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Sending live voice and video over IP has evolved from simply being being a savvy technique to cut phone bills to an indispensable technology for collaboration and worker productivity. Converged communications, once restricted to managing Internet-based voice and faxes on one system to take the place of traditional PBX systems, now encompasses voice and video, mobility, IM, presence, services, and more within a centralized environment that is easy to manage, scalable, protected, fault-tolerant, cost-effective, and intuitive.

Cisco is the market leader in providing solutions for supporting the current model of unified communications (UC). Cisco's UC solution enhances the efficiency of information networks by cutting operational expenses; integrating multiple collaboration functions with popular software programs to increase user output; facilitating teamwork among workers, partners, and suppliers to save effort and enhance business outcomes; and simplifying the management of your communications ecosystem.

Cisco's UC technology address these important product categories:,

• Call Control Agents for managing rich media calls and sessions
• VoIP and Video Endpoints to optimize end-user engagement
• UC Software Applications for simplified access to presence, chat, voice and video, voice messages, desktop sharing, and voice/video conferencing
• Communications Gateways for connecting to outside networks and telecommuters

Call Processing Agents - Unified Communications Manager (CallManager)
The call-processing agent is the centerpiece of Cisco's IP telephony portfolio infrastructure and provides the versatility to implement a central call-processing model, a decentralized design, or a combination of both. In a centralized approach, Unified Communications Manager (UC Manager or CUCM) extends corporate phone capabilities to packet products such as IP handsets, media management products, VoIP gateways, and multimedia applications across the network. Unified Communications Manager supports additional multimedia functions such as unified messaging, multimedia conferencing, and collaborative customer interaction networks.

The latest release of Unified CM, previously known as CallManager, includes a wealth of enhancements that accelerate ROI by cutting management and support costs, improving worker productivity, facilitating collaboration, supporting the BYOD style of computing, fortifying data protection, and making efficient use of IT resources. Headline new features include automatic dial-plan replication, streamlined certificate management, expanded support for standards-based single sign-on (SSO) for administrators and users, device-agnostic call recording, mobile access without the need for VPN tunneling, a revamped self-care utility that makes it easy for workers to set their options and preferences for all endpoint devices, and support for Transport Layer Security and Secure Real-Time Transport Protocol for mobile clients.

When you implement a centralized Unified Communications Manager cluster to control call processing for users at remote sites, IT managers can help achieve non-stop call service using Cisco Survivable Remote Site Telephony, an IOS Software image for routers. If a WAN link breaks, Cisco Survivable Remote Site Telephony in the Cisco router provides basic Unified Communications Manager capabilities until the connection is returned. To learn about Progent's consulting services for Cisco routers, see consulting and troubleshooting support services for Cisco ISR routers.

For small business networks, branch offices, and retail environments that do not require the complete functionality available from Unified CM, Cisco Unified Communications Manager Express, formerly named CallManager Express provides a cost-effective PBX alternative that meets the needs of sites with up to 450 users. Because Cisco Unified Communications Manager Express Unified Communications Manager Express (Unified CCX) is embedded in the Cisco IOS Software operating on a Cisco router, smaller organizations can quickly implement a converged voice/data environment.

Cisco's Business Edition 6000 is a line of turn-key platforms that provide essential unified communications features such as routing, IP gateway, premium voice/video, messaging, chat and real-time presence, teleconferencing, and paging services, allowing any user to connect on any device from any site. All Business Edition 6000 solutions are shipped preinstalled with a virtualization hypervisor and UC applications software, making implementation fast and easy and cutting operating expenses for organizations with as many as 1000 workers. All solutions come packaged preinstalled with virtualization and Unified Communications applications software. Organizations can instantly enable Unified Communications software applications as their needs grow.

