systems by cutting operating costs; combining rich media functions with popular software programs to improve user output; supporting teamwork among employees, partners, and suppliers to save time and improve business outcomes; and streamlining the management of your communications environment.

Cisco's UC technology cover several main product areas:,

• Call Control Platforms for managing rich media calls and sessions
• VoIP and Video Phones and Softphones to enhance worker productivity
• Unified Communications Software Applications for more productive access to real-time, IM, voice and video, phone messages, white boarding, and voice/video conferencing
• IP Gateways for providing connectivity with outside networks and remote users

Call Processing Agents - Unified Communications Manager (CallManager)
Cisco's call-processing agent is the centerpiece of the Cisco IP collaboration portfolio and provides the versatility to implement a central call-processing model, a decentralized model, or a mix of both. In a centralized approach, Unified Communications Manager (UC Manager or CUCM) extends corporate telephony capabilities to packet devices such as VoIP handsets, media processing products, VoIP gateways, and mixed media programs across the network. Unified Communications Manager enables extra mixed media services such as unified messaging, video conferencing, and group-based client communication networks.

The latest release of Unified CM, formerly known as CallManager, includes a variety of enhancements that expedite your return on investment by lowering administrative and support costs, increasing worker output, enhancing teamwork, accommodating the BYOD style of working, fortifying data protection, and allowing optimal utilization of network infrastructure. Headline new features include automatic dial-plan replication and batch provisioning, streamlined certificate management, extended support for single sign-on (SSO) for managers and end users, device-agnostic call recording, mobile connectivity with no need for VPN tunneling, a revamped self-care interface that makes it easy for users to set their preferences for all of their endpoints, and support for Transport Layer Security and Secure Real-Time Transport Protocol for mobile users.

When you implement a central Cisco Unified Communications Manager cluster to manage voice processing for customers at remote sites, IT managers can help ensure continuous phone service using Cisco Survivable Remote Site Telephony, an IOS Software image for Cisco routers. If a WAN link fails, Cisco Survivable Remote Site Telephony incorporated in the router provides basic Cisco UC Manager services until the link is returned. For a description of Progent's consulting services for Cisco routers, see consulting and troubleshooting services for Cisco ISR routers.

For small business networks, branch locations, and retail deployments that do not require the complete feature set available from Unified CM, Unified Communications Manager Express, previously known as CallManager Express offers an economical PBX alternative that meets the needs of sites with up to 450 workers. Since Unified Communications Manager Express Unified Communications Manager Express (Unified CCX) is embedded in the IOS Software running on a Cisco router, smaller organizations can rapidly deploy a unified voice/data solution.

Cisco's BE6000 is a line of end-to-end solutions that provide essential unified communications capabilities such as routing, IP gateway, high definition voice/video, messaging, IM and presence, conferencing, and paging support, allowing any user to collaborate on any endpoint from any location. All Business Edition 6000 systems come packaged preloaded with a virtualization hypervisor and UC applications software, making deployment quick and simple and reducing cost of ownership for organizations with up to 1000 workers. All BE6000 versions are shipped preinstalled with a virtualization hypervisor and UC applications software. Organizations can simply activate UC applications whenever their requirements evolve.

The small-scale Business Edition 6000S includes five standard UC software applications installed on one combination 2921V ISR router/IP gateway/virtualized E1600 M2 server device and can handle a maximum capacity of 150 users and 300 devices. The mid-market Business Edition 6000M supports four unified communications application options activated on a virtualized Cisco C220 M4 server and can handle a maximum capacity of 1000 users, 1200 endpoint devices, and 100 contact center agents. The high-end BE6000S includes 8 UC application options enabled on a virtualized C220 M4 server and has the ability to support up to 1000 workers, 2500 devices, and 100 contact center agents.

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

Cisco IP Phones: VoIP and IP Video Phones
A communications endpoint is an end-user instrument, either a physical phone set or a software phone application on a desktop or mobile computer. In the IP world, every IP handset or soft phone has an Ethernet connection. Voice over IP phones offer all of the capabilities that a conventional phone has, but VoIP phones can also provide additional features such as being able to access the web or run productivity-enhancing software.

Unlike traditional Private Branch Exchange systems, in a Cisco IP communications environment you can perform almost instant relocations, adds, and modifications. You simply move the VoIP handset to your new location, attach it to the Ethernet connection, and the IP phone announces itself with Cisco Unified Communications Manager (formerly CallManager). All client rights and settings are programmatically replicated, eliminating the cost and hassle of dispatching support personnel to rewire connections. Another efficient feature is extension mobility, which allows you to log into any Cisco IP device and get your personal phone extension and rights.

