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Sending real-time voice and video over IP (VoIP and Video over IP) has advanced from simply being being a savvy technique to reduce phone carrier bills to a strategic technology for collaboration and productivity. Unified IP communications, once restricted to managing Internet-based voice and faxes on one network platform in order to replace expensive PBX equipment, now encompasses rich media, mobility, IM, presence, services, and much more in a cohesive environment that is easy to manage, extensible, highly secure, resilient, economical, and user friendly.

Cisco is the market leader in providing solutions required to support the new paradigm of unified communications (UC). Cisco's UC architecture adds to the productivity of IT systems by slashing operating costs; combining rich media functions with popular software programs to improve user output; supporting teamwork among employees, partners, and suppliers to save time and improve business outcomes; and streamlining the administration of your communications infrastructure.

Cisco's Unified Communications solutions include these important product areas:,

• Call Control Platforms for controlling calls and sessions
• Collaboration Endpoints to enhance worker engagement
• Unified Communications Software Applications for simplified access to presence, chat, voice and video, phone messages, white boarding, and voice/video conferencing
• Communications Gateways for providing connectivity with public networks and teleworkers

Call and Session Control Software - Unified Communications Manager/CallManager
Cisco's call-processing agent is the centerpiece of Cisco's IP telephony system and provides the versatility to implement a central call-processing model, a decentralized model, or a mix of both. In a centralized deployment, Unified Communications Manager (UC Manager or CUCM) expands corporate phone capabilities to packet devices such as VoIP phones, media processing products, Voice over IP gateways, and multimedia programs throughout the IT environment. Unified Communications Manager enables extra voice, video, and data services including unified messaging, multimedia conferencing, and collaborative customer interaction networks.

The most recent version of Cisco Unified Communications Manager, formerly named CallManager, includes a variety of improvements that speed up ROI by cutting management and support expenses, increasing user productivity, enhancing collaboration, supporting the bring-your-own-device model of computing, strengthening data protection, and allowing optimal utilization of network resources. Headline innovations include Global Dial Plan Replication (GDPR), streamlined certificate management, expanded support for single sign-on (SSO) for managers and users, device-independent call recording, mobile access without the need for VPN, a revamped self-provisioning interface that makes it easy for users to set their options and preferences for all of their devices, and support for Secure Real-Time Transport Protocol for mobile users.

When you implement a central Cisco Unified Communications Manager cluster to control call processing for users at remote locations, IT managers can help achieve continuous call availability through Cisco Survivable Remote Site Telephony, a Cisco IOS Software image for routers. If a WAN connection breaks, Cisco SRST in the router provides core Unified Communications Manager functions until the connection is returned. For a description of Progent's consulting support services for Cisco ISR routers, see consulting services for Cisco ISR routers.

For small businesses, branch locations, and retail environments that do not need the complete functionality offered by Unified CM, Unified Communications Manager Express, formerly named CallManager Express provides an economical solution that meets the needs of sites with as many as 450 workers. Because Unified Communications Manager Express Unified Communications Manager Express (Unified CCX) is embedded in the IOS Software running on a Cisco router, smaller organizations can quickly set up a converged voice/data environment.

The Cisco Business Edition 6000 is a family of all-in-one platforms that provide essential unified communications features including routing, IP gateway, premium voice and video, messaging, IM and real-time presence, teleconferencing, and paging services, enabling any user to collaborate on any device from any site. All BE6000 versions are shipped preconfigured with a virtualization hypervisor and collaboration applications, making implementation quick and easy and reducing operating expenses for organizations with up to 1000 employees. All solutions come packaged preinstalled with a virtualization hypervisor and collaboration applications software. Organizations can simply activate collaboration software applications as their needs dictate.

The office-in-a-box BE6000S includes five standard UC software applications preloaded on one integrated 2921V ISR router/IP gateway/virtualized E1600 M2 blade server device and supports up to 150 users and 300 devices. The mid-market BE6000M includes 4 collaboration software application options activated on a single virtualized Cisco UCS C220 M4 server platform and can handle a maximum capacity of 1000 workers, 1200 endpoint devices, and 100 contact center agents. The high-end Business Edition 6000H Supports eight unified communications application options activated on a virtualized Cisco C220 M4 server platform and can handle up to 1000 users, 2500 endpoint devices, and 100 contact center agents.

For additional details about Progent's support for Unified Communications Manager, see Cisco Unified Communications Manager (Unified CM) and CallManager planning, integration, upgrades and troubleshooting.

