Cisco Certified Expert Network Consultants
Cisco VoIP Phones and Unified CM/CallManager Consulting
From Cisco CCIE-Certified Telephony Professionals
Sending real-time voice and video over IP (VoIP and Video over IP) has evolved from simply being being a shrewd way to save money on phone bills to a required technology for collaboration and worker productivity. Converged communications, at one time limited to integrating Internet-based voice and faxes on one network platform to replace expensive PBX equipment, now incorporates VoIP and video, mobile communications, chat, real-time presence, collaboration services, and more all within a cohesive environment that is easy to manage, extensible, protected, fault-tolerant, cost-effective, and user friendly.
Cisco is the leader in providing the hardware and software infrastructure for supporting the current paradigm of unified communications (UC). Cisco's UC solution adds to the efficiency of IT systems by slashing operating expenses; integrating rich media functions with popular software applications to improve worker output; supporting collaboration among workers, partners, and suppliers to save time and improve business outcomes; and simplifying the support of your converged voice and data infrastructure.
Cisco's UC technology cover several important product areas:,
- Call Control Platforms for controlling rich media calls and sessions
- Collaboration Endpoints to enhance end-user productivity
- UC Applications for integrated access to presence, chat, voice and video, phone messages, white boarding, and voice/video conferencing
- Communications Gateways for connecting to public networks and telecommuters
Call and Session Control Agents - Unified Communications Manager (CallManager)
Cisco's call-processing agent is the core of the Cisco IP Communications solution and provides the flexibility to deploy a centralized call-processing design, a decentralized model, or a combination of both. In a centralized deployment, Unified Communications Manager (UC Manager or CUCM) extends corporate telephony capabilities to packet devices such as IP handsets, media management products, Voice over IP gateways, and mixed media programs across the IT environment. Unified Communications Manager enables extra mixed media functions including unified messaging, multimedia conferencing, and collaborative client interaction networks.
The latest release of Cisco Unified CM, formerly known as Cisco CallManager, includes a variety of improvements that speed up your return on investment by lowering management and maintenance expenses, improving worker output, enhancing teamwork, accommodating the BYOD style of working, fortifying data protection, and making optimal utilization of IT infrastructure. Headline innovations include automatic dial-plan replication, simplified certificate management, expanded support for single sign-on for managers and end users, device-agnostic call recording, on-the-road access without the need for VPN tunneling, a revamped self-provisioning interface that makes it simple for users to select their preferences for all of their endpoints, and support for Transport Layer Security and Secure Real-Time Transport Protocol for mobile users.
When you deploy a centralized Unified Communications Manager cluster to control call processing for customers at remote locations, administrators can help ensure continuous call service through Cisco SRST, a Cisco IOS Software image for Cisco routers. If a WAN connection breaks, Cisco Survivable Remote Site Telephony incorporated in the Cisco router offers core UC Manager services until the connection is repaired. For information about Progent's consulting support services for Cisco ISR routers, refer to consulting and troubleshooting services for Cisco ISR routers.
For small businesses, branch offices, and retail deployments that do not require the complete feature set offered by Unified CM, Cisco Unified Communications Manager Express, formerly known as CallManager Express offers a cost-effective PBX alternative that meets the needs of locations with as many as 450 users. Because Unified Communications Manager Express Unified Communications Manager Express (Unified CCX) is embedded in the Cisco IOS Software operating on a Cisco ISR router, smaller offices can rapidly implement a unified voice/data solution.
Cisco's BE6000 is a family of one-stop platforms that offer fundamental unified communications capabilities including routing, IP gateway, premium voice and video, messaging, IM and real-time presence, voice and video conferencing, and paging services, enabling any user to collaborate on any endpoint device from any place. All BE6000 systems come packaged preconfigured with a virtualization hypervisor and collaboration applications, making implementation quick and simple and cutting operating expenses for companies with up to 1000 employees. All systems come packaged preloaded with a virtualization hypervisor and UC applications software. You can simply enable UC software applications as their requirements dictate.
The office-in-a-box Business Edition 6000S supports five standard collaboration applications preloaded on one integrated router/IP gateway/virtualized E1600 M2 blade server device and supports a maximum capacity of 150 workers and 300 devices. The mid-market BE6000M supports four unified communications application options enabled on a single virtualized C220 M4 server and supports as many as 1000 users, 1200 devices, and 100 contact center agents. The top-of-the-line Business Edition 6000H Supports eight unified communications application options activated on a virtualized Cisco C220 M4 server platform and can handle as many as 1000 users, 2500 endpoint devices, and 100 contact center agents.