Cisco offers a wide range of VoIP handsets. Cisco's low-cost SPA 300 Series are no-frills IP and Digital Enhanced Cordless Telecommunications (DECT) screenless or monochrome devices offering wide-band audio, compatibility with hosted IP phone environments or an IP private branch exchange, easy deployment and secure online installation, transparent software updates, and browser-based set up. The low-end SPA301 is a single-line VoIP endpoint with no display or speakerphone, a base dialer that has one Ethernet connector, and a corded handset with no a keypad. The SPA302D, intended exclusively for use with Cisco's SPA232D DECT ATA (Analog Telephone Adapter), is a multiple-line wireless Digital Enhanced Cordless Telecommunications (DECT) IP phone that supports 10-lines, a TFT 176 x 220 pixel color screen, and a keypad with a speakerphone. Cisco's SPA303 is an entry-level 3-line SIP-based IP phone with two Ethernet ports, a 128x64 mono graphical display and a speaker.

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

Cisco's IP Phones 3900 Series and IP Phones 6900 Series are specialty VoIP endpoints intended for infrequent-use settings like lobbies, elevators, and conference centers. Cisco's Unified SIP Phone 3905 IP Phone features a 128 x 32 mono display, a 10/100 Ethernet switch, a speakerphone, and Power over Ethernet (PoE). The simple Cisco Unified IP Phone 6901 is a one-line device without a screen and uses a hook switch for call transfer or joining a conference.

Cisco's 7800 Series of economical IP phones are VoIP desktop devices featuring backlit mono displays, four soft keys, 11 dedicated keys, an Ethernet port with Power over Ethernet, and an integral speakerphone. Cisco's 7800 Series support only the SIP signaling protocol. All devices in the 7800 family feature the same advanced speakers and microphones as Cisco's 8800 Series IP phones to provide a best-in-class audio experience. Cisco's EnergyWise power-save technology, offered on the advanced 7800 models, cuts off-hours energy usage by as much as 60 percent. The Cisco IP Phone 7811 is a single-line VoIP phone designed for common locations and for workers with infrequent call needs. The IP 7811 comes with a 3.28-inch 384 x 106 display and a narrow-band speakerphone. Wideband audio is offered via an optional wideband handset. Cisco's IP Phone 7821 is a dual-line VoIP endpoint with a 396 x 162 display. The IP Phone 7841 is a four-line endpoint with a 396 x 162 display and is the only model in the 7800 family that provides 1xGb Ethernet. The high-end IP Phone 7861 VoIP phone is a 16-line device targeted for administrative staff, call center agents, and managers who have significant voice communications needs.

Cisco Unified IP Phone 7900 Series are SIP and SCCP media endpoints with a 320 x 240 pixel color screen, a Gigabit Ethernet switch, Class 3 PoE, 10 dedicated buttons and a speakerphone. The Cisco Unified IP Phone 7945G is a two-line device and the Cisco Unified IP Phone 7965G features four lines. Both IP 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 keys.

Cisco's IP Phone 8800 Series is a portfolio of SIP-only endpoints that includes desktop devices, a conference phone, and mobile wireless IP Phones. The desktop units are five-line IP phones featuring a 5-inch 800 x 480 pixel screen, a Gigabit Ethernet switch, a speakerphone, four soft keys and 12 fixed-feature keys. The Cisco IP Phone 8811 includes a monochrome display and supports Class 2 Power over Ethernet (PoE). Cisco's IP Phone 8841 features a WVGA color display 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 PoE. The Cisco IP Phone 8851 features a WVGA color screen and one USB connection with charging capability, supports Intelligent Proximity for Mobile Voice and Class 3 Power over Ethernet, and is offered in Bluetooth and non-Bluetooth models. The Cisco IP Phone 8861 has a WVGA color display, Bluetooth, two USB ports 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, two USB ports with charging capability, and supports Cisco Intelligent Proximity for Mobile Voice, 802.11ac Wi-Fi, and Class 4 PoE.

