Cisco Network Consultants

Exchanging live voice and video over IP (VoIP and Video over IP) has evolved from simply being being a savvy means to cut phone carrier bills to being an indispensable tool for collaboration and productivity. Converged IP communications, once limited to integrating Internet-based voice calls and faxing on the same system in order to replace expensive PBX equipment, today encompasses voice and video, mobile communications, instant messaging, presence, services, and more in a cohesive ecosystem that is manageable, scalable, highly secure, fault-tolerant, economical, and intuitive.

Cisco is the global leader in providing the hardware and software infrastructure required to support the modern paradigm of unified communications (UC). Cisco's UC architecture adds to the efficiency of IT systems by slashing operating costs; integrating rich media features with familiar software programs to increase worker output; supporting collaboration among employees, partners, and suppliers to save time and improve business results; and streamlining the management of your communications environment.

Cisco's UC solutions address several main product areas:,

• Call Control Agents for controlling rich media calls and sessions
• Communications Phones and Softphones to optimize worker productivity
• Unified Communications Applications for integrated access to real-time, chat, voice and video, phone messages, white boarding, and conferencing
• IP Gateways for providing connectivity with outside networks and remote users

Call Control Agents - Unified Communications Manager/CallManager
The call-processing agent is the centerpiece of the Cisco IP telephony portfolio and gives you the versatility to deploy a central call-processing design, a decentralized model, or a mix of the two. In a centralized approach, Unified Communications Manager (UC Manager or CUCM) extends corporate phone capabilities to packet network devices such as VoIP phones, media management devices, Voice over IP gateways, and multimedia applications throughout the IT environment. Cisco Unified Communications Manager enables additional multimedia functions including unified messaging, multimedia conferencing, and group-based client communication networks.

The latest version of Unified Communications Manager, formerly named Cisco CallManager, includes a wealth of improvements that speed up ROI by lowering management and maintenance costs, increasing user output, enhancing teamwork, accommodating the BYOD style of working, fortifying data protection, and allowing efficient utilization of IT resources. Headline new features include Global Dial Plan Replication (GDPR), simplified certificate control, expanded support for single sign-on for managers and end users, device-agnostic call recording, on-the-road access without requiring VPN tunneling, a revamped self-care interface that makes it easy for users to install their options for all of their endpoints, and support for Secure Real-Time Transport Protocol for mobile clients.

In cases where you implement a centralized Unified Communications Manager cluster to control call processing for customers at distributed sites, administrators can help ensure non-stop call operation using Cisco SRST, a Cisco IOS Software image for routers. If a Wide Area Network link breaks, Cisco SRST in the router offers basic UC Manager functions until the connection is returned. For information about Progent's consulting support services for Cisco routers, see consulting services for Cisco ISR routers.

For small business networks, branch locations, and retail environments that do not need the full functionality offered by Unified CM, Unified Communications Manager Express, previously known as CallManager Express offers an economical solution that meets the needs of locations with up to 450 users. Since Cisco Unified Communications Manager Express Unified Communications Manager Express (Unified CCX) is built into the IOS Software operating on a Cisco Integrated Services Router (ISR), smaller organizations can rapidly deploy a unified voice and data solution.

The Cisco BE6000 is a line of one-stop solutions that provide fundamental collaboration features including routing, IP gateway, premium voice and video, messaging, chat and presence, conferencing, and paging services, allowing any end user to collaborate on any device from any site. All BE6000 versions come packaged preconfigured with virtualization and collaboration applications software, making implementation fast and easy and reducing cost of ownership for organizations with up to 1000 employees. All solutions are shipped preinstalled with a virtualization hypervisor and UC applications. You can simply activate collaboration software applications as their needs grow.

The entry-level Business Edition 6000S supports five fixed UC applications installed on one combination router/gateway/virtualized blade server platform and can handle up to 150 workers and 300 devices. The mid-market BE6000M includes 4 UC software application options activated on a single virtualized C220 M4 server and can handle as many as 1000 users, 1200 endpoint devices, and 100 contact center agents. The high-end BE6000S includes 8 unified communications application options enabled on a virtualized Cisco UCS C220 M4 server platform and supports as many as 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 or Unified CM) and Cisco CallManager design, configuration, upgrades and technical support.

