Cisco Certified Network Consultants

Sending live voice and video over IP has advanced from simply being being a shrewd means to cut phone carrier bills to being an indispensable technology for productive collaboration. Converged communications, at one time limited to managing Internet-based voice and faxes on one platform in order to take the place of expensive PBX equipment, today incorporates rich media, mobile communications, chat, real-time presence, services, and much more all in a cohesive environment that is manageable, scalable, protected, fault-tolerant, economical, and intuitive.

Cisco is the global leader in providing the hardware and software infrastructure for supporting the modern model of unified communications (UC). Cisco's UC product line enhances the efficiency of information networks by cutting operating expenses; integrating rich media functions with familiar software programs to increase worker output; supporting teamwork among workers, associates, and suppliers to save time and improve business outcomes; and streamlining the support of your communications infrastructure.

Cisco's Unified Communications solutions cover these main product categories:,

• Call Control Platforms for managing calls and sessions
• IP Phones and Softphones to optimize worker engagement
• UC Software Applications for more productive access to real-time, chat, voice and video, phone messages, desktop sharing, and voice/video conferencing
• Communications Gateways for connecting to outside networks and telecommuters

Call Processing Software - Unified Communications Manager (CallManager)
Cisco's call-processing agent is the core of the Cisco IP telephony solution and gives you the flexibility to implement a central call-processing model, a decentralized design, or a mix of both. In a centralized deployment, Cisco Unified Communications Manager (UC Manager or CUCM) expands enterprise telephony capabilities to packet telephony products such as IP phones, media management devices, VoIP gateways, and mixed media applications throughout the network. Cisco Unified Communications Manager enables additional multimedia functions including unified messaging, multimedia conferencing, and group-based customer interaction networks.

The latest version of Cisco Unified CM, previously branded CallManager, offers a wealth of improvements that expedite your return on investment by cutting administrative and support costs, improving worker output, enhancing teamwork, accommodating the bring-your-own-device model of computing, elevating data protection, and allowing optimal use of network infrastructure. Headline innovations include Global Dial Plan Replication (GDPR), streamlined certificate control, expanded support for standards-based single sign-on (SSO) for administrators and end users, hardware-independent call recording, mobile connectivity without the need for VPN, a new self-care utility that makes it simple for users to specify their options and preferences for all devices, and support for Transport Layer Security for mobile clients.

In cases where you deploy a central Cisco Unified Communications Manager cluster to control call processing for users at distributed sites, administrators can help achieve continuous phone operation using Cisco Survivable Remote Site Telephony (SRST), a Cisco IOS Software image for routers. If a Wide Area Network link fails, Cisco Survivable Remote Site Telephony in the router offers core Unified Communications Manager functions until the connection is restored. For a description of Progent's consulting support for Cisco ISR routers, see consulting services for Cisco routers.

For small business networks, branch offices, and retail deployments that do not require the full feature set available from Unified CM, Cisco Unified Communications Manager Express, formerly known as CallManager Express provides an economical solution that meets the needs of sites with as many as 450 workers. Because Cisco Unified Communications Manager Express Unified Communications Manager Express (Unified CCX) is embedded in the IOS Software operating on a Cisco Integrated Services Router (ISR), smaller organizations can quickly set up a converged voice/data solution.

Cisco's BE6000 is a family of all-in-one solutions that offer fundamental collaboration capabilities including routing, IP gateway, premium voice and video, messaging, instant messaging and real-time presence, voice and video conferencing, and paging support, allowing any user to connect on any endpoint from any place. All versions are delivered preloaded with a virtualization hypervisor and UC applications software, making implementation quick and simple and cutting cost of ownership for organizations with from 25 to 1000 employees. All BE6000 solutions come preloaded with a virtualization hypervisor and Unified Communications applications. Organizations can simply enable UC applications as their needs evolve.