For additional information about Progent's expertise with Unified Communications Manager, visit Cisco Unified Communications Manager (CUCM) and Cisco CallManager design, configuration, upgrades and troubleshooting.
IP Phones: IP Voice and IP Video Phones
A communications endpoint is a user device, either a hardware phone set or a software phone application on a desktop or mobile computer. In the IP world, each IP phone has an Ethernet connection. IP phones offer all of the capabilities that a conventional phone handset provides, but Voice over IP phones often have additional functions such as being able to access websites or run business software.
In contrast to conventional PBX systems, in a Cisco IP telephony network you can implement almost instant relocations, additions, and modifications. You simply move the IP handset to its new location, attach it to an Ethernet jack, and the device registers itself with Cisco Unified Communications Manager. All client permissions and settings are automatically re-established, eliminating the expense and hassle of sending support personnel to rewire connections. An additional helpful feature is location independence, which enables you to log into any Cisco VoIP phone and get your own phone number and rights.
Cisco offers a wide range of collaboration handsets. Cisco's entry-level SPA 300 Series are no-frills IP and DECT screenless or monochrome devices that feature wide-band voice, compatibility with hosted Internet Protocol phone systems or an IP private branch exchange (PBX), simple installation and safe remote provisioning, zero-downtime software updates, and web-based set up. The low-end SPA301 is a one-line IP phone with no display or speakerphone function, a base dialer that has a single Ethernet port, and a wired handset with no keys. The SPA302D, designed solely for operation with Cisco's SPA232D DECT ATA, is a multiple-line wireless Digital Enhanced Cordless Telecommunications handset that supports 10-lines, a 176 x 220 pixel color screen, and a keypad with speakerphone capability. Cisco's SPA303 is an affordable 3-line IP phone with dual 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 signaling protocols, two integral Ethernet switch ports, speakerphones, built-in web servers, PoE, and conferencing capability. Most versions have a 128 x 64 pixel mono 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 programmable keys. The SPA504G has four lines and has four programmable buttons. The SPA508G VoIP phone supports eight lines and eight programmable buttons. The SPA509G supports 12 lines and features 12 programmable buttons. The SPA512G IP Phone supports four lines, no programmable buttons and supports 10/100/1000 Ethernet. The SPA514G VoIP phone supports four lines, has programmable buttons, and supports Gigabit Ethernet. The top-of-the-line SPA525G2 VoIP phone has a 320 x 240 pixel color screen, supports five lines, and includes five soft keys.
Cisco's IP Phones 3900 Series and 6900 Series are specialty VoIP endpoints designed for infrequent-use settings such as lobbies, elevators, and conference facilities. The Unified SIP Phone 3905 features VoIP phone features a 128 x 32 mono display, an integrated 10/100 Ethernet switch, a speakerphone, and PoE. The simple Cisco Unified IP Phone 6901 is a single-line device with no display and requires a hook switch for transferring a call or conferencing.
The 7800 line of value-priced IP phones are VoIP desktop endpoints with backlit monochrome screens, four soft keys, 11 fixed-feature keys, an Ethernet port with Class 1 PoE, and a speakerphone. The 7800 Series IP Phones support only the SIP call control protocol. All devices in Cisco's 7800 family feature the same advanced speakers and microphones as Cisco's 8800 Series IP phones to provide a best-in-class audio experience. Cisco's EnergyWise power-save feature, available on the higher end 7800 units, reduces after-hours energy consumption by up to 60 percent. The Cisco IP Phone 7811 is a one-line VoIP phone intended for shared locations as well as for employees with infrequent voice communications requirements. The IP 7811 comes with a 3.28-inch 384 x 106 display plus a narrow-band speakerphone. Wideband audio is available via an optional wideband handset. Cisco's IP Phone 7821 is a two-line VoIP phone with a 396 x 162 screen. The IP Phone 7841 is a four-line VoIP phone with a 396 x 162 display and is the only unit in the 7800 series that provides 1xGb Ethernet. The top-of-the-line IP Phone 7861 VoIP phone is a 16-line device intended for administrative staff, contact center agents, and managers who have heavy call needs.
Cisco Unified IP Phone 7900 Series are dual-protocol (SIP/SCCP) media endpoints with a 320 x 240 color display, a Gigabit Ethernet switch, Class 3 PoE, 10 fixed-feature buttons and a speakerphone. The Cisco Unified IP Phone 7945G is a dual-line device and the Cisco Unified IP Phone 7965G includes four lines. Both IP phones have a 5-inch display and four programmable 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 keys.