The small-scale Business Edition 6000S includes five fixed UC applications installed on a single combination ISR router/IP gateway/virtualized E1600 M2 server device and supports a maximum capacity of 150 users and 300 devices. The medium-scale Business Edition 6000M includes 4 unified communications application options activated on a virtualized Cisco C220 M4 server platform and supports a maximum capacity of 1000 users, 1200 endpoint devices, and 100 contact center agents. The top-of-the-line BE6000S includes 8 unified communications application options activated on a virtualized C220 M4 server and supports up to 1000 users, 2500 devices, and 100 contact center agents.

For additional information about Progent's support for Unified Communications Manager, visit Cisco Unified Communications Manager (CUCM or Unified CM) and Cisco CallManager design, configuration, migration and troubleshooting.

Cisco IP Phones: IP Voice and IP Video Endpoints
A collaboration endpoint is an end-user instrument, either a physical phone set or a software phone program on a PC or mobile computer. In the Internet Protocol world, every VoIP phone is Ethernet connected. VoIP phones offer all of the functions that an ordinary phone handset provides, but IP phones often provide additional features such as the ability to connect to the web or run productivity-enhancing software.

In contrast to ordinary PBX technology, in a Cisco IP communications environment you can perform virtually instantaneous moves, additions, and changes. You merely move the VoIP phone to its new location, plug it into an Ethernet jack, and the device announces itself with Cisco Unified Communications Manager (formerly CallManager). All client rights and configurations are automatically replicated, doing away with the cost and hassle of sending support personnel to rewire connections. An additional helpful feature is location independence, which allows you to sign into any Cisco IP phone and get your personal phone ID and privileges.

Cisco offers a wide selection of Unified CM phones. Cisco's entry-level SPA 300 family are no-frills IP and Digital Enhanced Cordless Telecommunications (DECT) screenless or monochrome phones that feature wide-band voice, support for hosted IP telephony environments or an IP private branch exchange (PBX), easy deployment and safe remote installation, zero-downtime software updates, and web-based configuration. The value-priced SPA301 is a one-line VoIP endpoint with no display or speakerphone, a base dialer with a single Ethernet connector, and a wired handset with no keys. The SPA302D, designed exclusively for operation with Cisco's SPA232D Multi-Line DECT ATA (Analog Telephone Adapter), is a multiline cordless Digital Enhanced Cordless Telecommunications IP phone that offers 10-lines, a TFT 176 x 220 pixel color screen, and a dial pad with speakerphone capability. Cisco's SPA303 is an entry-level 3-line IP phone with two switched Ethernet ports, a 128x64 mono display and a speakerphone.

The SPA500 family IP phones are low-cost devices with support for both SIP and SPCP call control protocols, two integral Ethernet switch ports, speakerphones, Power over Ethernet (PoE), and conferencing capability. Most models have a 128 x 64 pixel mono screen display, The SPA501G IP Phone supports eight lines and has eight programmable keys but no hi-res display. The SPA502G IP Phone supports a single line and has no programmable keys. The SPA504G IP Phone supports four lines and has four programmable buttons. The SPA508G VoIP phone supports eight lines and eight soft buttons. The SPA509G IP Phone supports 12 lines and has 12 programmable keys. The SPA512G VoIP phone supports four lines, no programmable buttons and supports 10/100/1000 Ethernet. The SPA514G IP Phone supports four lines, has programmable buttons, and supports 10/100/1000 Ethernet. The top-of-the-line SPA525G2 IP Phone has a 320 x 240 pixel color display, supports five lines, and includes five programmable keys.

Cisco's IP Phones 3900 Series and IP Phones 6900 Series are specialty IP voice endpoints intended for occasional-use environments like lobbies, elevators, and conference centers. The Unified SIP Phone 3905 features VoIP phone features a 128 x 32 pixel monochrome non-backlit display, an integrated 10/100 Ethernet switch, a speakerphone, and Power over Ethernet (PoE). The bare-bones Cisco Unified IP Phone 6901 is a single-line device without a screen and requires a hook switch for transferring a call and joining a conference.