IP Phones: VoIP and IP Media Phones
A collaboration endpoint is a user instrument, either a physical phone or a soft phone application that runs on a desktop or handheld computer. In the IP world, each VoIP phone is Ethernet connected. Voice over IP phones have all of the functions that a conventional telephone provides, but Voice over IP phones can also offer additional features such as being able to connect to websites or run business software.

In contrast to ordinary Private Branch Exchange technology, in a Cisco IP telephony network you can implement almost instantaneous moves, additions, and changes. You simply move the VoIP phone to its new spot, plug it into an Ethernet jack, and the phone registers itself with Cisco Unified Communications Manager. All user permissions and settings are automatically replicated, doing away with the expense and delay of dispatching support personnel to rewire connections. An additional efficient capability is location independence, which allows you to sign into any Cisco VoIP phone and get your personal phone extension and privileges.

Cisco offers a wide selection of VoIP phones. Cisco's entry-level SPA 300 family are no-frills IP and Digital Enhanced Cordless Telecommunications phones offering wide-band voice, compatibility with hosted IP phone systems or an IP PBX, simple deployment and highly secure remote provisioning, in-service software updates, and browser-based configuration. The value-priced SPA301 is a single-line VoIP endpoint with no screen or speakerphone, a base dialer that has one Ethernet connector, and a corded handset with no a keypad. The SPA302D, intended solely for use with the Cisco SPA232D DECT Analog Telephone Adapter, is a multiple-line wireless Digital Enhanced Cordless Telecommunications handset that supports 10-lines, a 176 x 220 pixel color display, and a dial pad with a speakerphone. Cisco's SPA303 is an economical three-line IP phone with two Ethernet ports, a 128x64 mono display and a speakerphone.

The SPA500 family VoIP phones are low-cost endpoints with support for both SIP and SPCP call control protocols, two switch ports, speakerphones, built-in web servers, Power over Ethernet (PoE), and conferencing support. Most models have a 128 x 64 mono screen display, The SPA501G has eight lines and has eight soft keys but no LCD display. The SPA502G IP Phone supports a single line and has no programmable keys. The SPA504G VoIP phone supports four lines and has four soft keys. The SPA508G IP Phone supports eight lines and eight soft buttons. The SPA509G supports 12 lines and has 12 soft keys. The SPA512G has four lines, no soft keys and supports 1xGb Ethernet. The SPA514G supports four lines, has programmable buttons, and supports 1xGb Ethernet. The top-of-the-line SPA525G2 includes a 320 x 240 color display, supports five lines, and features five soft buttons.

Cisco's IP Phones 3900 Series and 6900 Series are specialty IP voice endpoints intended for occasional-use environments like cafeterias, hallways, and conference facilities. Cisco's Unified SIP Phone 3905 IP Phone features a 128 x 32 mono screen, a 10/100 Ethernet switch, a speakerphone, and Power over Ethernet. The simple Cisco Unified IP Phone 6901 is a one-line device without a screen and requires a hook switch for call transfer and conferencing.

Cisco's 7800 family of economical IP phones are VoIP desktop endpoints with backlit mono screens, four soft keys, 11 fixed-feature keys, an integral Ethernet port with Power over Ethernet (PoE), and an integral speakerphone. Cisco's 7800 Series VoIP phones support only the SIP signaling protocol. All devices in Cisco's 7800 Series incorporate the same high-fidelity speakers and microphones as Cisco's 8800 Series IP phones to provide a best-in-class audio solution. Cisco's EnergyWise power-save technology, available on the higher end 7800 units, cuts off-hours energy consumption by as much as 60 percent. The Cisco IP Phone 7811 is a single-line VoIP phone designed for shared locations and for workers with infrequent voice communications requirements. The IP 7811 comes with a 3.28-inch 384 x 106 display and a narrow-band speakerphone. Wideband audio is offered through an extra-cost wideband 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 endpoint with a 396 x 162 display and is the only model in the 7800 series that provides 1xGb Ethernet. The top-of-the-line IP Phone 7861 VoIP phone is a 16-line endpoint intended for administrative staff, call center agents, and managers who have significant call requirements.

The Cisco Unified IP Phone 7900 Series are dual-protocol (SIP/SCCP) IP voice and video devices with a 320 x 240 pixel color display, a 10/100/1000 Ethernet switch, Class 3 PoE, 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 includes four lines. Both IP phones include a 5-inch screen and four programmable buttons. The Cisco Unified IP Phone 7975G device is an eight-line media phone with a 5.6-inch touch screen and five programmable keys.