The small-scale BE6000S supports five fixed UC software applications installed on one integrated 2921V ISR router/IP gateway/virtualized E1600 M2 blade server device and can handle up to 150 users and 300 endpoint devices. The mid-market BE6000M includes four UC 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 Supports 8 unified communications software application options enabled on a single virtualized Cisco UCS C220 M4 server platform and can handle as many as 1000 users, 2500 endpoint devices, and 100 contact center agents.

For more details about Progent's expertise with Unified Communications Manager (CallManager), see Cisco Unified Communications Manager (Unified CM) and CallManager planning, configuration, migration and troubleshooting.

IP Phones: IP Voice and IP Video Phones
An IP communications endpoint is an end-user instrument, either a hardware phone set or a software phone program on a PC or mobile computer. In the IP environment, each IP handset or soft phone has an Ethernet connection. Voice over IP phones offer all of the capabilities that an analog phone handset has, but IP phones often provide additional functions such as the ability to access the web or host business software.

In contrast to traditional PBX technology, in a Cisco IP communications environment you can implement almost instant relocations, adds, and modifications. You simply move the VoIP handset to your new location, plug it into the Ethernet connection, and the IP phone registers itself with Cisco Unified Communications Manager (formerly CallManager). All user permissions and settings are automatically replicated, eliminating the expense and hassle of dispatching support personnel to wiring closets. An additional helpful capability is extension mobility, which allows you to sign into any Cisco IP phone and receive your personal phone extension and privileges.

Cisco offers a wide range of Unified CM handsets. Cisco's low-cost Small Business SPA 300 family are no-frills IP and Digital Enhanced Cordless Telecommunications phones offering high-quality audio, support for hosted IP telephony systems or an IP PBX, easy deployment and secure remote installation, unobtrusive software updates, and web-based configuration. 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 corded handset with no a keypad. The SPA302D, designed exclusively for use with Cisco's SPA232D DECT ATA, is a multiline cordless Digital Enhanced Cordless Telecommunications (DECT) IP phone that supports 10-lines, a TFT 176 x 220 pixel color display, and a keypad with a speakerphone. The SPA303 is an affordable three-line SIP-based IP phone with two switched Ethernet ports, a 128x64 mono graphical display and a speakerphone.

The SPA500 family VoIP phones are low-cost devices that support both SIP and SPCP signaling protocols, two switch ports, speakerphones, Power over Ethernet (PoE), and voice conferencing support. Most versions have a 128 x 64 monochrome screen display, The SPA501G VoIP phone supports eight lines and has eight programmable keys but no LCD screen. The SPA502G has a single line and has no programmable buttons. The SPA504G IP Phone supports four lines and has four soft keys. The SPA508G VoIP phone supports eight lines and eight programmable keys. The SPA509G supports 12 lines and has 12 soft keys. The SPA512G IP Phone supports four lines, no soft buttons and supports Gigabit Ethernet. The SPA514G VoIP phone supports four lines, has soft keys, and supports Gigabit Ethernet. The high-end SPA525G2 VoIP phone has a 320 x 240 color display, supports five lines, and has five soft buttons.

Cisco's Unified IP Phones 3900 Series and 6900 Series are specialty VoIP devices designed for occasional-use settings like lobbies, elevators, and conference facilities. The Unified SIP Phone 3905 IP Phone features a 128 x 32 monochrome non-backlit screen, a 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 conferencing.

The 7800 Series of economical IP phones are VoIP devices featuring backlit monochrome screens, four programmable keys, 11 dedicated keys, an integral Ethernet switch with Class 1 Power over Ethernet (PoE), and an integral speakerphone. The 7800 Series IP Phones support only the SIP signaling protocol. All models in Cisco's 7800 Series incorporate the same high-fidelity speakers and microphones as Cisco's 8800 Series IP phones to deliver a best-in-class audio solution. Cisco's EnergyWise power-save technology, available on the higher end 7800 units, reduces off-hours energy usage by as much as 60 percent. The Cisco IP Phone 7811 is a one-line VoIP phone designed for common locations and for employees with infrequent call requirements. The IP 7811 VoIP phone comes with a 3.28-inch 384 x 106 screen and a narrow-band speakerphone. Wideband audio is available via an optional handset. Cisco's IP Phone 7821 is a dual-line VoIP 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 unit in the 7800 series to support 1xGb Ethernet. The high-end IP Phone 7861 is a 16-line device intended for administrative staff, contact center agents, and supervisors who have heavy voice communications requirements.