Cisco IP Phones: IP Voice and IP Video Endpoints
A communications endpoint is an end-user device, either a hardware phone set or a software phone program on a desktop or mobile computer. In the IP world, each VoIP handset or soft phone has an Ethernet connection. Voice over IP phones offer all of the functions that an ordinary telephone provides, but IP phones can also provide additional functions including the ability to access the web or run productivity-enhancing software.

Unlike conventional PBX systems, in a Cisco IP communications network you can perform almost instant relocations, adds, and changes. You simply take the IP handset to its new spot, attach it to an Ethernet connection, and the IP phone announces itself with Cisco Unified Communications Manager. All user rights and settings are automatically re-established, eliminating the expense and hassle of sending technicians to rewire connections. Another helpful capability is location independence, which allows you to sign into any Cisco VoIP phone and get your own phone extension and rights.

Cisco provides a wide range of VoIP phones. The low-cost SPA 300 family are no-frills IP and Digital Enhanced Cordless Telecommunications screenless or monochrome devices that feature wide-band audio, compatibility with hosted IP telephony environments or an IP PBX, easy installation and highly secure online provisioning, unobtrusive software updates, and web-based set up. The value-priced SPA301 is a one-line VoIP endpoint with no screen or speakerphone function, a base dialer with a single Ethernet connector, and a wired handset without a keypad. The SPA302D, designed exclusively for use with Cisco's SPA232D DECT ATA (Analog Telephone Adapter), is a multiline wireless Digital Enhanced Cordless Telecommunications (DECT) handset that offers 10-lines, a TFT 176 x 220 color display, and a keypad with speakerphone capability. The SPA303 is an entry-level three-line IP phone with dual switched ports, a 128x64 monochrome display and a speakerphone.

The SPA500 Series VoIP phones are affordable endpoints that support both SIP and SPCP signaling protocols, two Ethernet switch ports, speakerphones, built-in web servers, Power over Ethernet, and conferencing support. Most versions have a 128 x 64 pixel monochrome screen display, The SPA501G has eight lines and has eight soft keys but no LCD screen. The SPA502G IP Phone supports a single line and has no soft keys. The SPA504G IP Phone supports four lines and has four programmable buttons. The SPA508G VoIP phone supports eight lines and eight soft keys. The SPA509G IP Phone supports 12 lines and has 12 soft keys. The SPA512G VoIP phone supports four lines, no soft buttons and supports Gigabit Ethernet. The SPA514G IP Phone supports four lines, has programmable buttons, and supports Gigabit Ethernet. The high-end SPA525G2 IP Phone has a 320 x 240 color screen, supports five lines, and includes five soft buttons.

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, elevators, and conference centers. The Unified SIP Phone 3905 features VoIP phone features a 128 x 32 pixel mono non-backlit screen, a 10/100 Ethernet switch, a speakerphone, and Power over Ethernet (PoE). The simple Cisco Unified IP Phone 6901 is a single-line endpoint without a screen and requires a hook switch for call transfer or joining a conference.

The 7800 line of economical IP phones are VoIP desktop endpoints with backlit monochrome screens, four soft keys, 11 fixed-feature keys, an Ethernet port with Class 1 Power over Ethernet (PoE), and a speakerphone. The 7800 Series IP Phones support only the SIP signaling protocol. All devices in Cisco's 7800 family feature the same advanced speakers and microphones as Cisco's 8800 Series IP phones to deliver a best-in-class audio experience. Cisco's EnergyWise power-save feature, available on the advanced 7800 models, reduces after-hours energy consumption by as much as 60 percent. The Cisco IP Phone 7811 is a one-line VoIP phone designed for common locations and for workers with infrequent call requirements. The IP 7811 comes with a 3.28-inch 384 x 106 screen plus a narrow-band speakerphone. Wideband audio is offered via an optional 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 phone with a 396 x 162 screen and is the only device in the 7800 family to support Gigabit Ethernet. The high-end IP Phone 7861 is a 16-line device intended for administrative staff, contact center agents, and managers who have heavy call requirements.