Cisco's IP Phone 8800 Series is a family of SIP-only IP phones that features desktop devices, a conference IP phone, and mobile wireless IP Phones. The desktop models are five-line IP phones with a 5-inch 800 x 480 pixel display, a Gigabit Ethernet switch, a speakerphone, four programmable keys and 12 dedicated keys. The Cisco IP Phone 8811 includes a monochrome screen and supports Class 2 Power over Ethernet. Cisco's IP Phone 8841 features a WVGA color display and supports Class 2 PoE. Cisco's IP Phone 8845 features a WVGA color display, 720p HD video, an adjustable camera, Bluetooth, Cisco Intelligent Proximity for Mobile Voice, and supports Class 2 Power over Ethernet. The Cisco IP Phone 8851 features a WVGA color screen and a 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 ports with charging capability, and supports Cisco Intelligent Proximity for Mobile Voice, 802.11ac Wi-Fi, and Class 4 Power over Ethernet. The Cisco IP Phone 8865 includes a WVGA color screen, 720p HD video, an adjustable camera, Bluetooth, dual 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 hardened Wi-Fi devices intended for workers who are on the move within office, hospitality, health-care or other venues where management wants user endpoints that provide more administrative control, data security and durability than is possible with the BYOD (Bring-Your-Own-Device) mode of mobile communications. Cisco's 8821 and 8812-EX wireless IP phones offer on-the-move on-premises users the advantages of voice over wireless LAN (VoWLAN) communications in environments with 802.11a/b/g/n/ac Wi-Fi infrastructure. The 8821 Wireless IP Phone features a 2.4 inch color screen, a rugged shell rated Mil-SPEC 810G to withstand dropping and IP67 for particulate and moisture resistance, extended batteries, a full-duplex speakerphone, and an integrated Bluetooth 4.0 transceiver to support cordless headsets. The 8821-EX Wireless IP Phone adds anti-sparking protection for potentially combustible environments. The 8821-EX also has a shell fabricated of yellow plastics, which makes the device easier to locate the event of an emergency. Find out about Progent's Cisco Wireless VoIP Phone integration support.

Cisco's legacy 9900 family of high-performance IP phones mix high-quality voice with high-resolution color screens to provide a rich multimedia UC experience for knowledge professionals and executives. Both IP phones in the 9900 family include an SD VGA color screen, a Bluetooth 2.0 radio to support a wide range of headsets, and an integrated 1 GE Ethernet port. Cisco's Power Save feature is optional and can cut off-hour power consumption by up to 90 percent. The Cisco IP Phone 9951 features a 5-inch screen and allows up to 2 Cisco IP Expansion Modules for adding scalability to programmable line and feature keys. The Cisco IP Phone 9971 features a 5.6-inch screen, a built-in Wi-Fi radio for connecting to voice-over-wireless LAN environments, and four programmable touchscreen keys to access Cisco Unified Communications features. The 9971 supports up to 3 Cisco 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 telephony, video, and other converged applications are physically separate from the call/voice processing infrastructure, and they may reside anywhere within the network. A cohesive connectivity infrastructure provides a versatile environment for powerful applications and acts as a firm basis for downstream convergence-based software. Cisco works with leading IT industry companies to provide a broad selection of IP telephony and IP video software applications and products. Cisco also supports the capability to develop and manage customized in-house programs.

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

Jabber
Cisco Jabber is a converge media application that supports presence, IM, voice, HD video, voicemail, screen sharing, and real-time conferencing functions for Windows PCs, Macs, iPads and Android tablets and smartphones. Jabber is a rebranding and combination of the Unified Personal Communicator soft phone, Cisco Mobile, and WebEx Connect, with significant enhancements to video capabilities and desktop sharing, and extending the team experience to additional operating systems and devices. Jabber operates 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 Cisco WebEx Meeting for online meetings.

Since Cisco Jabber utilizes popular communication standards, it can communicate with a wide range of third-party platforms. For instance, Extensible Messaging and Presence Protocol allows Jabber to trade IM and presence information with various XMPP clients including as Adium for Mac, Sametime, and Microsoft Lync. Cisco Jabber features can be accessed from Microsoft Office applications including Microsoft Outlook and SharePoint. This extensive platform compatibility optimizes output by delivering a consistent end-user environment and fully enabling the BYOD paradigm of computing. Progent offers the services of Microsoft-certified Exchange and Outlook consultants and Microsoft SharePoint application developers who can assist you to take advantage of Jabber with Microsoft's powerful collaboration platforms. Progent also can provide help with Apple iPhone integration and Google Android phone integration to help your organization to increase the business value of your BYOD environment.

