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Sending real-time voice and video over IP has evolved from simply being being a shrewd way to cut phone bills to being an indispensable tool for collaboration and productivity. Converged IP communications, once restricted to combining Internet-based voice and faxes on a single platform in order to replace traditional PBX equipment, now incorporates rich media, mobility, instant messaging, real-time presence, services, and more all in a cohesive framework that is easy to manage, scalable, highly secure, fault-tolerant, cost-effective, and user friendly.

Cisco is the market leader in supplying the hardware and software infrastructure required to support the current model of unified communications (UC). Cisco's UC architecture adds to the efficiency of IT systems by cutting operational costs; combining multiple collaboration functions with familiar software applications to improve user output; facilitating teamwork among workers, associates, and suppliers to save effort and enhance business results; and streamlining the management of your converged voice and data ecosystem.

Cisco's UC technology include these main product categories:,

• Call Control Platforms for managing calls and sessions
• Collaboration Phones and Softphones to enhance end-user productivity
• Unified Communications Applications for integrated access to real-time, IM, voice and video, voice messages, desktop sharing, and voice/video conferencing
• IP Gateways for providing connectivity with public networks and remote users

Call Control Agents - Unified Communications Manager (CallManager)
Cisco's call-processing agent is the core of Cisco's IP Communications portfolio and gives you the versatility to implement a centralized call-processing model, a decentralized design, or a combination of both. In a centralized deployment, Cisco Unified Communications Manager (UC Manager or CUCM) extends enterprise telephony capabilities to packet devices such as VoIP handsets, media processing products, VoIP gateways, and multimedia applications across the IT environment. Unified Communications Manager supports extra mixed media functions such as unified messaging, multimedia conferencing, and group-based customer communication networks.

The most recent version of Cisco Unified CM, formerly branded Cisco CallManager, offers a wealth of enhancements that speed up ROI by cutting management and support costs, increasing user productivity, enhancing teamwork, accommodating the bring-your-own-device style of computing, elevating data protection, and making optimal utilization of network infrastructure. Top new features include automatic dial-plan replication, simplified certificate control, extended support for single sign-on (SSO) for administrators and users, hardware-independent call recording, mobile access with no need for VPN tunneling, a revamped self-provisioning utility that makes it simple for workers to set their options and preferences for all devices, and support for Secure Real-Time Transport Protocol for mobile users.

When you implement a centralized Cisco Unified Communications Manager cluster to control call processing for customers at distributed sites, IT managers can help achieve non-stop call availability 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 incorporated in the router offers basic Unified Communications Manager services until the link is restored. For a description of Progent's consulting support for Cisco ISR routers, refer to consulting support for Cisco ISR routers.

For small businesses, branch offices, and retail environments that do not require the full functionality available from Unified CM, Unified Communications Manager Express, formerly named CallManager Express offers a budget-friendly PBX alternative that meets the needs of sites with up to 450 workers. Because Cisco Unified Communications Manager Express Unified Communications Manager Express (Unified CCX) is embedded in the IOS Software operating on a Cisco ISR router, smaller organizations can rapidly implement a unified voice/data solution.

The Cisco BE6000 is a line of end-to-end platforms that offer fundamental unified communications features such as routing, gateway, high definition voice and video, messaging, IM and presence, voice and video conferencing, and paging support, allowing any user to connect on any endpoint device from any site. All solutions are shipped preinstalled with virtualization and Unified Communications applications, making deployment quick and simple and reducing operating expenses for companies with as many as 1000 workers. All systems come packaged preconfigured with a virtualization hypervisor and UC applications. You can instantly enable collaboration software applications when their needs grow.

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

For more information about Progent's support for Unified Communications Manager, see Unified Communications Manager (CUCM) and CallManager planning, integration, upgrades and technical support.

Cisco IP Phones: VoIP and IP Media Endpoints
A communications endpoint is a user instrument, and can be a hardware phone or a software phone program on a desktop or mobile computer. In the Internet Protocol world, each VoIP endpoint has an Ethernet connection. IP phones offer all of the features that an analog telephone provides, but Voice over IP phones can also have additional features such as the ability to access websites or run collaboration software.