Cisco's IP Phone 8800 Series is a family of SIP-only IP phones that includes desktop units, a conference IP phone, and wireless IP Phones. The desktop models are five-line IP phones with a 5-inch 800 x 480 display, a Gigabit Ethernet switch, a speakerphone, four soft buttons and 12 fixed-feature buttons. Cisco's IP Phone 8811 features a mono display and supports Class 2 PoE. The Cisco IP Phone 8841 features a WVGA color screen 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 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 models. The Cisco IP Phone 8861 has a WVGA color screen, Bluetooth, dual USB connections with charging capability, and supports Cisco Intelligent Proximity for Mobile Voice, Wi-Fi, and Class 4 Power over Ethernet. The Cisco IP Phone 8865 has a WVGA color screen, 720p HD video, a tiltable 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 IP phones are hardened Wi-Fi devices intended for workers who are on the move within campus, warehouse, retail or other environments where IT management wants portable phones that provide more administrative control, data security and durability than is achievable with the Bring-Your-Own-Device style of mobile communications. Cisco's 8821 and 8812-EX wireless IP phones offer mobile onsite users the advantages of voice over wireless LAN technology in workplaces with 802.11a/b/g/n/ac Wi-Fi infrastructure. Cisco's 8821 Wireless VoIP Phone includes a 2.4 inch color screen, a durable case designed to withstand dropping and compliant with IP67 for dust and splash resistance, long-life batteries, a full-duplex speakerphone, and an integrated Bluetooth radio to support cordless headsets. The 8821-EX Wireless VoIP Phone adds protection against sparking for use in potentially combustible environments. Cisco's 8821-EX also features a shell fabricated of industry-standard yellow plastics, which makes the 8821-EX easier to find the event of a crisis. Find out about Progent's Wireless VoIP Phone integration and troubleshooting support.
Cisco's discontinued 9900 Series of advanced VoIP endpoints mix high-definition voice with hi-res color displays to deliver a productive collaborative experience for knowledge professionals and executives. The two IP phones in this line feature a Standard Definition 640x480 pixel color screen, a Bluetooth 2.0 radio to support a wide selection of headsets, and an integrated 10/100/1000 Ethernet switch. The Cisco Power Save feature is optional and can cut off-hour energy draw by up to 90 percent. The Cisco IP Phone 9951 features a 5-inch display and supports up to 2 Cisco IP Expansion Modules for adding programmable line and function keys. The Cisco IP Phone 9971 features a 5.6-inch screen, a built-in 802.11a/b/g Wi-Fi radio for deployment with Voice-over-WLAN networks, and four soft-label touchscreen keys to access Cisco Unified Communications functions. The 9971 VoIP phone allows up to 3 IP Color Key Expansion Modules for adding customizable line and function keys.
Cisco Unified Communications Applications
Within Cisco's Unified Communications platform, IP phone, video, and other converged applications are physically independent from the call- and voice-processing infrastructure, and they may reside anywhere within the system. A cohesive network infrastructure provides a versatile platform for powerful business applications and serves as a firm foundation for future convergence-based software. Cisco cooperates with third-party IT industry companies to provide a broad selection of IP phone and video software applications and products. Cisco also supports the capability to create and administer customized in-house programs.
Unified Communications application software offered by Cisco and supported by Progent include:
Jabber
Cisco Jabber is a unified communications application that provides presence, instant messaging, voice, HD video, voice messaging, screen sharing, and online conferencing capabilities for Windows PCs, Macs, Apple and Android tablets and smartphones. Cisco Jabber is an evolution and integration of the Unified Personal Communicator soft phone, Cisco Mobile, and WebEx Connect, with major enhancements in the areas of video capabilities and desktop screen sharing, and expanding the team experience to more platforms and endpoint hardware. Cisco Jabber operates in conjunction with Cisco Unified CM for call control, Cisco Unified Presence for IM and presence, Cisco Unity Connection for voicemail and programmable attendant, and WebEX Meeting for conferencing and online meetings.