The Cisco Unified IP Phone 7900 Series are dual-protocol (SIP/SCCP) IP voice and video endpoints with a 320 x 240 pixel color display, an integral 1xGb Ethernet switch, Class 3 Power over Ethernet, 10 fixed-feature buttons and a speakerphone. The Cisco Unified IP Phone 7945G is a two-line unit and the Cisco Unified IP Phone 7965G supports four lines. Both IP phones have a 5-inch display and four soft buttons. The Cisco Unified IP Phone 7975G device is an eight-line media phone with a 5.6-inch touch screen and five soft keys.

Cisco's IP Phone 8800 Series is a line of SIP-based IP phones that features desktop devices, a conference IP 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 buttons and 12 dedicated keys. Cisco's IP Phone 8811 includes a backlit mono display and supports Class 2 PoE. The Cisco IP Phone 8841 has a WVGA color display and supports Class 2 Power over Ethernet. 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 screen and one USB connection with charging capability, supports Intelligent Proximity for Mobile Voice and Class 3 PoE, and is offered in Bluetooth and non-Bluetooth versions. Cisco's IP Phone 8861 includes a WVGA color screen, Bluetooth, two USB connections with charging capability, and supports Cisco Intelligent Proximity for Mobile Voice, 802.11ac Wi-Fi, and Class 4 PoE. The Cisco IP Phone 8865 has a WVGA color screen, 720p HD video, an adjustable camera, Bluetooth, two USB ports with charging capability, and supports Cisco Intelligent Proximity for Mobile Voice, Wi-Fi, and Class 4 PoE.

Cisco's wireless IP phones are industrial-grade wireless devices designed for professionals who are mobile within campus, hospitality, retail or other environments where management requires user endpoints that offer more control, security and ruggedness than is possible with the BYOD (Bring-Your-Own-Device) style of mobile collaboration. Cisco's 8821 and 8812-EX wireless VoIP phones offer on-the-move onsite workers the benefits of voice over wireless LAN (VoWLAN) communications in environments that support 802.11x Wi-Fi. The 8821 Wireless VoIP Phone features a 2.4 inch color display, a durable shell designed to withstand dropping and compliant with IP67 for dust and splash resistance, extended batteries, a full-duplex speakerphone, and an integrated Bluetooth 4.0 radio for hands-free operation with wireless headsets. The 8821-EX Wireless VoIP Phone adds spark suppression for potentially combustible work sites. The 8821-EX also has a shell made out of industry-standard yellow plastics, which makes the device easier to find in an emergency. Find out about Progent's Cisco Wireless VoIP Phone integration consulting.

Cisco's discontinued 9900 Series of high-performance VoIP phones integrate high-quality voice with business-grade color screens to offer a productive collaborative experience for knowledge professionals, managers, and executives. The two models in the 9900 line feature an SD VGA color display, a Bluetooth transceiver to support a wide choice of headsets, and a built-in 10/100/1000 Ethernet port. The Cisco EnergyWise feature is optional and can reduce off-hour energy consumption by up to 90 percent. The IP Phone 9951 features a 5-inch display and allows up to 2 IP Expansion Modules for expanding programmable line and function keys. The Cisco IP Phone 9971 features a 5.6-inch display, a built-in 802.11a/b/g Wi-Fi radio for connecting to Voice-over-wireless LAN (VoWLAN) networks, and 4 customizable touchscreen keys to invoke Cisco Unified Communications features. The 9971 IP phone supports up to 3 IP Color Key Expansion Modules for adding scalability to customizable line and function keys.