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

Cisco's IP Phone 8800 Series is a portfolio of SIP-only IP phones that includes desktop devices, a conference phone, and wireless IP Phones. The desktop units are five-line IP phones featuring a 5-inch 800 x 480 pixel display, a Gigabit Ethernet switch, a speakerphone, four soft keys and 12 fixed-feature keys. The Cisco IP Phone 8811 features a backlit monochrome screen and supports Class 2 Power over Ethernet (PoE). Cisco's IP Phone 8841 features a WVGA color screen and supports Class 2 PoE. Cisco's IP Phone 8845 has a WVGA color display, 720p HD video, a tiltable camera, Bluetooth, Cisco Intelligent Proximity for Mobile Voice, and supports Class 2 PoE. The Cisco IP Phone 8851 has a WVGA color screen and a USB connection with charging capability, supports Intelligent Proximity for Mobile Voice and Class 3 Power over Ethernet, and is available in Bluetooth and non-Bluetooth models. Cisco's IP Phone 8861 has a WVGA color screen, Bluetooth, two USB ports with charging capability, and supports Cisco Intelligent Proximity for Mobile Voice, 802.11ac Wi-Fi, and Class 4 PoE. The Cisco IP Phone 8865 includes 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 Power over Ethernet.

Cisco's wireless VoIP phones are hardened Wi-Fi handsets intended for professionals who are on the move within campus, hospitality, health-care or other environments where management requires user endpoints that offer more administrative control, data security and ruggedness than is achievable with the BYOD (Bring-Your-Own-Device) style of workplace communications. Cisco's 8821 and 8812-EX wireless IP phones provide on-the-move onsite users the benefits of voice over wireless LAN (VoWLAN) technology in workplaces with 802.11x Wi-Fi infrastructure. The 8821 Wireless IP Phone features a hi-res color display, a durable shell rated Mil-SPEC 810G for shock resistance and compliant with IP67 for particulate and splash resistance, long-life batteries, a speakerphone, and an integrated Bluetooth transceiver for hands-free operation with wireless headsets. The 8821-EX Wireless IP Phone adds anti-sparking protection for use in hazardous work sites. The 8821-EX also has a shell composed of yellow plastics, which makes it easy to find the event of an emergency. Find out about Progent's Cisco Wireless VoIP Phone integration consulting.

Cisco's legacy 9900 line of advanced IP endpoints combine high-quality voice with hi-res color video to deliver a productive multimedia unified communications solution for knowledge professionals and executives. The two IP phones in the 9900 family include an SD 24-bit color screen, a Bluetooth radio to work with a wide range of headsets, and a built-in Gigabit Ethernet port. The Cisco Power Save function is offered as an option and can cut off-work energy draw by as much as 90 percent. The IP Phone 9951 features a 5-inch screen and allows up to 2 Cisco IP Expansion Modules for expanding programmable line and feature keys. The IP Phone 9971 features a 5.6-inch screen, an integrated Wi-Fi radio for deployment with Voice-over-wireless LAN (VoWLAN) environments, and four customizable touchscreen keys to access Cisco Unified Communications functions. The 9971 IP phone supports up to 3 Cisco IP Color Key Expansion Modules for expanding programmable line and feature keys.

Unified Communications Applications
Within Cisco's Unified Communications platform, IP phone, video, and other UC applications are independent from the call- and voice-processing infrastructure, and they may be anywhere within the network. A cohesive network infrastructure provides a versatile platform for powerful business applications and provides a solid foundation for future convergence-based applications. Cisco works 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 ability to develop and administer specialized internal applications.

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

Jabber
Cisco Jabber is a unified communications client application that provides presence, instant messaging, voice, high-definition video, voice messaging, screen sharing, and real-time conferencing features for PCs, Apple Macs, iPads and Android tablets plus smartphones. Jabber is a rebranding and combination of the Cisco Unified Personal Communicator soft phone application, Cisco Mobile, and WebEx Connect, with significant enhancements in the areas of HD video capabilities and desktop screen sharing, and expanding the team environment to additional operating systems and endpoint hardware. Jabber works with Unified Communications Manager for call and session management, Cisco Unified Presence for instant messaging and presence, Cisco Unity Connection for voicemail and programmable attendant, and Cisco WebEx Meeting for conferencing and online meetings.

Since Jabber utilizes key industry standards, it can communicate with a broad selection of third-party platforms. As an example, Extensible Messaging and Presence Protocol allows Cisco Jabber users to trade instant messaging and presence data with various XMPP clients including as Adium, IBM Sametime, and Microsoft Lync and Office Communications Server. Cisco Jabber collaboration features can be accessed from Microsoft Office applications such as Outlook and Microsoft SharePoint. This extensive platform compatibility maximizes output by delivering a common end-user environment and accommodating the bring-your-own-device model of computing. Progent can provide the services of Microsoft-certified Exchange and Outlook consultants and SharePoint application developers who can assist you to integrate Jabber with Microsoft's premier collaboration products. Progent also can provide expertise with iPhone integration and management and Android phone integration and management to help your organization to increase the productivity of your BYOD ecosystem.