Unlike ordinary Private Branch Exchange technology, in a Cisco IP communications environment you can implement almost instant relocations, additions, and modifications. All you do is take the VoIP handset to its new spot, plug it into the Ethernet connection, and the IP phone registers itself with Cisco Unified Communications Manager (formerly CallManager). All client privileges and configurations are programmatically replicated, doing away with the expense and delay of dispatching support personnel to rewire connections. An additional helpful feature is extension mobility, which enables you to log into any Cisco IP phone and get your own phone extension and privileges.

Cisco offers a broad range of collaboration handsets. Cisco's low-cost SPA 300 Series are no-frills IP and Digital Enhanced Cordless Telecommunications devices offering wide-band voice, compatibility with hosted Internet Protocol phone systems or an IP private branch exchange, simple deployment and secure remote installation, in-service software upgrades, and web-based configuration. The value-priced SPA301 is a single-line VoIP endpoint with no display or speakerphone function, a base dialer with one Ethernet connector, and a wired handset without keys. The SPA302D, intended exclusively for operation with Cisco's SPA232D Multi-Line DECT ATA, is a multiline cordless DECT handset that supports 10-lines, a TFT 176 x 220 pixel color display, and a dial pad with speakerphone capability. The SPA303 is an entry-level three-line IP phone with dual switched ports, a 128x64 mono screen and a speaker.

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

Cisco's Unified IP Phones 3900 Series and IP Phones 6900 Series are specialty IP voice devices designed for occasional-use settings such as cafeterias, hallways, and conference centers. The Unified SIP Phone 3905 features VoIP phone features a 128 x 32 pixel mono non-backlit screen, an integrated Ethernet switch, a speakerphone, and Power over Ethernet (PoE). The bare-bones Cisco Unified IP Phone 6901 is a single-line device with no screen and uses a hook switch for transferring a call or conferencing.

Cisco's 7800 Series of economical IP phones are VoIP endpoints with backlit mono displays, four programmable buttons, 11 fixed-feature keys, an Ethernet switch with PoE, and a speakerphone. The 7800 Series VoIP phones support only the SIP call control protocol. All devices in the 7800 family incorporate the same high-fidelity speakers and microphones as Cisco's 8800 Series IP phones to provide a best-in-class audio experience. Cisco's EnergyWise power-save feature, offered on the higher end 7800 units, cuts off-hours energy usage by as much as 60 percent. The Cisco IP Phone 7811 is a one-line phone designed for common areas and for employees with infrequent call needs. The IP 7811 comes with a 3.28-inch 384 x 106 display plus a narrow-band speakerphone. Wideband audio is available via an optional wideband handset. Cisco's IP Phone 7821 is a two-line endpoint with a 396 x 162 screen. The IP Phone 7841 is a four-line endpoint with a 396 x 162 screen and is the only model in the 7800 line to support Gigabit Ethernet. The high-end IP Phone 7861 VoIP phone is a 16-line device intended for administrative staff, contact center personnel, and supervisors who have significant call needs.

Cisco Unified IP Phone 7900 Series are SIP and SCCP IP voice and video endpoints with a 320 x 240 color display, a Gigabit Ethernet switch, Class 3 PoE, 10 dedicated buttons and a speakerphone. The Cisco Unified IP Phone 7945G is a dual-line device and the Cisco Unified IP Phone 7965G includes four lines. Both IP phones have a 5-inch screen and four soft buttons. The Cisco Unified IP Phone 7975G unit is an eight-line IP voice and video phone with a 5.6-inch touch screen and five soft keys.