Since Cisco Jabber utilizes popular industry standards, it can interoperate with a broad range of third-party platforms. For example, Extensible Messaging and Presence Protocol enables Jabber to exchange IM and presence information with various XMPP clients such as Adium, IBM Sametime, and Microsoft Lync. Jabber collaboration features are available from Microsoft Office programs including Outlook and SharePoint. This extensive platform compatibility maximizes productivity by delivering a consistent end-user experience and accommodating the bring-your-own-device paradigm of networking. Progent can provide the assistance of Microsoft-certified Exchange and Outlook consultants and Microsoft SharePoint application developers who can help you to use Jabber with Microsoft's premier collaboration products. Progent also can provide expertise with iPhone integration and management and Google Android phone and tablet integration to assist you to increase the business value of your BYOD environment.
Cisco WebEx Meeting Center
Cisco WebEx Meeting Center provides web and video meetings for users with a browser or almost any PC or mobile device. Cisco WebEx is offered as software as a service via the Cisco WebEx Cloud. This makes it simple to deploy and scale, reduces the cost of management, eliminates heavy up-front investment, features high availability and enterprise-grade data protection, and delivers fast throughput. Key features include the ability to share discrete content or your whole screen display with online attendees in real time, the capability to embed multimedia into presentations including PowerPoint and Flash animations, session recording plus playback for training, single sign-on and integration with other Cisco collaboration applications like Cisco Jabber and TelePresence, plus stringent data privacy and encrypted connections with strict policy control.
WebEX Meeting Center works with Windows, Mac, and Linux desktops and allows mobile workers to launch, calendarize, and attend meetings on Google Android devices, Apple iPhones and iPads, BlackBerry phones, and Microsoft Windows Phone. You can also launch online meetings with a few clicks from Microsoft Office, Microsoft Outlook, Notes, and a selection of instant messaging applications.
Cisco TelePresence Portfolio for On-premises Teleconferencing Ecosystems
For medium-size businesses and enterprises who want to create a local or hybrid local/cloud solution for video conferencing, Cisco provides a portfolio of Cisco TelePresence software and equipment that deliver high-quality video conferencing for users with almost any IP endpoint at any site. Cisco TelePresence Server is an expandable video conferencing bridge that works in conjunction with Cisco Unified CM to provide multiparty telepresence to converged deployments and can expand meetings to include cloud-connected Cisco WebEx Meeting Center users. Cisco TelePresence Conductor software simplifies the control of the way conferencing resources are allotted for every individual attendee, allowing administrators to specify the exact service level and experience needed for each user. Cisco TelePresence Content Server captures video and presentations for real-time distribution as well as video on demand playback.
Cisco Unity Connection Platform and Unity Express for Unified Voice Messaging
Cisco's Unity Connection, an extension of Cisco Unified Communications Manager, is a unified voicemail platform that accelerates productive collaboration by providing a variety of alternatives for retrieving voice messages within a framework that is simple to implement and manage. Unity Connection allows you to access and manage your voicemail from your email inbox, web browser, Jabber, a Cisco Unified IP endpoint, a smartphone, or an iPad or tablet. Unity Connection also offers sophisticated speech-recognition capabilities for hands-free management and extensive Automated Attendant capabilities such as smart routing for incoming phone calls and easily customizable call-filtering and message-alert settings. The Unity Connection system runs as a fully virtualized system that can be hosted on a Business Edition 6000 server or a Cisco SRE 910 router blade service module and can accommodate up to 20,000 voice mailboxes per server.
Unity Express (CUE), offered in select Cisco ISR routers, provides cost-effective voicemail, unified messaging, interactive voice response (IVR), and automated-attendant functions for small to mid-size businesses and enterprise branch offices with up to 500 workers. Unity Express permits users to manage voicemail via a Cisco IP Phone display, a browser, or an email client. ISR Routers for which Cisco Unity Express is offered as an advanced integration module include Cisco's 2800, 2900, and 3900 families. Progent can provide comprehensive deployment and troubleshooting services for all Integrated Services Routers.
Unified Contact Center
Unified Contact Center Enterprise (UCCE) integrates with Cisco CUCM and agent desktop applications like Cisco Finesse to provide automatic call distribution (ACD) capabilities that allow an organization to connect customers with the appropriate sales or service agent. UCCE offers intelligent call distribution, computer telephony integration (CTI), support for multichannel contact management, network call queuing, interactive voice response and consolidated company-wide reporting to streamline the creation and management of a large-scale contact center. Cisco platforms supporting Unified CCE's customer contact management ecosystem include Cisco Unified IP Phones, Voice, and Cisco network infrastructure.