Cisco Unified Communications Applications
Within Cisco's Unified Communications architecture, IP phone, video, and other converged applications are physically separate from the call-processing and voice-processing mechanism, and they may reside anywhere within the network. A single connectivity framework offers a versatile platform for powerful applications and acts as a firm foundation for future convergence-based software. Cisco cooperates with third-party IT industry companies to offer a wide range of IP telephony and IP video applications and devices. Cisco also enables the capability to create and administer specialized in-house programs.

Unified Communications application software available from Cisco and supported by Progent include:

Cisco Jabber
Jabber is a unified communications application that supports presence, instant messaging, business-quality voice, HD video, voicemail, desktop sharing, and real-time conferencing features for Windows PCs, Apple Macs, Apple and Android tablets as well as smartphones. Jabber is an evolution and combination of the Cisco Unified Personal Communicator soft phone application, Cisco Mobile, and WebEx Connect, with important enhancements in the areas of video capabilities and desktop screen sharing, and extending the team experience to additional platforms and endpoint hardware. Cisco Jabber works in conjunction with Cisco Unified CM for call control, Cisco Unified Presence for instant messaging and presence, Cisco Unity Connection for voice messaging and programmable attendant, and WebEX Meeting for conferencing and online meetings.

Since Cisco Jabber is built around key communication standards, it can communicate with a broad selection of non-Cisco platforms. As an example, Extensible Messaging and Presence Protocol (XMPP) enables Jabber users to trade instant messaging and presence information with other XMPP clients including as Adium, Sametime, and Microsoft Lync and Office Communications Server. Jabber collaboration features are available from Microsoft Office applications such as Microsoft Outlook and Microsoft SharePoint. This cross-platform support optimizes productivity by providing a consistent user experience and accommodating the bring-your-own-device model of computing. Progent can provide the expertise of certified Exchange and Outlook consultants and SharePoint experts who can show you how to integrate Jabber with Microsoft's popular collaboration products. Progent also can provide expertise with iPhone and iPad integration and Android phone integration and management to help you to increase the business value of your BYOD environment.

Cisco WebEx Meeting Center
Cisco WebEx Meeting Center provides online meetings for participants using a web browser or almost any desktop or handheld computer. Cisco WebEx Meeting Center is offered as software as a service via Cisco's WebEx Cloud. This makes it simple to roll out and expand, reduces the cost of management, eliminates heavy up-front investment, offers maximum uptime and enterprise-class security, and provides excellent throughput. Important capabilities include the ability to share discrete content or your whole screen display with remote participants in real time, the ability to add rich media into presentations including PowerPoint and Flash animations, session and content recording plus editing and playback for future reference and training, single sign-on (SSO) and integration with other Cisco collaboration products such as Cisco Jabber and TelePresence, plus stringent data protection and encrypted access with strict policy control.

Cisco WebEx Meeting Center works with Windows, Apple Mac, and Linux-powered desktops and notebooks and allows mobile workers to launch, schedule, and take part in meetings on Google Android devices, iPhones and iPads, BlackBerry phones, and Microsoft Windows Phone. Users can also initiate web meetings instantly from Microsoft Office, Microsoft Outlook, Notes, and a selection of IM applications.

Cisco TelePresence Products for On-premises Video Conferencing Ecosystems
For medium-size businesses and enterprises who wish to create an in-house or hybrid in-house/cloud solution for video conferencing, Cisco provides a selection of Cisco TelePresence software and equipment that enable high-quality video conferencing for participants with virtually any endpoint device at any site. Cisco TelePresence Server is a scalable video conferencing bridge that runs in conjunction with Cisco Unified Communications Manager to provide multiparty video, audio and content sharing to unified communications environments and can expand conferences to include cloud-connected Cisco WebEx Meeting Center participants. Cisco TelePresence Conductor software simplifies the control of how conferencing resources should be rationed for every individual participant, allowing administrators to specify the precise service level and user experience required for each user. Cisco TelePresence Content Server captures video and presentations for live streaming and video on demand (VOD) playback.