Cisco's wireless IP phones are industrial-grade Wi-Fi devices designed for workers who are mobile within office, hospitality, retail or other environments where IT management wants user endpoints that provide more administrative control, security and ruggedness than is possible with the Bring-Your-Own-Device mode of mobile communications. Cisco's 8821 and 8812-EX wireless IP phones provide mobile on-premises workers the benefits of voice over wireless LAN (VoWLAN) technology in environments that support 802.11x Wi-Fi. Cisco's 8821 Wireless VoIP Phone features a hi-res color display, a rugged shell designed to withstand dropping and IP67 for particulate and moisture resistance, extended batteries, a built-in speakerphone, and a Bluetooth 4.0 transceiver for hands-free operation with wireless headsets. Cisco's 8821-EX Wireless VoIP Phone adds anti-sparking protection for use in potentially combustible environments. The 8821-EX also features a case composed of industry-standard yellow plastics, which makes it easier to find the event of a crisis. Learn about Progent's Cisco Wireless VoIP Phone integration and troubleshooting consultants.

Cisco's discontinued 9900 line of high-performance VoIP phones combine high-definition voice with hi-res color video to provide a productive collaborative unified communications solution for managers and executives. Both models in this family include an SD 640x480 pixel color screen, a Bluetooth radio to support a wide range of headsets, and a built-in 1 GE Ethernet switch. The Cisco Power Save feature is offered as an option and can lower off-hour energy draw by up to 90 percent. The IP Phone 9951 features a 5-inch display and allows up to 2 IP Color Key Expansion Modules for adding scalability to programmable line and feature keys. The IP Phone 9971 features a 5.6-inch display, an integrated 802.11a/b/g Wi-Fi transceiver for connecting to voice-over-wireless LAN environments, and four soft-label touchscreen keys to access Cisco UC features. The 9971 VoIP phone allows up to 3 IP Expansion Modules for adding programmable line and feature keys.

Cisco Unified Communications Applications
Within Cisco's Unified Communications platform, IP phone, IP video, and other UC applications are isolated from the call- and voice-processing infrastructure, and they may reside at any location within the system. A single connectivity infrastructure provides a versatile environment for powerful applications and provides a firm foundation for downstream convergence-based applications. Cisco cooperates with third-party IT industry companies to provide a broad selection of IP voice and IP video software applications and products. Cisco also supports the capability to develop and administer customized internal programs.

Collaborative application software offered by Cisco and supported by Progent include:

Cisco Jabber
Cisco Jabber is a UC client application that provides presence, IM, business-quality voice, high-definition video, voice messaging, screen sharing, and real-time conferencing functions for PCs, Macs, Apple and Android tablets and iPhones, Android phones, and Blackberries. Cisco Jabber is an evolution and integration of the Unified Personal Communicator, Cisco Mobile, and WebEx Connect, with important improvements in the areas of video capabilities and desktop screen sharing, and extending the team experience to additional platforms and devices. Cisco Jabber operates with Unified CM for call and session control, Cisco Unified Presence for instant messaging and presence, Unity Connection for voicemail and automated attendant, and WebEX Meeting for conferencing.

Since Jabber is based on popular communication protocols, it can communicate with a broad selection of non-Cisco products. For instance, Extensible Messaging and Presence Protocol (XMPP) allows Jabber users to trade instant messaging and presence information with a variety of XMPP clients such as Adium for Mac, IBM Sametime, and Microsoft Lync and Office Communications Server. Cisco Jabber capabilities can be accessed from Microsoft Office programs including Outlook and SharePoint. This cross-platform compatibility maximizes output by delivering a consistent user experience and accommodating the bring-your-own-device paradigm of computing. Progent offers the assistance of Microsoft-certified Exchange and Outlook consultants and SharePoint programmers who can help you to take advantage of Jabber with Microsoft's powerful collaboration platforms. Progent also can provide expertise with Apple iPhone integration as well as Android smartphone and tablet integration to help you to enhance the business value of your BYOD ecosystem.

Cisco WebEx Meeting Center
WebEX Meeting Center provides web and video conferencing for participants using a browser or almost any PC or mobile device. Cisco WebEx is delivered as software as a service via Cisco's WebEx Cloud. This makes it simple to roll out and scale, streamlines administration, avoids heavy initial investment, features maximum uptime and enterprise-grade security, and provides consistently high performance. Key capabilities include support for sharing discrete content or your whole screen with online participants in real time, the capability to add rich media into presentations including Microsoft PowerPoint and Flash videos, session recording plus playback for training and demonstrations, single sign-on (SSO) and integration with Cisco collaboration products such as Cisco Jabber and TelePresence, plus strong data protection and encrypted access with tight policy management.