The 7800 Series of budget-priced IP phones are VoIP devices featuring backlit mono screens, four soft keys, 11 fixed-feature keys, an integral Ethernet port with Class 1 PoE, and a speakerphone. The 7800 Series VoIP phones support only the SIP call control protocol. All models in Cisco's 7800 Series incorporate the same high-fidelity speakers and microphones as Cisco's 8800 Series IP phones to provide a state-of-the-art audio solution. Cisco's EnergyWise power-save technology, offered on the higher end 7800 units, cuts off-hours energy consumption by up to 60 percent. The Cisco IP Phone 7811 is a one-line VoIP phone designed for shared locations and for employees with infrequent call needs. The IP 7811 comes with a 3.28-inch 384 x 106 screen and a narrow-band speakerphone. Wideband audio is available through an optional handset. Cisco's IP Phone 7821 is a dual-line VoIP endpoint with a 396 x 162 screen. The IP Phone 7841 is a four-line VoIP endpoint with a 396 x 162 display and is the only unit in the 7800 line that provides 1xGb Ethernet. The top-of-the-line IP Phone 7861 VoIP phone is a 16-line endpoint targeted for administrators, contact center personnel, and supervisors who have significant voice communications requirements.

Cisco Unified IP Phone 7900 Series are SIP and SCCP media devices with a 320 x 240 pixel color display, an integral 10/100/1000 Ethernet switch, Class 3 Power over Ethernet (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 supports four lines. Both VoIP phones include a 5-inch display and four soft keys. 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 buttons.

Cisco's IP Phone 8800 Series is a line of SIP-only IP phones that includes desktop devices, a conference IP phone, and mobile wireless IP Phones. The desktop units are five-line IP phones with a 5-inch 800 x 480 pixel display, a Gigabit Ethernet switch, a speakerphone, four soft keys and 12 dedicated buttons. Cisco's IP Phone 8811 features a backlit mono screen and supports Class 2 PoE. Cisco's IP Phone 8841 has a WVGA color display and supports Class 2 PoE. Cisco's IP Phone 8845 has a WVGA color display, 720p HD video, an adjustable camera, Bluetooth, Cisco Intelligent Proximity for Mobile Voice, and supports Class 2 PoE. The Cisco IP Phone 8851 has a WVGA color display and one USB port with charging capability, supports Intelligent Proximity for Mobile Voice and Class 3 Power over Ethernet, and is offered in Bluetooth and non-Bluetooth versions. Cisco's IP Phone 8861 includes a WVGA color screen, 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, 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 industrial-grade Wi-Fi devices designed for workers who are on the move within office, hospitality, retail or other venues where IT management requires user endpoints that provide more administrative control, data security and ruggedness than is possible with the BYOD (Bring-Your-Own-Device) style of mobile communications. Cisco's 8821 and 8812-EX wireless IP phones offer mobile on-premises users the benefits of voice over wireless LAN technology in environments that support 802.11x Wi-Fi. The 8821 Wireless VoIP Phone features a hi-res color display, a durable case designed to withstand dropping and IP67 for dust and moisture resistance, extended batteries, a built-in speakerphone, and an integrated Bluetooth 4.0 radio for hands-free operation with cordless headsets. The 8821-EX Wireless VoIP Phone adds anti-sparking protection for hazardous environments. The 8821-EX also has a shell composed out of industry-standard yellow plastics, which makes it easy to find in an emergency. Learn about Progent's Cisco Wireless VoIP Phone integration consulting.

Cisco's discontinued 9900 line of advanced IP endpoints combine high-definition voice with business-grade color screens to deliver a productive collaborative unified communications solution for managers and executives. The two IP phones in this line incorporate a Standard Definition 640x480 pixel color screen, a Bluetooth transceiver to work with a wide range of headsets, and a built-in Gigabit Ethernet switch. Cisco's EnergyWise power-save feature is optional and can lower off-hour power use 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 scalability to programmable line and feature keys. The IP Phone 9971 features a 5.6-inch screen, a built-in Wi-Fi radio for connecting to voice-over-wireless LAN environments, and 4 soft-label touchscreen keys to invoke Cisco UC functions. The 9971 allows up to 3 Cisco IP Expansion Modules for expanding customizable line and function keys.