Cisco Unified Contact Center Express (Unified CCX) offers a packaged solution for building a customer contact center for mid-scale systems that support up to 400 agents. Multiple packages are available, plus a variety of optional advanced features. Unified CCX integrates closely with Cisco Unified CM and provides smart call distribution, client interaction management, reporting, interactive voice response, and management of voice, email, chat, and social media requests. Unified Contact Center Express comes with Cisco Finesse, a browser-based customizable desktop agent that requires no client-side installation. Advanced options include conditional routing, expected-wait-time messages, and workforce quality management.
Cisco Mobile Connect for Single Number Reach
Mobile Connect, commonly known as Single Number Reach, makes it possible for users to be reached via one phone number that rings at the same time on their desktop VoIP Phone and their cell phone. Users can switch live calls between their desktop IP phone and their mobile phone without disruption. Unanswered calls can be transferred to a Unity or Unity Connection account. Users can create their own access lists that determine which calls get extended to alternate phones.
Prime Collaboration
Cisco Prime Collaboration Provisioning provides an automated process for first-time installs as well as for “day 2” moves, adds, changes, and deletions. A user-friendly interface provides a unified view of a user and the subscriber's services. Cisco Prime Collaboration Provisioning substantially speeds up site rollouts and reduces the time required for future changes. Prime Collaboration in addition offers management analytics that show technology adoption and consumption trends, allowing organizations to make more efficient use of resources and further lower TCO.
Cisco Collaboration Gateways
Cisco's collaboration gateways allow Cisco Unified Communications environments to connect with public networks and with clients operating outside the firewall. Cisco's portfolio of communication gateways provide unified communications support for a wide variety of gateway and session-border-control deployments.
Communications gateways available from Cisco and supported by Progent's certified consultants include:
Cisco Expressway Collaboration Gateway
Cisco's Expressway is an advanced collaboration gatekeeper that enables companies to allow workers, suppliers, consumers, or business partners who are working on different networks, collaboration platforms, or endpoint devices to connect to Cisco Unified Communication functions. The Expressway gateway integrates with an enterprise Cisco Communications Manager deployment or Cisco Business Edition, or can be run through the cloud with Cisco HCS to make productive collaboration more pervasive. Key capabilities of Cisco Expressway are:
- Mobile and Remote Access: Off-site users who have any Jabber-compatible device or teleworkers with Cisco TelePresence endpoints have the benefit of one-time sign-on and of Transport Layer Security (TLS) and are able to connect to all their Jabber applications (video, high-quality voice, data IM, and presence) without requiring the extra step of a VPN. Also, telecommuters can utilize their Cisco TelePresence endpoints without a VPN, delivering a user experience at home that is identical to the corporate office.
- Cisco Jabber Guest Support: Cisco Expressway is required for supporting Jabber Guest, which permits “guests” to interact with your business easily and safely through lightweight web-browser and mobile multimedia phone calls.
- Cisco Cloud Access: Cisco Expressway can function as a gateway that creates a path between onsite Cisco or non-Cisco systems and Cisco's WebEx cloud. By offering support for Cisco Collaboration Meeting Rooms (CMRs), Cisco Expressway deliver an advanced, scalable meeting environment that seamlessly integrates voice, high-definition video, and content sharing to any client, at any location, using any device.
- Interoperability: In case your company currently has third-party video systems, Cisco Expressway can help you to migrate easily to Cisco technology whenever you choose. Cisco Expressway provides video compatibility with industry standard H.323, H.264 SVC, or SIP environments. Internetworking capabilities allowed by Cisco Expressway include IPv4 to IPv6, H.323 to Session Initiation Protocol, and Microsoft Lync H.264 Scalable Video Coding to AVC.
The Cisco Unified Border Element is a collaboration edge session border controller that interconnects converged business communications networks to the IP public switched telephone network. In addition to offering session border control, Cisco Unified Border Element (CUBE) provides easy and affordable collaboration outside the firewall. Sample collaboration functions supported by CUBE include:
- WebEx Cloud Connected Audio for SIP-based audio conferencing
- Voice/Video recording
- Enterprise Call-center and interactive-voice-response (IVR) applications
- Policy-based evaluation of phone calls
- B2B telepresence over SIP
Cisco's Legacy UC520, UC540 and UC560 VoIP Phone Systems
The end-of-life Cisco Unified Communications 500 product line is a VoIP gateway appliance and software package for small businesses. UC500 packages provide voice, data, voicemail, automated attendant, video, security, and wireless capabilities, work with older Cisco IP Voice endpoints, and support various public switched telephone network (PSTN) connections.