Cisco's IP Phone 8800 Series is a portfolio of SIP-only endpoints that includes desktop units, a conference phone, and mobile wireless IP Phones. The desktop models are five-line IP phones with a 5-inch 800 x 480 display, a Gigabit Ethernet switch, a speakerphone, four soft buttons and 12 dedicated buttons. Cisco's IP Phone 8811 includes a mono screen and supports Class 2 PoE. Cisco's IP Phone 8841 has a WVGA color screen 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 PoE. The Cisco IP Phone 8851 has a WVGA color screen and a USB port with charging capability, supports Intelligent Proximity for Mobile Voice and Class 3 PoE, and is available in Bluetooth and non-Bluetooth models. The Cisco IP Phone 8861 has a WVGA color display, Bluetooth, dual 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 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 industrial-grade wireless devices intended for workers who are mobile within office, warehouse, health-care or other environments where IT management wants portable phones that provide more administrative control, data security and ruggedness than is possible with the BYOD (Bring-Your-Own-Device) mode of workplace communications. Cisco's 8821 and 8812-EX wireless VoIP phones provide mobile on-premises users the benefits of voice over wireless LAN (VoWLAN) communications in workplaces with 802.11a/b/g/n/ac Wi-Fi infrastructure. The 8821 Wireless IP Phone includes a hi-res color screen, a durable case rated Mil-SPEC 810G for shock resistance and IP67 for particulate and splash resistance, long-life batteries, a speakerphone, and a Bluetooth 4.0 radio for hands-free operation with wireless headsets. The 8821-EX Wireless VoIP Phone adds anti-sparking protection for hazardous environments. The 8821-EX also has a case made out of industry-standard yellow plastics, which makes the device easy to find during a crisis. Find out about Progent's Wireless IP Phone integration and troubleshooting support.

Cisco's discontinued 9900 Series of advanced IP phones combine high-definition voice with business-grade color screens to provide a productive multimedia unified communications solution for knowledge professionals and executives. Both IP phones in the 9900 line feature a Standard Definition 640x480 pixel color display, a Bluetooth 2.0 transceiver to support a broad choice of headsets, and an integrated 10/100/1000 Ethernet port. Cisco's Power Save function is offered as an option and can reduce off-work energy draw by 90 percent. The Cisco IP Phone 9951 features a 5-inch screen and supports up to 2 IP Color Key Expansion Modules for adding 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 deployment with wireless environments, and four soft-label touchscreen keys to invoke Cisco Unified Communications functions. The 9971 supports up to 3 IP Color Key Expansion Modules for adding customizable line and function keys.

Unified Communications Applications
Within Cisco's Unified Communications platform, IP phone, IP video, and other UC applications are separate from the call- and voice-processing mechanism, and they may reside at any location within the system. A cohesive network framework offers an open platform for powerful business applications and acts as a solid basis for downstream convergence-based software. Cisco works with leading technology partners to provide a broad selection of IP phone and video software applications and devices. Cisco also enables the ability to create and manage specialized in-house programs.

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

Cisco Jabber
Jabber is a UC application that supports presence, instant messaging, voice, video, voice messaging, screen sharing, and online conferencing capabilities for Windows PCs, Apple Macs, iPads and Android tablets and iPhones, Android phones, and Blackberries. Cisco Jabber is an evolution and combination of the Unified Personal Communicator soft phone application, Cisco Mobile, and WebEx Connect, with major improvements in the areas of video features and desktop screen sharing, and expanding the collaboration experience to additional platforms and endpoint hardware. Cisco Jabber operates with Unified CM for call management, Cisco Unified Presence for IM and presence, Unity Connection for voice messaging and automated attendant, and WebEX Meeting for conferencing.

Because Jabber is based on popular communication protocols, it can communicate with a broad selection of non-Cisco platforms. For instance, Extensible Messaging and Presence Protocol (XMPP) allows Cisco Jabber users to trade instant messaging and presence information with various XMPP clients including as Adium for Mac OS, IBM Sametime, and Microsoft Lync. Cisco Jabber capabilities can be accessed from Microsoft Office applications such as Outlook and SharePoint. This cross-platform compatibility optimizes output by providing a common user experience and fully enabling the bring-your-own-device paradigm of computing. Progent offers the expertise of Microsoft-certified Exchange consultants and SharePoint application developers who can show you how to take advantage of Jabber with Microsoft's popular collaboration platforms. Progent also can provide expertise with iPhone and iPad integration and Google Android phone and tablet integration to help your organization to enhance the productivity of your BYOD environment.

Cisco WebEx Meeting Center
WebEX Meeting Center enables web conferencing for participants using a browser or almost any desktop or handheld computer. Cisco WebEx Meeting Center is delivered as SaaS via the Cisco WebEx Cloud. This makes it easy to roll out and scale, streamlines administration, avoids major initial investment, offers maximum uptime and enterprise-grade data protection, and provides fast throughput. Important features include support for sharing specific content or your entire screen with remote participants in real time, the capability to add multimedia into your presentations including PowerPoint and Flash animations, network-based recording plus playback for training, single sign-on and integration with other Cisco collaboration applications such as Jabber and Cisco TelePresence, plus stringent data privacy and encrypted connections with strict policy management.