WebEX Meeting Center
Cisco WebEx Meeting Center enables web meetings for users with a web browser or virtually any PC or handheld device. Cisco WebEx Meeting Center is delivered as software as a service (SaaS) via the Cisco WebEx Cloud. This makes it simple to deploy and scale, reduces the cost of administration, eliminates major up-front expenditures, features high availability and enterprise-grade data protection, and provides excellent throughput. Key features include the ability to share discrete content or your entire screen display with online attendees in real time, the capability to embed rich media into your presentations including PowerPoint and Flash animations, session recording plus playback for training and demonstrations, single sign-on (SSO) and integration with other Cisco collaboration applications such as Jabber and TelePresence, plus stringent data protection and encrypted access with strict policy management.

WebEX Meeting Center works with Windows, Apple Mac, and Linux-powered desktops and permits mobile users to start, calendarize, and take part in meetings on Android smartphones and tablets, iPhones and iPads, BlackBerry handhelds, and Windows Phone. Users can also launch online conferences instantly from Microsoft Office, Outlook, Notes, and a selection of instant messaging solutions.

Cisco TelePresence Products for In-house Teleconferencing Infrastructure
For midsize businesses and enterprises who want to build a local or hybrid local/cloud environment for video conferencing, Cisco offers a selection of Cisco TelePresence platforms that deliver high-quality video conferencing for participants with almost any endpoint device at any location. Cisco TelePresence Server is an expandable teleconferencing bridge that runs with Cisco Unified CM to deliver multiparty video, audio and content sharing to converged environments and can expand meetings to support cloud-based WebEx Meeting Center users. Cisco TelePresence Conductor software streamlines management of the way video conferencing resources are allotted for every individual participant, enabling managers to define the exact service level and experience needed for each user. Cisco TelePresence Content Server captures video conference presentations for real-time streaming as well as video on demand viewing.

Cisco Unity Connection and Unity Express for Converged Voicemail and Automated Attendant
The Cisco Unity Connection, an integrated extension of Cisco Unified CM, is a unified voicemail solution that promotes teamwork by providing a variety of options for accessing voice messages within an environment that is easy to deploy and maintain. Unity Connection allows you to read and manage voicemail messages from your Exchange inbox, browser, Cisco Jabber, a Cisco Unified IP endpoint, a smartphone, or an iPad or tablet. Unity Connection also provides advanced speech-recognition capabilities for hands-free management and powerful Automated Attendant features that include intelligent routing for inbound calls and easily customizable call-filtering and message-notification settings. The Cisco Unity Connection system runs as a fully virtualized system that can reside on a BE6000 server or a Cisco Services Ready Engine 910 router blade service module and can accommodate up to 20,000 mailboxes per server.

Cisco Unity Express (CUE), available in certain Cisco Integrated Services routers, provides cost-effective voicemail, integrated messaging, interactive voice response (IVR), and automated-attendant functions for small to mid-size businesses (SMBs) and enterprise satellite locations with as many as 500 workers. Cisco Unity Express permits you to access and manage voicemail using a Cisco IP Phone screen, a browser, or an email system. ISR Routers for which Unity Express is available as a network module include Cisco's 1861, 2800, 2900, 3800, and 3900 Series. Progent can provide certified deployment and support services for ISR routers.

Unified Contact Center
Cisco Unified Contact Center Enterprise (Unified CCE or UCCE) integrates with Unified CM and agent desktop applications such as Finesse to offer automatic call distribution (ACD) features that allow an organization to connect customers with the appropriate sales or service agent. UCCE features smart call routing, computer telephony integration, multiple channel contact management, network-wide call queuing, interactive voice response and advanced company-wide reporting to streamline the deployment and management of a large-scale customer contact center. Cisco platforms incorporated in Unified CCE's customer contact management solution include Unified IP Phones, Cisco Voice Gateways, and Cisco network infrastructure.

Unified Contact Center Express (Unified CCX) provides a packaged solution for building a customer interaction management center for mid-scale deployments that handle up to 400 agents. Multiple bundles are available, as well as a selection of optional advanced features. Unified Contact Center Express integrates closely with Unified CM and provides smart call routing, client management, reporting, interactive voice response, and the ability to manage voice, email, web chat, and social media inquiries. Unified Contact Center Express comes with Finesse, a browser-based customizable desktop agent that needs no client-side software setup. Optional advanced features include call-in-queue, projected-wait-time messages, and productivity optimization with workforce and quality management.