Unified Communications Application Software
Under Cisco's Unified Communications architecture, IP voice, IP video, and other converged applications are physically separate from the call/voice processing mechanism, and they may be at any location within the network. A single connectivity framework offers a versatile platform for feature-rich business applications and acts as a firm foundation for downstream convergence-based applications. Cisco cooperates with third-party technology partners to offer a broad selection of IP voice and IP video software applications and products. Cisco also enables the capability to create and administer specialized in-house programs.

UC application software available from Cisco and supported by Progent include:

Jabber
Cisco Jabber is a UC client application that supports presence, IM, voice, HD video, voice messaging, screen sharing, and online conferencing capabilities for PCs, Macs, Apple and Android tablets plus smartphones. Cisco Jabber is an evolution and integration of the Unified Personal Communicator soft phone application, Cisco Mobile, and Cisco WebEx Connect, with important improvements in the areas of video capabilities and desktop screen sharing, and expanding the team environment to additional platforms and devices. Jabber operates with Unified CM for call management, Cisco Unified Presence for IM and presence, Unity Connection for voicemail and programmable attendant, and Cisco WebEx Meeting for online meetings.

Since Jabber is based on popular industry standards, it can interoperate with a broad selection of third-party platforms. For example, Extensible Messaging and Presence Protocol (XMPP) enables Jabber to exchange IM and presence information with various XMPP clients such as Adium, IBM Sametime, and Microsoft Lync. Cisco Jabber capabilities can be accessed from Microsoft Office applications including Outlook and Microsoft SharePoint. This extensive platform compatibility maximizes output by delivering a consistent end-user experience and fully enabling the BYOD paradigm of networking. Progent offers the services of certified Exchange and Outlook consultants and Microsoft SharePoint programmers who can help you to integrate Jabber with Microsoft's popular collaboration platforms. Progent also offers help with Apple iPhone integration and management as well as Google Android smartphone and tablet integration to help your organization to enhance the business value of your BYOD ecosystem.

Cisco WebEx Meeting Center
WebEX Meeting Center provides online conferencing for users with a web browser or virtually any desktop or mobile computer. Cisco WebEx is delivered as software as a service (SaaS) through Cisco's WebEx Cloud. This makes it simple to roll out and scale, streamlines administration, eliminates major initial investment, features maximum uptime and enterprise-grade security, and delivers fast throughput. Important features include the ability to share discrete content or an whole screen with remote participants in real time, the capability to incorporate rich media into your presentations including PowerPoint and Flash animations, recording plus editing and playback for training, single sign-on and integration with Cisco collaboration applications such as Jabber and TelePresence, plus stringent data privacy and encrypted access with tight policy management.

Cisco WebEx Meeting Center works with Microsoft Windows, Apple Mac, and Linux PCs and permits mobile users to initiate, calendarize, and attend conferences on Google Android smartphones and tablets, Apple iPhones and iPads, BlackBerry handhelds, and Microsoft Windows Phone. Users can also initiate web conferences instantly from Microsoft Office, Outlook, Notes, and a variety of IM applications.

Cisco TelePresence Portfolio for In-house Teleconferencing Ecosystems
For midsize organizations and larger enterprises who want to build a local or hybrid local/cloud solution for video conferencing, Cisco offers a selection of Cisco TelePresence products that enable high-quality and standards-based teleconferencing for attendees with almost any endpoint device at any site. Cisco TelePresence Server is an expandable teleconferencing bridge that works with Cisco Unified Communications Manager to bring multiparty video, audio and content sharing to unified communications environments and can extend meetings to include cloud-connected Cisco WebEx Meeting Center participants. Cisco TelePresence Conductor software streamlines management of how conferencing bandwidth and features are allotted for each participant, allowing managers to define the exact service level and experience required for each user. Cisco TelePresence Content Server records video and presentations for live streaming as well as on-demand playback.