WebEX Meeting Center runs on Microsoft Windows, Apple Mac, and Linux-powered PCs and allows mobile workers to launch, schedule, and participate in conferences on Android smartphones and tablets, Apple iPhones and iPads, BlackBerry phones, and Microsoft Windows Phone. Users can also initiate online conferences instantly from Microsoft Office, Microsoft Outlook, Lotus Notes, and a selection of IM solutions.

Cisco TelePresence Portfolio for In-house Video Conferencing Infrastructure
For medium-size businesses and larger enterprises who want to build an in-house or hybrid on-premises/cloud solution for video conferencing, Cisco provides a selection of Cisco TelePresence software and equipment that deliver high-definition video conferencing for users with almost any endpoint device at any location. Cisco TelePresence Server is an expandable teleconferencing bridge that works with Cisco Unified CM to provide multiparty video, audio and content sharing to converged deployments and can expand conferences to support cloud-connected WebEx Meeting Center participants. Cisco TelePresence Conductor software streamlines the control of the way video conferencing bandwidth and features are allocated for every individual attendee, enabling administrators to specify the precise service level and user experience required for every user. Cisco TelePresence Content Server captures video conference presentations for real-time streaming and video on demand (VOD) playback.

Cisco Unity Connection Platform and Unity Express for Converged Voice Messaging
Cisco's Unity Connection, an extension of Cisco Unified CM, is a unified voice messaging solution that facilitates collaboration by providing flexible set of alternatives for retrieving calls and messages within a framework that is simple to deploy and maintain. Unity Connection lets you access and manage your voicemail from your email inbox, web browser, Cisco Jabber messaging integration platform, a Cisco Unified IP Phone, a smartphone, or an iPad or tablet. Cisco Unity Connection also provides sophisticated speech-recognition features for hands and eyes free management and powerful Automated Attendant capabilities that include smart routing for incoming phone calls and custom call-screening and message-notification options. The Unity Connection system runs as a VM that can be hosted on a Business Edition 6000 server or a Cisco Services Ready Engine 910 router blade and can support up to 20,000 voice mailboxes per server.

Cisco Unity Express (CUE), offered in select Cisco Integrated Services routers, offers cost-effective voicemail, unified messaging, interactive voice response (IVR), and greeting functions for small to medium businesses (SMBs) and enterprise branch offices with up to 500 users. Unity Express allows you to access and manage voicemail messages using a Cisco Unified IP Phone display, your web browser, or your email system. Integrated Services Routers for which Unity Express is offered as a network module or advanced integration module include Cisco's 1861, 2800, 2900, and 3900 families. Progent can provide comprehensive configuration and troubleshooting services for Integrated Services Routers.

Unified Contact Center
Cisco Unified Contact Center Enterprise (UCCE) integrates with Cisco Unified Communications Manager and agent desktop software like Cisco Finesse to offer automatic call distribution features that allow an organization to connect customers with the proper sales or support person. UCCE offers intelligent call routing, computer telephony integration, support for multichannel contact management, network call queuing, interactive voice response (IVR) and advanced company-wide reporting to simplify the deployment and administration of a large-scale contact center. Cisco platforms incorporated in Unified CCE's client contact management ecosystem include Cisco Unified IP Phones, Voice, and Cisco network infrastructure.

Unified Contact Center Express (Unified CCX) offers a packaged bundle for creating a customer interaction management center for branch or midmarket systems that support as many as 400 agents. Several packages are available, plus a variety of optional advanced features. Cisco Unified Contact Center Express works with Cisco Unified CM and offers smart call distribution, client interaction management, integrated reporting, interactive voice response, and management of voice, email, web chat, and social media inquiries. Cisco Unified Contact Center Express comes with Finesse, a web-based customizable desktop agent that requires no client-side installation. Special options include conditional routing, expected-wait-time announcements, and productivity optimization with workforce and quality management.

Cisco Mobile Connect and Single Number Reach
Mobile Connect, popularly referred to as Single Number Reach (SNR), allows users to be called via a single number that rings simultaneously on their Cisco IP Phone and their cell phone. Users can transfer active calls between their desktop IP phone and their smartphone seamlessly. Calls that are not answered can be transferred to a Cisco Unity or Cisco Unity Connection account. Users can create their own access lists that determine which calls get extended to alternate phones.