Cisco WebEx Meeting Center works with Microsoft Windows, Apple Mac, and Linux desktops and permits mobile workers to launch, schedule, and attend meetings on Google Android smartphones and tablets, iPhones and iPads, BlackBerry phones, and Windows Phone. Users can also launch web meetings instantly from Microsoft Office, Outlook, Notes, and a selection of IM solutions.

Cisco TelePresence Portfolio for In-house Teleconferencing Infrastructure
For midsize organizations and larger enterprises who want to create an in-house or hybrid in-house/cloud solution for video conferencing, Cisco offers a portfolio of Cisco TelePresence platforms that enable high-quality and standards-based teleconferencing for users with virtually any endpoint device at any site. Cisco TelePresence Server is a scalable teleconferencing bridge that runs in conjunction with Cisco Unified CM to provide multiparty telepresence to UC environments and can expand conferences to include cloud-connected WebEx Meeting Center users. Cisco TelePresence Conductor software simplifies management of the way video conferencing resources should be allotted for every individual attendee, allowing managers to specify the precise service level and experience required for each user. Cisco TelePresence Content Server collects video and presentations for real-time streaming as well as video on demand (VOD) 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 voicemail system that promotes productive collaboration by offering a variety of options for retrieving calls and messages within an environment that is easy to implement and maintain. Unity Connection allows you to access and manage your voicemail from your email inbox, web browser, Jabber, a Cisco Unified VoIP Phone, a smartphone, or an iPad or tablet. Cisco Unity Connection also offers sophisticated voice-recognition features for hands-free operation and extensive Automated Attendant features that include intelligent routing for incoming phone calls and easily customizable call-filtering and message-alert settings. The Unity Connection platform operates as a VM that can be hosted on a Business Edition 6000 server or a Cisco SRE 910 router blade service module and can support as many as 20,000 voice mailboxes per server.

Cisco Unity Express (CUE), available in certain Cisco Integrated Services routers, offers cost-effective voicemail, integrated messaging, interactive voice response (IVR), and automated-attendant services for small to medium businesses and corporate satellite offices with as many as 500 voice mailboxes. Cisco Unity Express allows users to access and manage voicemail messages via a Cisco IP Phone screen, a browser, or your email system. ISR Routers for which Cisco Unity Express is offered as a network module or advanced integration module include Cisco's 1861, 2800, 2900, and 3900 families. Progent can provide certified configuration and support services for all ISR routers.

Cisco Unified Contact Center
Unified Contact Center Enterprise (Unified CCE) integrates with Unified CM and agent desktop apps such as Cisco Finesse to provide automatic call distribution features that allow an organization to match customers with the proper salesperson or service representative. Unified CCE features smart call routing, computer telephony integration (CTI), multiple channel contact management, network-wide call queuing, interactive voice response (IVR) and advanced company-wide reporting to simplify the creation and administration of a modern customer contact center. Cisco platforms incorporated in UCCE's customer contact management ecosystem include Cisco Unified IP Phones, Cisco Voice Gateways, and Cisco network infrastructure.

Cisco Unified Contact Center Express (Unified CCX or CCX) offers 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 offered, plus a variety of optional enhancements. Unified CCX integrates closely with Cisco Unified CM and offers intelligent call routing, contact management, reporting, IVR, and management of voice, email, web chat, and social media inquiries. Unified Contact Center Express includes Cisco Finesse, a web-based customizable desktop agent that requires no client-side software setup. Advanced options include call-in-queue, expected-wait-time announcements, and productivity optimization with workforce and quality management.

Cisco Mobile Connect for Single Number Reach (SNR)
Mobile Connect, commonly referred to as Single Number Reach (SNR), makes it possible for users to be reached via a single phone number that rings simultaneously on their Cisco IP Phone and their mobile phone. Users can switch live calls between their desktop VoIP phone and their mobile phone without disruption. Calls that are not answered can be redirected to a Unity or Unity Connection voicemail account. Users can create personal access lists that determine which calls get extended to different phones.