Cisco's Unity Connection Platform and Unity Express for Unified Voicemail
The Cisco Unity Connection, an extension of Unified Communications Manager, is a converged voicemail platform that promotes teamwork by providing a variety of alternatives for retrieving calls and messages within a framework that is easy to implement and maintain. Unity Connection lets you access and manage voicemail messages from your email inbox, web browser, Cisco Jabber messaging integration platform, a Cisco Unified VoIP Phone, an iPhone or other smartphone, or a tablet. Unity Connection also provides sophisticated voice-recognition features for hands and eyes free management and powerful Automated Attendant capabilities that include smart routing for inbound calls and easily customizable call-filtering and message-alert options. The Cisco Unity Connection system operates as a VM that can be hosted on a BE6000 server or a Cisco SRE 910 router service module and can support up to 20,000 mailboxes per server.

Cisco Unity Express (CUE), available in certain Cisco ISR routers, offers affordable voicemail, unified messaging, interactive voice response (IVR), and greeting services for small to medium businesses and enterprise satellite locations with as many as 500 users. Cisco Unity Express permits users to access and manage voicemail messages using a Cisco IP Phone screen, your web browser, or your email client. ISR Routers for which Unity Express is available as a network module include Cisco's 1861, 2900, and 3900 families. Progent can provide certified consulting and troubleshooting services for all Integrated Services Routers.

Unified Contact Center
Cisco Unified Contact Center Enterprise (UCCE) works with Cisco Unified CM and agent desktop applications such as Finesse to offer automatic call distribution capabilities that allow an organization to connect customers with the proper sales or service agent. Unified CCE provides smart call distribution, computer telephony integration, multiple channel customer contact management, network call queuing, interactive voice response and advanced enterprise-wide reporting to simplify the deployment and management of a modern contact center. Cisco products incorporated in UCCE's client contact management solution include Cisco Unified IP Phones, Cisco Voice Gateways, and Cisco network infrastructure.

Unified Contact Center Express (Unified CCX or CCX) offers an out-of-the-box solution for building a customer contact center for branch or midmarket systems that support as many as 400 agents. Multiple packages are offered, as well as a selection of optional enhancements. Unified CCX integrates with Unified CM and offers intelligent call distribution, contact interaction management, integrated reporting, interactive voice response, and management of voice, email, chat, and social media requests. Unified CCX comes with Finesse, a browser-based customizable desktop agent that needs no client software setup. Optional enhancements include conditional routing, projected-wait-time messages, and workforce quality management.

Cisco Mobile Connect and Single Number Reach
Mobile Connect, popularly known as Single Number Reach (SNR), allows users to be reached from a single number that rings simultaneously on their desktop VoIP Phone and their mobile phone. Users can transfer active conversations between their desktop VoIP phone and their cell phone seamlessly. Unanswered calls can be transferred to a Cisco Unity or Cisco Unity Connection voicemail account. Users can create personal access lists that determine which calls are extended to different endpoints.

Prime Collaboration Provisioning
Cisco Prime Collaboration Provisioning provides an automated process for initial deployments as well as for follow-on moves, additions, changes, and deletions. A user-friendly interface delivers a single view of a user and the user's services. Prime Collaboration Provisioning significantly speeds up site installations and minimizes the effort required for future updates. Prime Collaboration also offers advanced analytics including application adoption and consumption trends, allowing administrators to optimize resources and further reduce TCO.