All of Cisco's UC500 series bundles include a compact switch appliance with 8 PoE ports and additional FXS and FXO interfaces, a firewall, and VPN support. Built-in WiFi is optional. User capacity can be increased by attaching Cisco Catalyst Express switches. Each UC500 offering also includes licenses for Cisco Unified Communications Manager for VoIP call processing as well as Cisco Unity Express software for voice messaging and automated attendant. The Cisco UC520 package supports 8 to 16 users and incorporate 4 FXS and 4 FXO ports. The Cisco UC540 system supports 32 users and has 8 foreign exchange office interfaces. The Cisco UC560 system allows 48 VoIP clients and 12 FXO interfaces.
Progent's seasoned VoIP experts can assist you to support your legacy UC500 VoIP gateway or plan and carry out a smooth upgrade to a modern IP telephony and voicemail solution such as Cisco's cloud-managed Business Edition 4000.
How Progent Can Assist You with Cisco VoIP and IP Media Phones, Cisco Unified CM, and Telepresence
Progent can provide online or on-premises help from a certified CCIE Collaboration specialist to help you to design, implement, administer and repair converged communications networks based on Cisco Unified Communication products in a centralized, distributed, or hybrid deployment. Progent's Cisco consultants have in-depth experience with Unified Communications Manager and Cisco CallManager, Voice over IP and video phones and other endpoints, Unified Communications applications like Cisco Jabber and WebEx Meeting Center, Cisco's video conferencing products, communication gateways, tools incorporated into Cisco Catalyst switches and routers. Progent can also provide expertise with related technologies like Cisco SRST, CUBE, H.323 gateways, Call Admission Control, VoIP trunks, various signaling protocols, and Cisco's AVVID architecture. Progent's SIP infrastructure consultants can also help you to build SIP infrastructure environments that incorporate SIP-based IP voice phones and video phones, SIP-based CUBE trunks, SIP conferencing and SIP management tools with Cisco Unified Communications Manager.
Progent's application programmers can build specialized IP telephony applications that will help your company to incorporate the features of Cisco Unified Communications Manager into your company operations for enhanced productivity. Progent can audit your current network and Internet access architecture to make sure your system is optimized to accommodate business-quality Voice over IP and high-definition video, help you to select and integrate Cisco hardware and software that make sense for your current needs and future growth strategy, and integrate your Cisco Unified Communications products with technology from other suppliers. Progent's CISSP-ISSAP certified network security consultants can assist you to create, deploy, and validate a comprehensive security strategy for your unified communications solution. In addition, Progent can assist you to deploy Cisco high-availability mechanisms such as Cisco Unified Survivable Remote Site Telephony for cost-effective call control redundancy in remote-branch and telecommuter environments, and Progent's disaster recovery and business continuity preparedness experts can help you create a sensible disaster recovery plan to protect your crucial unified communications system.
Cisco Unified Communications Manager/CallManager Migration Consulting
Versions of Cisco Unified CM before 8.6 and all releases of its predecessor CallManager have reached end-of-life. This means Cisco Engineering will no longer develop, repair, or test this older software. Security updates for this business-critical application will end, which in some situations could cause regulatory compliance or even legal liability problems.
Progent continues to provide premier support services for outdated versions of Unified Communications Manager and Cisco CallManager, but if your business is still using an out-of-dated release of this critical application you should begin now to plan your migration. Progent's Cisco-certified consultants can help your company to migrate smoothly to the current release of Cisco Unified CM and can routinely save customers as much as 50% off consulting service costs versus competing computer service companies thanks to Progent's documented process and hands-on experience in this area. By adhering to leading practices, Progent can make sure your business gets a fast payback on your investment by showing you how to take full advantage of the enhanced features, lower management and maintenance costs, more productive collaboration, and stronger security provided by the current release of Unified Communications Manager.
Progent's upgrade services include ROI assessment, project management or co-management, pilot testing, Cloud connectivity, setting up endpoint devices from Cisco and other providers, smartphone and tablet connectivity, security and compliance consulting, streamlined management, disaster recovery/business continuity planning, network architecture design, training for IT staff and end users, and ongoing consulting and technical support. Progent also offers fixed-priced upgrade packages to make sure your costs are predictable and affordable.