Cisco Mobile Connect and Single Number Reach
Mobile Connect, commonly referred to as Single Number Reach, allows users to be reached from a single phone number that rings at the same time on their Cisco VoIP Phone and their smartphone. Users can switch live conversations between their Cisco VoIP phone and their cell phone without disruption. Unanswered calls can be redirected to a Cisco Unity or Cisco Unity Connection voicemail account. Users can create their own access lists that determine which calls are directed to alternate endpoints.

Prime Collaboration Provisioning
Cisco Prime Collaboration Provisioning provides an automated process for first-time deployments as well as for follow-on moves, adds, changes, and deletions. An intuitive interface delivers a unified view of a subscriber and the user's services. Cisco Prime Collaboration Provisioning substantially accelerates site installations and reduces the time required to implement future updates. Prime Collaboration also offers advanced analytics that show application adoption and consumption rates, allowing administrators to optimize resources and further reduce TCO.

Cisco Collaboration Gateways
Cisco's communications gateways allow Cisco Unified Communications deployments to connect with public systems and with users working beyond the firewall. Cisco's line of gateways deliver unified communications support for all types of gateway and session-border-control applications.

Collaboration gateways available from Cisco and supported by Progent include:

Cisco Expressway Converged Communication Gateway
Cisco's Expressway is an advanced unified communications and collaboration gatekeeper that allows companies to provide team members, suppliers, customers, or business partners who are using different network environments, collaboration platforms, or endpoint devices to access to Cisco Unified Communication features. Cisco's Expressway gateway works in conjunction with a Cisco CM deployment or Cisco BE6000, or can be run through the cloud with Cisco Hosted Collaboration Solution (HCS) to make collaboration more pervasive. Key features of Cisco Expressway include:

• Mobile and Remote Access: Off-site workers who have any Jabber-supported desktop or handheld computer or teleworkers with Cisco TelePresence endpoints get the benefit of one-time sign-on plus TLS security and can access all their collaboration applications (video, high-quality voice, data instant messaging, and realtime presence) without the extra step of a VPN. 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: Cisco Expressway is required for enabling Cisco's Jabber Guest, which makes it possible for “guests” to interact with your organization simply and safely via streamlined browser and mobile video phone calls.
• Cisco Cloud Access: Cisco Expressway can function as a gateway that creates a path between on-premises Cisco or third-party systems and the WebEx cloud. By supporting Cisco Collaboration Meeting Rooms (CMRs), Cisco Expressway offers a world-class, scalable teleconferencing environment that seamlessly combines business-quality voice, HD video, and data sharing to anyone, at any location, on any endpoint.
• Interoperability: If your organization already has third-party video systems, Cisco Expressway can help you to migrate efficiently to a Cisco solution whenever you choose. Cisco Expressway offers video compatibility with standards-based H.323, H.264 SVC, or SIP systems. Internetworking standards supported by Expressway include IPv4 to IPv6, H.323 to Session Initiation Protocol (SIP), and Microsoft Lync 2013 H.264 Scalable Video Coding to H.264/MPEG-4 AVC.

• WebEx Cloud Connected Audio for SIP-media-connected conferencing
• Voice/Video recording
• SIP-based Call-center and interactive-voice-response (IVR) applications
• Policy-led evaluation of phone calls
• B2B telepresence over SIP

Cisco's End-of-Life UC520, UC540 and UC560 VoIP Gateways
The end-of-life Cisco Unified Communications 500 (UC500) product line is a VoIP gateway solution for small organizations. UC500 packages deliver voice, data, voicemail, automated attendant, video, firewall, and WiFi capabilities, run with older generation Cisco VoIP phones, and support various PSTN interfaces.

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

Progent's seasoned VoIP experts can help you to maintain your legacy UC500 VoIP system or plan and implement an efficient upgrade to a modern VoIP system like the Cisco Business Edition 4000.