Cisco Unity Connection and Unity Express for Unified Voice Messaging
The Cisco Unity Connection, an extension of Unified Communications Manager, is a unified voice messaging platform that accelerates teamwork by providing flexible set of alternatives for retrieving voice messages within a framework that is easy to implement and maintain. Cisco Unity Connection lets you access and manage voicemail from your Exchange inbox, browser, Jabber, a Cisco Unified IP endpoint, a smartphone, or a tablet. Cisco Unity Connection also provides advanced speech-recognition features for hands-free management and extensive Automated Attendant functions that include intelligent routing for incoming calls and custom call-screening and message-alert settings. The Cisco Unity Connection platform runs as a fully virtualized system that can be hosted on a Business Edition 6000 server or a Cisco SRE 910 router blade and can accommodate up to 20,000 voice mailboxes per server.

Unity Express (CUE), available in select Cisco Integrated Services routers, provides cost-effective voicemail, integrated messaging, interactive voice response, and greeting functions for small to mid-size businesses and enterprise branch locations with up to 500 workers. Unity Express permits you to access and manage voicemail using a Cisco IP Phone display, a browser, or your email system. Cisco 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 offers certified deployment and troubleshooting services for all Integrated Services Routers.

Cisco Unified Contact Center
Unified Contact Center Enterprise (UCCE) works with Unified Communications Manager and desktop agent applications like Cisco Finesse to provide automatic call distribution features that allow an organization to connect customers with the proper sales or service agent. Unified CCE offers smart call distribution, computer telephony integration (CTI), support for multichannel contact management, call queuing, interactive voice response and consolidated enterprise-wide reporting to simplify the creation and administration of a modern customer contact center. Cisco products incorporated in Unified CCE's customer interaction management solution include Cisco Unified IP Phones, Voice, and Cisco LAN/WAN technology.

Cisco Unified Contact Center Express (Unified CCX or CCX) provides a packaged solution for building a customer contact center for mid-scale deployments that handle as many as 400 agents. Multiple packages are available, as well as a selection of special options. Cisco Unified Contact Center Express integrates with Unified CM and provides smart call routing, client management, reporting, IVR, and management of voice, email, chat, and social media inquiries. Unified CCX comes with Finesse, a browser-based customizable desktop agent that requires no client-side software setup. Advanced options include call-in-queue, expected-wait-time messages, and workforce quality management.

Cisco Mobile Connect and Single Number Reach (SNR)
Mobile Connect, commonly referred to as Single Number Reach (SNR), allows users to be reached via one number that rings simultaneously on their desktop VoIP Phone and their cell phone. Users can transfer active conversations between their Cisco VoIP phone and their smartphone without disruption. Unanswered calls can be transferred to a Cisco Unity or Unity Connection account. Users can create their own access lists that determine which calls are extended to different phones.

Cisco Prime Collaboration
Prime Collaboration offers an automated process for first-time deployments as well as for “day 2” moves, additions, changes, and deletions. A user-friendly interface provides a single look at a user and the user's services. Cisco Prime Collaboration Provisioning significantly accelerates site installations and minimizes the time required to implement future updates. Prime Collaboration also offers advanced analytics that show application adoption and usage trends, enabling administrators to optimize IT resources and further reduce total cost of ownership.

Cisco Collaboration Gateways
Cisco's communications gateways allow Cisco converged communications deployments to communicate with public systems and with users working beyond the firewall. Cisco's portfolio of gateways deliver unified communications services for a broad range of gateway and session-border-control deployments.