Cisco Prime Collaboration
Cisco Prime Collaboration Provisioning offers an automated process for initial installs and for “day 2” moves, additions, changes, and deletions. A user-friendly interface delivers a unified look at a subscriber and the user's services. Cisco Prime Collaboration Provisioning substantially speeds up company-wide installations and minimizes the time needed to implement future changes. Prime Collaboration also provides management analytics that show technology adoption and usage trends, enabling administrators to optimize IT resources and further reduce total cost of ownership.

Cisco Collaboration Gateways
Cisco's communications gateways permit Cisco Unified Communications networks to communicate with other networks and with clients working outside the firewall. Cisco's portfolio of gateways provide UC services for a wide variety of gateway as well as session-border-control applications.

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

Expressway Converged Communication Gateway
Cisco's Expressway is an advanced unified communications and collaboration gateway that allows companies to provide employees, vendors, customers, or business partners who are using various outside networks, collaboration platforms, or endpoint devices to access to Cisco Unified Communication functions. Cisco's Expressway collaboration gateway works with an enterprise Cisco CM deployment or Cisco Business Edition, or can be accessed through the cloud with Cisco Hosted Collaboration Solution (HCS) to make collaboration more pervasive. Important capabilities of Expressway are include:

• Mobile and Off-site Access: Off-site users with any Jabber-supported client or teleworkers with Cisco TelePresence endpoints get the convenience of one-time sign-on as well as Transport Layer Security (TLS) and can connect to all their Jabber applications (video, business-quality voice, data IM, and realtime presence) without requiring the extra step of a VPN connection. Also, telecommuters can utilize their Cisco TelePresence endpoints without a VPN tunnel, providing a user experience at home the same as the corporate office.
• Cisco Jabber Guest Support: Cisco Expressway is required for supporting the Cisco Jabber Guest, which allows “guests” to interact with your business simply and safely via lightweight browser and mobile video phone calls.
• Cisco Cloud Access: Cisco Expressway can function as a gateway that connects between onsite Cisco or third-party systems and Cisco's WebEx cloud. By offering support for Cisco Collaboration Meeting Rooms (CMRs), Expressway deliver an advanced, extensible teleconferencing environment that seamlessly integrates voice, high-definition video, and content sharing to any client, anywhere, on any device.
• Interoperability: If your company already has non-Cisco video technology, Cisco Expressway can help you to migrate efficiently to Cisco products whenever it makes business sense. Cisco Expressway provides video interoperability with standards-based H.323, H.264 SVC, or Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) systems. Interoperability capabilities allowed by Cisco Expressway include IPv4 to IPv6, H.323 to SIP, and Microsoft Lync H.264 Scalable Video Coding (SVC) to H.264/MPEG-4 AVC.

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

Cisco's End-of-Life UC520, UC540 and UC560 VoIP Gateways
The legacy Cisco Unified Communications 500 Series is an early VoIP gateway solution for small businesses. UC500 packages deliver voice, data, voicemail, automated attendant, IP video, firewall, and WiFi capabilities, work with older generation Cisco IP Voice phones, and support various public switched telephone network (PSTN) interfaces.

All of UC500 series bundles include a compact switch appliance with 8 Power-over-Ethernet (PoE) ports and additional FXS and FXO ports, a firewall, and VPN support. Built-in WiFi is optional. VoIP user capacity can be expanded by attaching Cisco Catalyst Express switches. Each 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 system supports 8 to 16 users and include 4 FXS and 4 FXO ports. The Cisco UC540 package supports 24 to 32 users and provides 8 FXO ports. The Cisco UC560 package allows 48 users and 12 foreign exchange office interfaces.

Progent's seasoned VoIP consultants can assist you to maintain your legacy UC500 VoIP gateway or design and carry out a smooth upgrade to a modern IP telephony and voicemail solution such as Cisco's Business Edition 4000.

How Progent Can Assist You with Cisco IP Voice and IP Media Phones, CUCM, and Video Conferencing
Progent offers online or onsite help from a certified CCIE Collaboration specialist to help your business to design, implement, manage and troubleshoot unified communications environments supported by Cisco Unified Communication products in an in-house, distributed, or hybrid deployment. Progent's Cisco engineers have in-depth experience integrating Unified Communications Manager and CallManager, VoIP phones and soft phones, UC applications such as Cisco Jabber and WebEx Meeting Center, Cisco's immersive telepresence technologies, communication gateways, tools built into Cisco switches and routers. Progent can also offer expertise with related technologies such as Cisco Survivable Remote Site Telephony, CUBE, H.323 and SIP gateways, Call Admission Control, IP voice trunks, various signaling protocols, and Cisco's AVVID architecture. Progent's SIP integration consultants can in addition help you to create SIP connectivity solutions that incorporate SIP IP voice phones and video phones, SIP trunks, SIP conferencing and SIP management tools via Cisco Unified CM.