WebEX Meeting Center
WebEX Meeting Center provides web conferencing for participants using a browser or virtually any desktop or mobile computer. Cisco WebEx is delivered as SaaS via Cisco's WebEx Cloud. This makes it simple to roll out and expand, reduces the cost of administration, eliminates major initial investment, features maximum uptime and enterprise-class security, and provides consistently high throughput. Important features include support for sharing discrete content or your whole screen display with online participants in real time, the capability to incorporate multimedia into your presentations including Microsoft PowerPoint and Flash videos, recording plus editing and playback for training and demonstrations, single sign-on (SSO) and support for other Cisco collaboration applications such as Jabber and Cisco TelePresence, plus stringent data protection and encrypted access with strict policy management.

Cisco WebEx Meeting Center works with Microsoft Windows, Apple Mac, and Linux-powered desktops and notebooks and permits mobile workers to start, calendarize, and take part in conferences on Google Android devices, Apple iPhones and iPads, BlackBerry phones, and Windows Phone. You can also initiate web meetings with a few clicks 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 want to build an in-house or hybrid in-house/cloud solution for teleconferencing, Cisco provides a portfolio of Cisco TelePresence software and equipment that enable high-definition video conferencing for attendees with virtually any IP endpoint at any location. Cisco TelePresence Server is an expandable teleconferencing bridge that runs with Cisco Unified CM to deliver multiparty telepresence to unified communications environments and can extend meetings to support cloud-based Cisco WebEx Meeting Center users. Cisco TelePresence Conductor software simplifies the control of the way conferencing bandwidth and features should be rationed for every individual attendee, enabling managers to specify the precise service level and user experience required for each user. Cisco TelePresence Content Server captures video conference presentations for live streaming and video on demand (VOD) playback.

Cisco's Unity Connection and Unity Express for Unified Voicemail
The Cisco Unity Connection, an integrated extension of Unified CM, is a converged voicemail system that promotes teamwork by offering a variety of alternatives for accessing calls and messages within a framework that is simple to deploy and manage. Cisco Unity Connection lets you access and manage voicemail messages from your Exchange inbox, web browser, Cisco Jabber messaging integration platform, a Cisco Unified IP Phone, an iPhone or other smartphone, or an iPad or tablet. Unity Connection also offers sophisticated speech-recognition capabilities for hands and eyes free management and powerful Automated Attendant features that include intelligent routing for incoming calls and easily customizable call-screening and message-alert options. The Unity Connection system operates as a VM that can reside 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), available in certain Cisco Integrated Services routers, provides affordable voicemail, unified messaging, interactive voice response (IVR), and greeting services for small to mid-size businesses and corporate satellite offices with up to 500 workers. Unity Express allows users to manage voicemail messages using a Cisco IP Phone screen, your web browser, or your email system. Integrated Services Routers for which Cisco Unity Express is available as a network module or advanced integration module include Cisco's 2800, 2900, and 3900 families. Progent can provide comprehensive consulting and support services for all Integrated Services Routers.

Cisco Unified Contact Center
Unified Contact Center Enterprise (UCCE) integrates closely with CUCM and agent desktop software such as Cisco Finesse to provide automatic call distribution (ACD) capabilities that allow an organization to match customers with the proper salesperson or service representative. Unified CCE or UCCE offers intelligent call distribution, computer telephony integration, multichannel contact management, call queuing, interactive voice response (IVR) and advanced enterprise-wide reporting to simplify the creation and administration of a modern customer contact center. Cisco products supporting UCCE's customer interaction management ecosystem include Cisco Unified IP Phones, Voice, and Cisco network infrastructure.

Cisco Unified Contact Center Express (CCX) offers an out-of-the-box bundle for building a customer interaction management center for mid-scale deployments that handle as many as 400 agents. Several packages are available, plus a variety of optional enhancements. Cisco Unified CCX integrates with Cisco Unified CM and offers intelligent call distribution, client management, reporting, IVR, and the ability to manage voice, email, chat, and social media inquiries. Cisco Unified Contact Center Express comes with Cisco Finesse, a browser-based customizable desktop agent that needs no client installation. Special options include conditional routing, expected-wait-time messages, and workforce quality management.