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

Communications gateways offered by Cisco and supported by Progent include:

Expressway Collaboration Gateway
Cisco's Expressway is a powerful collaboration gatekeeper that enables organizations to provide workers, vendors, customers and prospects, or partners who are working on different networks, collaboration applications, or endpoint equipment to connect to Unified Communication functions. The Expressway works in conjunction with a Cisco CM system or Cisco Business Edition 6000 (BE6000), or can be accessed through the cloud with Cisco HCS to help make productive collaboration more universal. Key features of Expressway are are:

• Mobile and Off-site Access: Off-site users with any Jabber-supported device or telecommuters with Cisco TelePresence endpoints have the convenience of single-sign-on (SSO) and of Transport Layer Security (TLS) and can connect to all their collaboration workloads (high-definition video, high-quality voice, data instant messaging, and presence) without requiring the extra step of a VPN connection. Also, telecommuters have the ability to use their Cisco TelePresence endpoints without the need for a VPN tunnel, delivering a user environment at home that is the same as the office.
• Jabber Guest Support: Cisco Expressway is integral for enabling the Cisco Jabber Guest, which permits “guests” to interact with your business simply and safely through streamlined browser and mobile video phone calls.
• Cisco Cloud Access: Cisco Expressway can act as a gateway that connects between on-premises Cisco or third-party systems and the WebEx cloud. By offering support for Cisco Collaboration Meeting Rooms (CMRs), Expressway deliver a world-class, scalable teleconferencing experience that transparently combines business-quality voice, video, and content sharing to any client, anywhere, using any device.
• Interoperability: In case your organization currently has non-Cisco video systems, Expressway can assist you to move easily to a Cisco solution whenever it makes business sense. Cisco Expressway provides video compatibility with industry standard H.323, H.264 Scalable Video Coding, or Session Initiation Protocol systems. Gateway capabilities allowed by Cisco Expressway include IPv4 to IPv6, H.323 to Session Initiation Protocol (SIP), and Microsoft Lync H.264 Scalable Video Coding to AVC.

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

Cisco's Legacy UC520, UC540 and UC560 VoIP Phone Systems
The legacy Cisco Unified Communications 500 (UC500) product line is an early VoIP communications system for small businesses. UC500 packages provide voice, data, voicemail, automated attendant, IP video, security, and wireless functionality, run with older Cisco VoIP endpoints, and support various public switched telephone network connections.

All UC500 series bundles include a desktop switch appliance with 8 Power-over-Ethernet (PoE) interfaces and additional foreign exchange stations (FXS) and foreign exchange office (FXO) ports, a firewall, and VPN support. Integrated WiFi is an option. User capacity can be expanded by connecting with Cisco Catalyst Express companion switches. Every UC500 offering also includes software licenses for Cisco Unified Communications Manager for VoIP call processing as well as Cisco Unity Express for voice messaging and automated attendant. The Cisco UC520 system supports 8 to 16 VoIP users and incorporate 4 foreign exchange stations and 4 FXO ports. The Cisco UC540 system supports 24 to 32 users and has 8 foreign exchange office interfaces. The Cisco UC560 package allows 48 VoIP clients and 12 FXO ports.

Progent's Cisco-certified VoIP experts can help you to maintain your legacy UC500 VoIP system or design and implement an efficient migration to a modern IP telephony and voicemail solution like the Cisco Business Edition 4000.

How Progent Can Help You with Cisco IP Voice and IP Media Phones, CUCM, and Telepresence
Progent offers remote or onsite access to a Cisco Certified Internetwork Expert (CCIE) Collaboration specialist to assist your business to plan, deploy, administer and repair converged communications environments built on Cisco Unified Communication products in an in-house, distributed, or hybrid deployment. Progent's Cisco consultants have extensive backgrounds integrating Cisco Unified Communications Manager and CallManager, IP voice and video phones and other endpoints, UC applications such as Cisco Jabber and Unity Connection, Cisco's video conferencing technologies, collaboration gatekeepers, tools built into Cisco switches and routers. Progent can also offer expertise with technologies such as Cisco SRST, CUBE, H.323 and H.264 gateways, CAC, IP voice trunks, various signaling protocols, and Cisco's architecture for voice, video and integrated data. Progent's SIP integration experts can in addition assist you to build SIP connectivity solutions that incorporate SIP-based VoIP phones and video phones, SIP-based CUBE trunks, SIP conferencing and SIP management tools with Cisco Unified Communications Manager.