Progent's custom application programmers can create specialized unified communications applications that will help your business to integrate the features of Cisco Unified Communications Manager into your company operations for enhanced productivity. Progent can audit your existing network and Internet connectivity 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 downstream expansion goals, and interface your Cisco collaborative communications solution with technology from other vendors. Progent's CISSP-ISSAP certified data security consultants can show you how to create, carry out, and test an enterprise-wide security and compliance plan for your converged communications solution. In addition, Progent can help your organization to deploy Cisco high-availability technologies like Cisco Unified Survivable Remote Site Telephony (SRST) for affordable call control redundancy in remote-branch and telecommuter sites, and Progent's disaster recovery preparedness consultants can help you create a viable disaster recovery plan to ensure the availability of your crucial communications environment.

Cisco Unified Communications Manager/CallManager Upgrade Consulting
Releases of Cisco Unified CM earlier than 8.6 and all releases of its predecessor CallManager have arrived at end-of-life. Therefore Cisco Engineering will no longer develop, repair, or validate this older software. Security patches for this business-critical application will end, which in certain circumstances could create compliance or legal liability issues.

Progent continues to provide expert consulting and troubleshooting support for outdated releases of Unified CM and CallManager, but in case your business is still running an out-of-dated version of this pivotal software your organization should begin immediately to prepare for your upgrade. Progent's Cisco-certified consulting professionals can help your company to upgrade non-disruptively to the current release of Cisco Unified Communications Manager and can typically save clients up to 50% off consulting fees versus competing IT service firms thanks to Progent's documented process and hands-on experience in this practice area. By following best practices, Progent can ensure that your company realizes a fast payback on your investment by helping you benefit fully from the new and improved feature set, lower management and support costs, more productive collaboration, and tighter security provided by the latest release of Unified Communications Manager.

Progent's upgrade services include ROI assessment, project management, pilot testing and validation, Cloud integration, configuring endpoint devices from Cisco and third-party suppliers, mobile integration, data protection services, management automation, disaster recovery/business continuity planning, network infrastructure design, training, and continuing consulting services and technical support. Progent also offers ultra-affordable migration packages to make sure your costs are visible and affordable.

To see more information concerning Progent's engineering help for Cisco networking products, pick a topic:

• Introduction to Progent's Cisco Engineering Services
• Fast Remote Support from a Cisco CCIE Engineer
• Cisco Firepower NGFW Firewalls: Configuration and Troubleshooting Support
• Cisco ASA 5500-X Firewalls with Cisco Firepower Services: Integration and Troubleshooting Support
• ASA 5500 Firewall Integration Help
• Cisco PIX Series Firewall Maintenance Help
• Cisco Routers Engineering Support
• Cisco Wireless Deployment Help
• Cisco Aironet APs Consulting Help
• Cisco Small Business 100, 300 and 500 Wireless Access Points Deployment Support
• Catalyst Wi-Fi 6/6E Wireless APs Planning, Configuration and Troubleshooting Expertise
• Cisco Wireless Controllers Consultants
• Meraki Access Points Deployment Services
• Cisco Unified Communications Manager (CUCM or Unified CM) and Cisco CallManager Consulting and Troubleshooting
• Cisco Jabber and Management Services
• Catalyst Switches Deployment Expertise
• Cisco Nexus Switches Consulting and Support Services
• Cisco Meraki MS Switches Configuration and Maintenance Expertise
• Cisco Security and VPN Integration Help
• SIP and CUBE Infrastructure Solutions: SIP Trunks and CUBE Integration Consulting
• Cisco Duo MFA Two-factor Authentication (2FA) Services for Remote Workers
• Design Expertise for Cisco-based Data Centers
• Data Center Design Expertise for ISPs
• Centralized Cloud-based and Hybrid Management Techniques for Cisco-based Environments