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

Cisco Expressway Converged Communication Gateway
Cisco's Expressway is an advanced unified communications and collaboration gateway that allows organizations to provide team members, suppliers, consumers, or partners who are working on various outside network environments, collaboration platforms, or endpoint equipment to connect to Unified Communication features. Cisco's Expressway works in conjunction with a Cisco Communications Manager system or Cisco BE6000, or can be accessed via the cloud with Cisco HCS to help make productive collaboration more universal. Key features of Expressway are are:

• Mobile and Remote Access: Remote users with any Jabber-compatible client or teleworkers with Cisco TelePresence endpoints get the benefit of single-sign-on (SSO) and of TLS security and can access all their collaboration workloads (video, high-quality voice, data instant messaging, and presence) without requiring the inconvenience starting a VPN connection. In addition, teleworkers have the ability to use their Cisco TelePresence endpoints without the need for a VPN tunnel, delivering a user environment at home the same as the corporate office.
• Jabber Guest Support: Expressway is integral for enabling Cisco's Jabber Guest, which permits “guests” to communicate with your business easily and safely via streamlined web-browser and mobile multimedia calls.
• Cisco Cloud Connectivity: Expressway can act as a gateway that connects between on-premises Cisco or third-party systems and the WebEx cloud. By supporting Cisco Collaboration Meeting Rooms (CMRs), Expressway deliver an advanced, extensible meeting experience that seamlessly integrates high-quality voice, video, and content sharing to anyone, at any location, using any device.
• Interoperability: If your organization already has third-party video products, Expressway can assist you to move efficiently to Cisco products whenever you choose. Cisco Expressway provides video compatibility with industry standard H.323, H.264 Scalable Video Coding (SVC), or Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) environments. Gateway standards allowed by Cisco Expressway include IPv4 to IPv6, H.323 to Session Initiation Protocol, and Microsoft Lync H.264 SVC to H.264/MPEG-4 AVC.

• Cisco 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 teleconferencing over SIP

Cisco's Legacy UC520, UC540 and UC560 VoIP Phone Systems
The legacy Cisco Unified Communications 500 (UC500) product line is a VoIP and unified communications appliance and software package for small organizations. UC500 packages deliver voice, data, voicemail, auto attendant, video, firewall, and wireless functionality, work with older Cisco IP Voice phones, and support various public switched telephone network (PSTN) connections.

All of Cisco's UC500 packages include a compact switch appliance with 8 Power-over-Ethernet (PoE) ports plus additional foreign exchange stations (FXS) and foreign exchange office (FXO) ports, a firewall, and VPN support. Integrated WiFi is optional. User capacity can be increased by attaching Cisco Catalyst Express switches. Every UC500 model also comes with 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 VoIP users and include 4 foreign exchange stations and 4 FXO interfaces. The Cisco UC540 package allows 24 to 32 users and provides 8 foreign exchange office ports. The Cisco UC560 system supports 48 users and 12 FXO interfaces.

Progent's seasoned VoIP consultants can assist you to maintain your legacy UC500 VoIP system or plan and implement an efficient upgrade to a modern IP telephony and voicemail system such as Cisco's Business Edition 4000.

How Progent Can Assist You with Cisco VoIP and IP Media Phones, Cisco Unified CM, and Telepresence
Progent offers online or onsite access to a Cisco Certified Internetwork Expert (CCIE) Collaboration consultant to help you to plan, implement, manage and troubleshoot converged communications environments that incorporate Cisco Unified Communication technology in a centralized, cloud-based, or hybrid environment. Progent's Cisco consultants have extensive experience supporting Unified Communications Manager and Cisco CallManager, Voice over IP and video phones and other endpoints, Unified Communications applications such as Jabber and Unity Connection, Cisco's video conferencing products, collaboration gatekeepers, tools built into Cisco switches and routers. Progent can also offer expertise with related technologies like Cisco SRST, CUBE, SIP gateways, Call Admission Control, IP voice trunks, PSTN, and Cisco's architecture for voice, video and integrated data. Progent's SIP infrastructure experts can also help you to create SIP connectivity solutions that include SIP IP voice phones and video phones, SIP trunks, and SIP administration tools with CUCM.