Cisco Prime Collaboration
Cisco Prime Collaboration provides an automated platform for initial deployments and for follow-on moves, additions, changes, and deletions. An intuitive console provides a single look at a user and the user's services. Prime Collaboration substantially speeds up site installations and minimizes the effort required to implement future changes. Prime Collaboration also provides management analytics that show application adoption and usage trends, enabling administrators to optimize IT resources and further lower TCO.

Cisco Collaboration Gateways
Cisco's communications gateways permit Cisco Unified Communications environments to connect with other systems and with users operating outside the corporate firewall. Cisco's portfolio of communication gateways provide UC services for a broad range of gateway and session-border-control deployments.

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

Expressway Communication Gateway
Cisco's Expressway is a powerful collaboration gateway that allows organizations to provide workers, suppliers, customers, or business partners who are using different networks, collaboration applications, or endpoint equipment to access to Unified Communication services. The Expressway collaboration gateway works with a Cisco CM deployment or Cisco BE6000, or can be run through the cloud with Cisco Hosted Collaboration Solution (HCS) to make productive collaboration more pervasive. Important features of Expressway are are:

• Mobile and Remote Access: Remote users who have any Jabber-supported client or teleworkers with Cisco TelePresence endpoints have the convenience of single-sign-on (SSO) as well as TLS security and are able to connect to all their collaboration applications (video, business-quality voice, rich content instant messaging, and presence) without requiring the inconvenience starting a VPN. Also, telecommuters have the ability to utilize their Cisco TelePresence endpoints without the need for a VPN tunnel, providing a user experience at home that is identical to the corporate office.
• Cisco Jabber Guest Support: Cisco Expressway is integral for enabling Jabber Guest, which makes it possible for “guests” to interact with your organization simply and safely using lightweight web-browser and mobile video calls.
• Cisco Cloud Access: Expressway can function as a gateway that connects between on-premises Cisco or non-Cisco systems and Cisco's WebEx cloud. By offering support for Cisco Collaboration Meeting Rooms (CMRs), Cisco Expressway deliver a world-class, extensible meeting environment that transparently combines business-quality voice, HD video, and data sharing to anyone, at any location, using any endpoint.
• Interoperability: If your company already has non-Cisco video systems, Expressway can help you to migrate easily to Cisco products when it makes business sense. Cisco Expressway offers video compatibility with standards-based H.323, H.264 SVC, or Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) systems. Gateway standards allowed by Expressway include IPv4 to IPv6, H.323 to Session Initiation Protocol (SIP), and Microsoft Lync 2013 H.264 Scalable Video Coding to AVC/H.264.

• WebEx Cloud Connected Audio (CCA) for high-capacity SIP-based conferencing
• Voice/Video recording
• Enterprise Call-center and interactive-voice-response (IVR) solutions
• Policy-based evaluation of voice calls
• B2B telepresence over SIP

Cisco's End-of-Life UC520, UC540 and UC560 VoIP Gateways
The end-of-life Cisco Unified Communications 500 product line is a VoIP and unified communications solution for small organizations. UC500 models provide voice, data, voicemail, automated attendant, IP video, firewall, and wireless functionality, work with older generation Cisco VoIP phones, and support public switched telephone network (PSTN) connections.

All Cisco's UC500 series bundles include a compact switch with 8 Power-over-Ethernet ports plus additional FXS and foreign exchange office (FXO) ports, a firewall, and VPN. Integrated WiFi is optional. VoIP user capacity can be increased by connecting with Cisco Catalyst Express switches. Each UC500 offering also comes with licenses for Cisco Unified Communications Manager for VoIP call processing as well as Cisco Unity Express software for voice messaging and automated attendant. The Cisco UC520 package supports 8 to 16 VoIP users and include 4 foreign exchange stations and 4 FXO interfaces. The Cisco UC540 system allows 24 to 32 users and provides 8 FXO ports. The Cisco UC560 system supports 48 users and 12 foreign exchange office ports.

Progent's seasoned VoIP consultants can help you to support your legacy UC500 VoIP system or plan and implement an efficient migration to a current IP telephony and voicemail system like Cisco's Business Edition 4000.