Cisco Mobile Connect and Single Number Reach
Mobile Connect, commonly known as Single Number Reach, allows users to be called via a single phone number that rings simultaneously on their desktop VoIP Phone and their smartphone. Users can transfer active calls between their desktop IP phone and their mobile phone seamlessly. 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 endpoints.

Prime Collaboration
Cisco Prime Collaboration offers an automated process for initial deployments as well as for “day 2” moves, adds, changes, and deletions. A user-friendly console delivers a single view of a subscriber and the subscriber's services. Prime Collaboration substantially accelerates company-wide rollouts and reduces the effort required to implement ongoing updates. Prime Collaboration also offers advanced analytics that show technology adoption and usage rates, allowing administrators to optimize IT resources and further lower TCO.

Cisco Collaboration Gateways
Cisco's collaboration gateways permit Cisco Unified Communications deployments to communicate with other systems and with clients working outside the firewall. Cisco's portfolio of communication gateways provide UC support for a wide variety of gateway and session-border-control applications.

Collaboration gateways offered by Cisco and supported by Progent include:

Cisco Expressway Collaboration Gateway
Cisco's Expressway is an advanced unified communications and collaboration gateway that allows companies to allow colleagues, vendors, customers and prospects, or partners who are working on various outside network environments, collaboration platforms, or endpoint equipment to access to Cisco Unified Communication features. The Expressway collaboration gateway works with an enterprise Cisco Communications Manager system or Cisco BE6000, or can be accessed via the cloud with Cisco HCS to help make productive collaboration more pervasive. Important features of Cisco Expressway are:

• Mobile and Remote Access: Remote users who have any Jabber-compatible desktop or handheld computer or teleworkers with Cisco TelePresence endpoints get the convenience of one-time sign-on as well as TLS security and can connect to all their collaboration workloads (video, business-quality voice, content IM, and presence) without requiring the inconvenience establishing a VPN. Also, teleworkers can utilize their Cisco TelePresence endpoints without a VPN tunnel, providing a user environment at home that is identical to the office.
• Jabber Guest Support: Cisco Expressway is required for supporting Cisco's Jabber Guest, which makes it possible for “guests” to interact with your organization easily and securely via streamlined web-browser and mobile video phone calls.
• Cisco Cloud Connectivity: Expressway can function as a gateway that creates a path between onsite Cisco or non-Cisco systems and the WebEx cloud. By offering support for Cisco Collaboration Meeting Rooms (CMRs), Cisco Expressway deliver an advanced, scalable teleconferencing environment that transparently integrates high-quality voice, video, and data sharing to any client, anywhere, using any device.
• Interoperability: In case your organization already has non-Cisco video products, Cisco Expressway can help you to migrate easily to a Cisco solution when you choose. Cisco Expressway offers video compatibility with standards-based H.323, H.264 Scalable Video Coding, or 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 (SVC) to AVC/H.264.

• WebEx Cloud Connected Audio for high-capacity SIP-media-connected audio conferencing
• Voice and Video recording
• SIP-based Call-center and interactive-voice-response (IVR) applications
• Policy-led evaluation of voice calls
• Business-to-business telepresence over SIP

Cisco's End-of-Life UC520, UC540 and UC560 VoIP Gateways
The end-of-life Cisco Unified Communications 500 (UC500) Series is an all-in-one VoIP and unified communications solution for small organizations. UC500 packages deliver voice, data, voicemail, auto attendant, video, security, and WiFi capabilities, run with older generation Cisco IP Voice phones, and support various public switched telephone network (PSTN) connections.

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

Progent's seasoned VoIP consultants can help you to support your legacy UC500 VoIP system or plan and carry out a smooth upgrade to a current VoIP solution such as the Cisco cloud-managed Business Edition 4000.