Progent's custom application developers can create specialized IP telephony software that will help your company to integrate the telephony capabilities of Cisco Unified Communications Manager into your business processes for enhanced efficiency. Progent can evaluate your current network and Internet connectivity infrastructure to determine whether your environment is optimized to accommodate high-quality VoIP and HD video, help you to select and deploy Cisco products appropriate for your present needs and downstream expansion strategy, and integrate your Cisco collaborative communications solution with technology from other suppliers. Progent's CISSP-ISSAP certified network security and compliance consultants can show you how to create, deploy, and test a comprehensive security and compliance plan for your unified communications ecosystem. Also, Progent can assist you to configure Cisco fault-tolerant mechanisms like Cisco Unified SRST for affordable call control backup in branch office and teleworker sites, and Progent's disaster recovery planning consultants can help you develop a viable disaster recovery strategy to ensure the availability of your business-critical communications system.

Unified Communications Manager/CallManager Upgrade Consulting
Releases of Unified Communications Manager 8.6 lower than 8.6 and all releases of its predecessor CallManager have reached end-of-life. This means Cisco will cease to develop, fix, or test this older software. Security updates for this business-critical product will end, which in certain circumstances may cause regulatory compliance or potential liability problems.

Progent will continue to offer premier support services for outdated versions of Unified CM and Cisco CallManager, but if your business is now running an out-of-dated edition of this pivotal application you should begin now to plan your migration. Progent's collaboration consultants can assist you to upgrade smoothly to the current release of Cisco Unified CM and can often save clients up to 50% off consulting service fees compared to most computer service firms because of Progent's documented procedures and hands-on experience in this practice area. By adhering to leading practices, Progent can make sure your company realizes a fast payback on your IT investment by helping you benefit fully from the new and improved features, lower management and support costs, more productive collaboration capabilities, and stronger security provided by the latest edition of Cisco Unified CM.

Progent's upgrade consulting services include ROI analysis, project management or co-management, pilot testing and validation, Cloud connectivity, configuring collaboration endpoints from Cisco and other vendors, smartphone and tablet integration, security and compliance consulting, streamlined management, disaster recovery planning, network topology design, training for IT staff and end users, and continuing consulting services and technical support. Progent also has put together fixed-priced migration packages to make sure your costs are visible and affordable.

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

• Introduction to Cisco Support
• Fast Remote Support from a Cisco Certified Internetwork Expert (CCIE) Consultant
• Cisco Firepower NGFW Firewalls: Integration and Management Support
• ASA 5500-X Series Firewall with Cisco Firepower: Configuration and Management Expertise
• ASA 5500 Series Firewall Troubleshooting Services
• PIX 500 Series Firewall Consulting Assistance
• Cisco Routers Configuration and Troubleshooting Expertise
• Cisco Wireless Network Design Support
• Cisco Aironet Wireless APs Design Support
• Cisco Small Business WiFi Access Points Deployment Expertise
• Catalyst 802.11ax Wireless Access Points Solution Design, Configuration and Debugging Consulting
• Cisco WiFi Controllers Support Services
• Cisco Meraki APs Engineering Expertise
• Cisco Unified Communications Manager (CUCM or Unified CM) and Cisco CallManager Integration and Troubleshooting
• Cisco Jabber and Management Expertise
• Catalyst Switches Configuration and Maintenance Expertise
• Nexus Switches Consulting and Support Services
• Cisco Meraki Switches Deployment Services
• Cisco VPN and Security Consulting Services
• SIP and CUBE Integration Solutions: SIP Trunks and CUBE Integration Consulting
• Design and Support for Cisco-powered Datacenters and Colocation Centers
• Infrastructure Design Expertise for Internet Service Providers
• Remote Management Solutions for Cisco-powered Infrastructure