Progent's custom application developers can create specialized IP telephony applications that will enable your company to incorporate the capabilities of Cisco Unified Communications Manager into your business processes for enhanced efficiency. Progent can analyze your current network and Internet access infrastructure to determine whether your environment is optimized to accommodate high-quality Voice over IP and HD video, assist you to choose and install Cisco hardware and software appropriate for your present needs and downstream growth plans, and interface your Cisco collaborative communications solution with technology from other vendors. Progent's CISSP-ISSAP certified network security consultants can assist you to develop, deploy, and validate a comprehensive security and compliance strategy for your converged communications solution. In addition, Progent can assist your organization to configure Cisco high-availability technologies such as Cisco Unified SRST to provide cost-effective call control backup in branch office and teleworker environments, and Progent's disaster recovery and business continuity preparedness experts can help you create a viable DR/BC strategy to ensure the availability of your vital unified communications system.

Unified Communications Manager/CallManager Migration Services
Releases of Cisco Unified CM lower than 8.6 and all versions of CallManager have reached end-of-life. This means Cisco Engineering will cease to develop, fix, or validate the product software. Security updates for this pivotal application will end, which in some situations may cause compliance or even potential liability problems.

Progent will continue to provide comprehensive consulting and troubleshooting support for outdated releases of Unified CM and CallManager, but if you are now using a legacy edition of this pivotal application your organization should begin now to prepare for your upgrade. Progent's Cisco-certified consulting professionals can assist your company to migrate efficiently to the latest release of Cisco Unified Communications Manager and can often save clients up to 50% off consulting service costs versus competing computer service firms because of Progent's documented process and hands-on experience in this area. By adhering to best practices, Progent can ensure that your organization gets a fast return on your investment by helping you benefit fully from the new and improved features, lower management and support expense, more engaging collaboration capabilities, and stronger security provided by the latest edition of Unified CM.

Progent's upgrade consulting services include return-on-investment analysis, project management, system testing and validation, Cloud integration, configuring collaboration endpoints from Cisco and other providers, mobile connectivity, data protection consulting, management automation, business continuity planning, network topology design, training for IT staff and end users, and ongoing consulting and technical support. Progent also has put together ultra-affordable upgrade packages to keep your costs visible and affordable.

To see more details about Progent's consulting support for Cisco networking products, pick a topic:

• Overview of Cisco Engineering Services
• Fast and Affordable Remote Access to a Cisco Certified Internetwork Expert (CCIE) Engineer
• Cisco Firepower Firewalls: Configuration and Troubleshooting Expertise
• Cisco ASA 5500-X Firewalls with Cisco Firepower Services: Setup and Management Expertise
• Cisco ASA 5500 Firewall Engineering Help
• Cisco PIX 500 Firewall Management Services
• Cisco Routers Consulting Support
• Cisco Wireless Engineering Services
• Aironet Wireless APs Design Support
• Cisco Small Business 100, 300 and 500 WiFi Access Points Consulting Services
• Catalyst 802.11ax Wi-Fi 6/6E APs Planning, Configuration and Debugging Expertise
• Cisco Wireless Controllers Experts
• Meraki Wireless Access Points Design Help
• Cisco Unified Communications Manager (CUCM or Unified CM) and Cisco CallManager Configuration and Technical Support
• Cisco Jabber and Management Expertise
• Catalyst Switches Consulting and Support Services
• Nexus Switches Support and Troubleshooting Services
• Meraki Switches Support and Troubleshooting Services
• Cisco VPN and Security Setup and Troubleshooting Assistance
• SIP and CUBE Integration Solutions: SIP PSTN Trunks and CUBE Integration Expertise
• Cisco Duo MFA Two-factor Authentication Services for an At-Home Workforce
• Design Solutions for Cisco-powered Data Centers
• Network Optimization Consulting for Service Providers
• Centralized Cloud-based and Hybrid Management Techniques for Cisco-powered Environments