To find out additional information concerning Progent's engineering help for Cisco networking products, select a subject:
- Overview of Progent's Cisco Expertise
- Fast Online Help from a Cisco Certified Internetwork Expert (CCIE) Network Engineer
- Cisco Firepower Firewalls: Integration and Management Support
- ASA 5500-X Firewalls with Firepower: Setup and Management Services
- ASA 5500 Series Firewall Management Assistance
- PIX 500 Firewall Management Assistance
- Cisco Routers Configuration and Troubleshooting Support
- Cisco Wireless Consulting Expertise
- Aironet Wireless APs Design Expertise
- Cisco Small Business WiFi Access Points Deployment Expertise
- Cisco Catalyst 802.11ax Wireless APs Planning, Configuration and Debugging Consulting
- Cisco WiFi Controllers Integration Consulting
- Meraki Wireless Access Points Design Services
- Cisco Unified Communications Manager (CUCM or Unified CM) and CallManager Configuration and Troubleshooting
- Cisco Jabber and Management Expertise
- Cisco Catalyst Switches Deployment Services
- Cisco Nexus Switches Support and Troubleshooting Services
- Meraki MS Switches Configuration and Maintenance Expertise
- Cisco VPN Consulting Expertise
- SIP and CUBE Infrastructure Solutions: SIP PSTN Trunks and Cisco CUBE Integration Consulting
- Design Expertise for Cisco-powered Datacenters and Colocation Centers
- Infrastructure Design Expertise for Internet Service Providers
- Centralized Management Technologies for Cisco Infrastructure
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macOS Infrastructure Professionals
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Progent's Apple Mac networking engineers can assist you with a wide array of system foundation areas including system architecture, remote and mobile connectivity, internetwork compatibility, security, and new technologies including VoIP and fast wireless connectivity. For company networks based exclusively on Mac OS X or for systems that use a combination of Mac, Linux/UNIX and Windows powered servers and desktops, Progent has the knowledge and depth to deal with the challenge of designing, integrating, and maintaining a network infrastructure that is reliable, safe, productive and aligned with your business goals. Progent can help you configure Apple’s Xserve enterprise servers, Apple's Xserve RAID non-stop storage systems, and Apple's Xsan SAN systems. Progent can also give you access to certified experts to help you with Cisco routers and switches.
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Progent's ProSight Active Security Monitoring (ASM) is an endpoint protection service that utilizes next generation behavior analysis tools to defend endpoint devices as well as servers and VMs against new malware attacks like ransomware and file-less exploits, which easily evade traditional signature-based anti-virus products. ProSight Active Security Monitoring protects on-premises and cloud resources and provides a unified platform to automate the complete threat progression including filtering, identification, mitigation, cleanup, and forensics. Key features include single-click rollback with Windows Volume Shadow Copy Service and real-time system-wide immunization against new threats.
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Microsoft Experts Dynamics GP Specialists
Progent can help you prepare and execute a smooth move to Microsoft Dynamics GP so that you preserve your information, improve your security, enhance your management reporting, take full advantage of Microsoft Office integration, and reduce productivity disruption by creating and following a smart migration strategy. Progent can also help train new Microsoft Dynamics GP/Great Plains users so you don't waste productivity. Progent can improve your financial reports and management analytics by providing Crystal Reports consulting, FRx assistance, and Excel support. Progent's experience with Microsoft .NET technology, Microsoft SQL Server solutions, and programming with VBasic, XML and other platforms make it possible to create specialized line-of-business software and eCommerce programs that work seamlessly with Microsoft Dynamics GP 2010/Great Plains 2010.
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Progent's ProSight Network Audits offer a fast and low-cost way for small and mid-size businesses to obtain an objective evaluation of the overall health of their IT system. Powered by some of the leading remote monitoring and management (RMM) platforms available, and supervised by Progent's world-class team of information technology experts, ProSight Network Audits show you how well the configuration of your core infrastructure devices adhere to industry leading practices. Both the Basic and Advanced options for ProSight Network Audit services are offered at a low, one-time cost and deliver instant ROI like a more manageable and more secure AD implementation. Both options also offer the long-term benefits of cutting-edge remote network monitoring and management technology. These benefits can include easier network management, better compliance with government and industry security standards, more efficient utilization of network resources, faster problem resolution, more reliable backup and recovery, and increased uptime.
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macOS and Windows integration Computer Consultant
Progent's service experts in Mac and Windows technology can help you combine Apple Macintosh and Windows computers into cohesive networks with resource sharing and collaboration functionality. Enabling productive cooperation among a variety of servers and workstations powered by Apple Mac OS and Microsoft Windows requires broad knowledge of and background with Mac and Windows technology. Progent's background in Windows and Apple service makes it possible to provide world class support to businesses that depend on these platforms to keep their competitive edge. Progent's consultants can also assist you to interface Apple's iPhones and iPads with your Windows network.