How Progent Can Assist You with Cisco IP Voice and IP Media Phones, CUCM, and Telepresence
Progent offers online or on-premises help from a certified CCIE Collaboration specialist to assist your business to plan, install, administer and troubleshoot unified communications networks that incorporate Cisco Unified Communication products in an in-house, cloud-based, or hybrid deployment. Progent's Cisco engineers have extensive experience with Unified Communications Manager and Cisco CallManager, Voice over IP and video phones and other endpoints, Unified Communications applications such as Cisco Jabber and WebEx Meeting Center, Cisco's immersive telepresence technologies, communication gatekeepers, utilities built into Cisco switches and routers. Progent can also provide support for related technologies such as Cisco SRST, CUBE, H.323 and H.264 gateways, CAC, VoIP trunks, various signaling protocols, and Cisco's architecture for voice, video and integrated data. Progent's SIP infrastructure consultants can in addition assist you to build SIP connectivity environments that incorporate SIP-based VoIP phones and media phones, SIP trunks, and SIP management tools via CUCM.

Progent's application developers can build specialized unified communications software that will enable your organization to integrate the telephony capabilities of Cisco Unified Communications Manager into your company processes for increased efficiency. Progent can analyze your current network and Internet connectivity architecture to determine whether your system is configured to accommodate business-quality VoIP and HD video, assist you to choose and install Cisco hardware and software appropriate for your present situation and downstream growth strategy, and integrate your Cisco collaborative communications solution with products from other vendors. Progent's CISSP-ISSAP certified data security consultants can assist you to develop, implement, and validate a comprehensive security strategy for your converged communications ecosystem. Also, Progent can assist you to deploy Cisco high-availability technologies like Cisco Unified SRST for cost-effective call control backup in branch office and home-office sites, and Progent's disaster recovery and business continuity planning consultants can help you create a viable disaster recovery strategy to protect your vital communications environment.

Cisco Unified Communications Manager/CallManager Migration Services
Versions of Unified Communications Manager 8.6 lower than 8.6 and every version of its predecessor CallManager have reached end-of-life. This means Cisco Engineering will no longer develop, repair, or validate this older software. Security patches for this pivotal product will stop, which in certain circumstances may create regulatory compliance or potential liability problems.

Progent will continue to provide world-class consulting and troubleshooting support for end-of-life releases of Unified Communications Manager and CallManager, but if your business is now using a legacy release of this essential software your organization should start now to plan your migration. Progent's collaboration consultants can help your company to upgrade non-disruptively to the current release of Cisco Unified CM and can routinely save customers up to 50% off consulting service costs versus competing IT service firms thanks to Progent's documented procedures and experience in this area. By adhering to best practices, Progent can ensure that your business sees a quick payback on your IT investment by helping you take full advantage of the enhanced features, reduced management and maintenance expense, more productive collaboration, and tighter security provided by the newest version of Cisco Unified CM.

Progent's upgrade services include ROI assessment, project management, pilot testing and validation, Cloud connectivity, setting up endpoint devices from Cisco and other providers, mobile integration, data protection consulting, management automation, disaster recovery planning, network infrastructure design, training, and ongoing consulting and technical support. Progent also has put together fixed-priced migration service bundles to keep your costs predictable and affordable.

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

• Introduction to Progent's Cisco Support
• Fast Online Access to a Cisco Certified Internetwork Expert (CCIE) Consultant
• Cisco Firepower NGFW Series Firewalls: Integration and Troubleshooting Support
• Cisco ASA 5500-X Firewall with Firepower: Setup and Management Services
• Cisco ASA 5500 Series Firewall Management Support
• Cisco PIX Firewall Troubleshooting Help
• Cisco Routers Consulting Expertise
• Cisco Wireless Network Design Help
• Aironet APs Consulting Expertise
• Cisco Small Business 100, 300 and 500 Wireless APs Consulting Support
• Catalyst 802.11ax Wi-Fi 6/6E Wireless Access Points Solution Design, Deployment and Debugging Expertise
• Cisco WiFi Controllers Integration Consulting
• Meraki Wireless Access Points Consulting Support
• Cisco Unified Communications Manager (CUCM or Unified CM) and Cisco CallManager Integration and Technical Support
• Cisco Jabber Deployment Expertise
• Catalyst Switches Engineering Services
• Cisco Nexus Switches Support and Troubleshooting Expertise
• Meraki Switches Configuration and Maintenance Expertise
• Cisco VPN Consulting Expertise
• SIP and CUBE Integration Solutions: SIP Trunking and Cisco CUBE Integration Expertise
• Cisco Duo MFA Two-factor Authentication (2FA) Services for Remote Workers
• Design and Support for Cisco-powered Datacenters
• Network Design Services for Internet Service Providers
• Centralized Cloud-based and Hybrid Management Solutions for Cisco Environments