How Progent Can Help You with Cisco IP Voice and IP Media Phones, Cisco Unified CM, and Telepresence
Progent offers online or on-premises access to a certified CCIE Collaboration consultant to assist your business to design, implement, manage and troubleshoot converged communications networks built on Cisco Unified Communication products in a centralized, distributed, or hybrid deployment. Progent's Cisco-certified consultants have in-depth experience with Unified Communications Manager and CallManager, VoIP phones and other endpoints, Unified Communications applications such as Jabber and Unity Connection, Cisco's immersive telepresence technologies, communication gateways, tools incorporated into Cisco switches and routers. Progent can also offer support for related technologies such as Cisco SRST, Cisco Unified Border Element, H.323 and SIP gateways, CAC, VoIP trunks, PSTN, and Cisco's architecture for voice, video and integrated data. Progent's SIP infrastructure consultants can also help you to build SIP infrastructure environments that incorporate SIP-based VoIP phones and video endpoints, SIP-based CUBE trunks, and SIP management tools via Cisco Unified Communications Manager.

Progent's custom application programmers can build specialized unified communications applications that will enable your business to incorporate the capabilities of Cisco Unified Communications Manager into your company processes for increased efficiency. Progent can audit your existing network and Internet connectivity infrastructure to make sure your system is configured to support high-quality IP voice and HD video, assist you to choose and install Cisco hardware and software appropriate for your present needs and future growth goals, and interface your Cisco collaborative communications solution with technology from other suppliers. Progent's CISSP-ISSAP certified information security and compliance consultants can assist you to create, implement, and test an enterprise-wide security plan for your unified communications solution. In addition, Progent can assist you to configure Cisco fault-tolerant mechanisms like Cisco Unified Survivable Remote Site Telephony (SRST) to provide cost-effective call control backup in branch office and telecommuter environments, and Progent's disaster recovery preparedness consultants can help you develop a sensible disaster recovery plan to ensure the availability of your business-critical communications system.

Unified Communications Manager/CallManager Upgrade Services
Versions of Cisco Unified Communications Manager 8.6 lower than 8.6 and all releases of CallManager have arrived at end-of-life. This means Cisco will no longer develop, repair, or validate this older software. Security updates for this business-critical application will end, which in some situations could cause compliance or even potential liability issues.

Progent continues to provide world-class support services for outdated releases of Cisco Unified Communications Manager and CallManager, but if your business is still using an out-of-dated release of this pivotal application you should start immediately to plan your migration. Progent's Cisco-certified consultants can assist you to migrate non-disruptively to the latest release of Cisco Unified Communications Manager and can typically save clients as much as 50% off consulting expense compared to most IT service firms thanks to Progent's documented procedures and hands-on experience in this area. By adhering to leading practices, Progent can make sure your company realizes a fast return on your IT investment by showing you how to take full advantage of the enhanced feature set, reduced management and support expense, more productive collaboration capabilities, and tighter data protection offered by the current edition of Cisco Unified CM.

Progent's migration consulting services include return-on-investment analysis, project management, pilot testing and validation, Cloud integration, configuring collaboration endpoints from Cisco and third-party providers, mobile connectivity, data protection services, streamlined management, business continuity planning, network infrastructure design, training for IT staff and end users, and ongoing consulting services and technical support. Progent also has put together fixed-priced upgrade packages to keep your costs predictable and under control.

To learn more information concerning Progent's professional help for Cisco products, choose a topic:

• Overview of Cisco Support
• Fast Online Help from a Cisco Certified Internetwork Expert (CCIE) Consultant
• Cisco Firepower Firewalls: Configuration and Troubleshooting Services
• Cisco ASA 5500-X Firewalls with Firepower Services: Integration and Troubleshooting Support
• Cisco ASA 5500 Firewalls Consulting Help
• Cisco PIX Series Firewall Engineering Services
• Cisco Routers Configuration and Troubleshooting Support
• Cisco Wireless Consulting Services
• Cisco Aironet Wireless Access Points Consulting Services
• Cisco Small Business 100, 300 and 500 WiFi Access Points System Design Help
• Cisco WiFi Controllers Support Services
• Cisco Meraki Wireless Access Points Consulting Expertise
• Cisco Unified Communications Manager (CUCM or Unified CM) and Cisco CallManager Integration and Technical Support
• Cisco Jabber Consulting and Support Expertise
• Catalyst Switches Deployment Services
• Cisco Nexus Switches Support and Troubleshooting Services
• Cisco Meraki MS Switches Support and Troubleshooting Expertise
• Cisco VPN Setup and Troubleshooting Services
• SIP and CUBE Integration Solutions: SIP Trunking and Cisco CUBE Integration Consulting
• Infrastructure Design for Cisco-powered Data Centers
• Data Center Optimization Consulting for Internet Service Providers
• Streamlined Network Management Techniques for Cisco-powered Environments