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Progent's Microsoft Office and Office 365 consultants can assist businesses of any size to incorporate Microsoft Office desktop and Microsoft Office 365 applications including Office Excel, Office Word, PowerPoint, Microsoft Outlook, Microsoft Access, Visio and OneNote into a seamless solution that offers quick return on investment and promotes better business results. Progent can help you to interface Microsoft Office or Office 365 applications with one another and with other key Microsoft platforms including SharePoint Server, Exchange Server and SQL Server running on-premises or hosted in the cloud. Progent can also assist you to fix compatibility issues between various versions of Microsoft Office and offers customized online instruction to individuals or groups.
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Progent can provide cost-effective online access to an Oracle MySQL DBA or application programmer and can assist organizations of any size to configure and manage MySQL within a robust network infrastructure that offers high levels of speed, expandability, and security. Progent also has experience assisting companies migrate databases from Oracle to MySQL.
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Progent's managed services for patch management offer organizations of any size a flexible and affordable alternative for evaluating, testing, scheduling, applying, and documenting software and firmware updates to your servers, endpoints printers, network infrastructure appliances like switches and Wi-Fi APs, and IoT devices such as alarms and robotics.
Intune and Windows 10 Remote Technical Support
Intune App Wrapping Online Support Services
Progent's Microsoft-certified Intune consultants can assist your organization to assess the business case for adopting Intune for administering your portable computers including laptops, smartphones, and tablets based on Windows, iOS, and Google Android. Progent's Intune consultants can help your company to define policies, plan and deploy test systems to evaluate the appropriateness of Microsoft Intune for your network, deploy Intune throughout your IT ecosystem, combine Intune with System Center Configuration Manager for unified change management, and troubleshoot your Intune deployment.
Remote Troubleshooting Wireless
IT Consultants Wireless Network
Progent’s wireless consultants can help small organizations plan, choose, evaluate, deploy and maintain protected building-to-building wireless bridging products that integrate transparently into your existing network while offering a level of protection that equals or excels wired connections. Progent provides expertise in wireless LAN technology from Cisco Aironet and Meraki, Proxim, and additional small business wireless providers and can show you how to identify and install the wireless connectivity solutions that match your company requirements.
SCVMM 2012 Live Migration Support Services
SCVMM 2012 Hyper-V Clusters Technical Support
Progent's Microsoft-certified consultants can help organizations of any size to follow best practices to set up System Center 2012 Virtual Machine Manager hosts, fabric, storage, and libraries; plan, integrate, and administer private clouds, VMs, and services in SCVMM 2012; and integrate SCVMM with SCOM 2012 for enterprise-class monitoring. Progent can help your business to upgrade from a legacy version of SCVMM or from a third-party management system, and Progent can show you how you to enhance and troubleshoot your current SCVMM 2012 environment so you realize the highest possible return on investment.
wireless VoIP phone and Aironet APs Online Support Services
wireless VoIP phone and Aironet APs Outsourcing
Cisco's wireless VoIP phones are hardened Wi-Fi handsets designed for professionals who are on the move within campus, warehouse, health-care or other venues where management requires portable phones that provide more control, security and durability than is possible with the BYOD mode of mobile collaboration. Integration of Cisco's wireless VoIP phones usually demands that you configure and fine tune numerous components of your Wi-Fi infrastructure such as wireless access points, routers and switches, Cisco wireless LAN controllers, and call management tools. Progent's Cisco-certified experts can provide online and onsite support to help your organization create and maintain a Cisco wireless IP phone solution by delivering integration services that range from debugging the set up of an IP phone or access point to providing comprehensive project management outsourcing or co-sourcing services for updating the Wi-Fi architecture of a campus.
Ransomware Forensics Integration Support
After Hours Consulting Services ProSight ASM Endpoint Ransomware Monitoring
ProSight Active Security Monitoring is an endpoint protection service that utilizes cutting edge behavior analysis technology to guard endpoint devices and servers and VMs against modern malware assaults like ransomware and email phishing, which easily get by traditional signature-matching AV products. ProSight ASM protects on-premises and cloud-based resources and offers a single platform to manage the complete threat progression including filtering, identification, containment, remediation, and forensics. Top features include single-click rollback using Windows Volume Shadow Copy Service (VSS) and automatic network-wide immunization against new attacks.