How Progent Can Assist You with Cisco IP Voice and IP Media Phones, Cisco Unified CM, and Video Conferencing
Progent can provide online or on-premises help from a certified CCIE Collaboration consultant to assist you to design, install, administer and repair converged communications environments that incorporate Cisco Unified Communication products in an in-house, distributed, or hybrid environment. Progent's Cisco consultants have in-depth backgrounds integrating Unified Communications Manager and CallManager, VoIP phones and soft phones, UC applications such as Jabber and WebEx Meeting Center, Cisco's video conferencing technologies, communication gateways, tools incorporated into Cisco Catalyst switches and routers. Progent can also offer support for technologies such as Cisco Survivable Remote Site Telephony, Cisco Unified Border Element, H.323 and H.264 gateways, Call Admission Control, VoIP trunks, PSTN, and AVVID. Progent's SIP infrastructure experts can in addition assist you to create SIP connectivity solutions that incorporate SIP IP voice phones and media phones, SIP trunks, SIP conferencing and SIP administration tools via Cisco Unified Communications Manager.

Progent's application programmers can build specialized unified communications applications that will enable your organization to integrate the capabilities of Cisco Unified Communications Manager into your company processes for enhanced productivity. Progent can analyze your current network and Internet access infrastructure to determine whether your environment is configured to accommodate high-quality IP voice and HD video, assist you to select and integrate Cisco hardware and software appropriate for your current needs and future growth goals, and interface your Cisco Unified Communications products with technology from other vendors. Progent's CISSP-ISSAP certified data security and compliance consultants can show you how to create, deploy, and validate an enterprise-wide security strategy for your converged communications ecosystem. Also, Progent can assist your organization to deploy Cisco high-availability technologies such as Cisco Unified Survivable Remote Site Telephony to provide cost-effective call control redundancy in remote-branch and telecommuter sites, and Progent's disaster recovery and business continuity preparedness experts can help you develop a sensible disaster recovery plan to protect your crucial unified communications system.

Unified Communications Manager/CallManager Upgrade Consulting
Releases of Unified CM lower than 8.6 and every version of its predecessor CallManager have reached end-of-life. Therefore Cisco Engineering will no longer develop, fix, or validate the product software. Security updates for this business-critical product will stop, which in certain situations may create compliance or even potential liability problems.

Progent continues to provide premier consulting and troubleshooting support for end-of-life versions of Unified Communications Manager and Cisco CallManager, but if your company is now using a legacy edition of this pivotal software your organization should begin immediately to plan your migration. Progent's collaboration consultants can assist your company to migrate efficiently to the latest release of Cisco Unified Communications Manager and can often save customers as much as 50% off consulting service expense versus competing IT service firms because of Progent's documented process and hands-on experience in this practice area. By adhering to best practices, Progent can ensure that your organization gets a quick payback on your IT investment by helping you benefit fully from the new and improved features, reduced management and maintenance costs, more engaging collaboration, and tighter security offered by the current edition of Cisco Unified Communications Manager.

Progent's upgrade services include ROI assessment, project management or co-management, pilot testing and validation, Cloud integration, setting up collaboration endpoints from Cisco and other providers, smartphone and tablet connectivity, security and compliance consulting, streamlined management, disaster recovery/business continuity planning, network architecture design, training for IT staff and end users, and ongoing consulting and technical support. Progent also has put together fixed-priced upgrade service bundles to keep your costs predictable and under control.

To see additional details concerning Progent's consulting support for Cisco solutions, choose a topic:

• Overview of Progent's Cisco Network Support
• Fast Online Assistance from a Cisco Certified Internetwork Expert (CCIE) Engineer
• Cisco Firepower Series Firewalls: Integration and Management Services
• Cisco ASA 5500-X Firewall with Cisco Firepower: Setup and Troubleshooting Services
• ASA 5500 Firewall Troubleshooting Help
• Cisco PIX 500 Series Firewall Upgrade. Migration Help
• Cisco Routers Engineering Support
• Cisco Wireless Engineering Support
• Cisco Aironet Access Points Design Help
• Cisco Small Business 100, 300 and 500 WiFi Access Points Engineering Expertise
• Cisco Wireless Controllers Consulting
• Cisco Meraki Access Points Design Help
• Cisco Unified Communications Manager (CUCM or Unified CM) and Cisco CallManager Consulting and Troubleshooting
• Cisco Jabber Consulting and Support Services
• Cisco Catalyst Switches Consulting and Support Services
• Nexus Switches Consulting and Support Expertise
• Cisco Meraki MS Switches Configuration and Maintenance Expertise
• Cisco Security and VPN Engineering Assistance
• SIP and CUBE Infrastructure Solutions: SIP Trunking and Cisco CUBE Integration Consulting
• Infrastructure Design for Cisco-based Datacenters
• Infrastructure Design Services for ISPs
• Remote Network Management Strategies for Cisco-powered Environments