Cisco Expert Network Consultants
Cisco IP Voice Phones and Unified CM/CallManager Support
From Cisco CCIE Collaboration-Certified Telephony Experts
Exchanging live voice and video over IP has progressed from simply being being a smart means to cut phone carrier bills to an indispensable tool for productive collaboration. Unified communications, at one time limited to integrating Internet-based voice calls and faxing on the same platform in order to replace expensive PBX equipment, today incorporates VoIP and video, mobility, instant messaging, presence, services, and more within a cohesive framework that is easy to manage, extensible, secure, fault-tolerant, cost-effective, and intuitive.
Cisco is the market leader in providing solutions for supporting the modern model of unified communications (UC). Cisco's UC solution adds to the efficiency of information systems by cutting operating costs; combining multiple collaboration functions with familiar software applications to improve user output; facilitating collaboration among workers, associates, and suppliers to save effort and improve business results; and simplifying the management of your converged voice and data ecosystem.
Cisco's UC technology include several primary product categories:,
- Call Control Platforms for controlling calls and sessions
- VoIP and Video Endpoints to enhance worker engagement
- UC 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 telecommuters
Call and Session Processing Agents - Unified Communications Manager/CallManager
The call-processing agent is the heart of the Cisco IP Communications infrastructure and provides the versatility to implement a centralized call-processing model, a decentralized design, or a mix of both. In a centralized approach, Unified Communications Manager (UC Manager or CUCM) extends corporate phone capabilities to packet devices such as VoIP phones, media processing appliances, VoIP gateways, and multimedia programs throughout the IT environment. Unified Communications Manager enables extra mixed media functions including unified messaging, video conferencing, and group-based customer communication networks.
The most recent version of Unified Communications Manager, previously named CallManager, includes a wealth of enhancements that speed up ROI by cutting management and maintenance costs, improving user productivity, enhancing teamwork, accommodating the bring-your-own-device (BYOD) style of computing, strengthening data protection, and making efficient use of IT resources. Headline new features include automatic dial-plan replication, simplified certificate control, extended support for single sign-on for administrators and users, hardware-agnostic call recording, on-the-road access without requiring VPN, a revamped self-provisioning utility that makes it easy for users to specify their options for all endpoint devices, and support for Secure Real-Time Transport Protocol for mobile clients.
In cases where you deploy a centralized Unified Communications Manager cluster to manage call processing for customers at remote locations, IT managers can help achieve non-stop phone operation using Cisco Survivable Remote Site Telephony (SRST), a Cisco IOS Software image for Cisco routers. If a Wide Area Network connection breaks, Cisco Survivable Remote Site Telephony in the Cisco router offers basic Unified Communications Manager capabilities until the connection is restored. For information about Progent's consulting services for Cisco routers, refer to consulting support for Cisco ISR routers.
For small business networks, branch offices, and retail environments that do not need the full feature set available from Unified CM, Cisco Unified Communications Manager Express, formerly named CallManager Express offers a cost-effective PBX alternative that meets the needs of sites with up to 450 users. Since Cisco Unified Communications Manager Express Unified Communications Manager Express (Unified CCX) is built into the Cisco IOS Software running on a Cisco ISR router, smaller organizations can quickly implement a unified voice/data solution.
The Cisco Business Edition 6000 is a family of all-in-one solutions that offer essential unified communications capabilities such as routing, gateway, high definition voice and video, messaging, chat and presence, teleconferencing, and paging services, enabling any user to connect on any device from anywhere. All Business Edition 6000 systems come preconfigured with a virtualization hypervisor and Unified Communications applications software, making implementation fast and simple and reducing operating expenses for organizations with from 25 to 1000 workers. All versions come preinstalled with a virtualization hypervisor and UC applications. You can simply activate collaboration applications as their needs dictate.
The entry-level BE6000S includes five preselected unified communications applications preloaded on one combination ISR router/gateway/virtualized blade server device and supports as many as 150 workers and 300 endpoint devices. The mid-market BE6000M includes 4 collaboration application options activated on a single virtualized Cisco C220 M4 server and can handle as many as 1000 workers, 1200 devices, and 100 contact center agents. The top-of-the-line Business Edition 6000H Supports eight UC software application options enabled on a single virtualized Cisco UCS C220 M4 server platform and supports as many as 1000 users, 2500 devices, and 100 contact center agents.
For more details about Progent's expertise with Unified Communications Manager (CallManager), see Cisco Unified Communications Manager (CUCM) and CallManager planning, integration, migration and technical support.
Cisco IP Phones: IP Voice and IP Video Phones
A collaboration endpoint is an end-user instrument, and can be a physical phone or a software phone application that runs on a desktop or handheld computer. In the Internet Protocol world, each VoIP phone is Ethernet connected. IP phones have all of the features that an analog phone handset has, but VoIP phones often offer extra features such as the ability to connect to the web or host productivity-enhancing software.
In contrast to traditional Private Branch Exchange systems, in a Cisco IP telephony network you can implement virtually instantaneous moves, additions, and changes. You simply take the VoIP phone to its new location, attach it to the Ethernet connection, and the handset registers itself with Cisco Unified Communications Manager (formerly CallManager). All user privileges and configurations are programmatically replicated, doing away with the cost and hassle of sending support personnel to wiring closets. Another helpful feature is extension mobility, which allows you to sign into any Cisco VoIP device and receive your own phone extension and privileges.
Cisco provides a broad range of Unified CM handsets. The low-cost Small Business SPA 300 Series are basic IP and Digital Enhanced Cordless Telecommunications (DECT) screenless or monochrome devices offering high-quality voice, support for hosted Internet Protocol phone systems or an IP private branch exchange (PBX), simple installation and safe remote installation, in-service software upgrades, and web-based configuration. The low-end SPA301 is a single-line IP phone with no display or speakerphone, a base dialer that has one Ethernet connector, and a wired handset without a keypad. The SPA302D, designed solely for operation with Cisco's SPA232D Multi-Line DECT ATA, is a multiple-line cordless Digital Enhanced Cordless Telecommunications IP phone that supports 10-lines, a TFT 176 x 220 color screen, and a keypad with speakerphone capability. Cisco's SPA303 is an affordable 3-line SIP-based phone with two switched ports, a 128x64 mono graphical display and a speakerphone.
The SPA500 Series IP phones are low-cost devices with support for SIP and SPCP signaling protocols, two integral Ethernet switch ports, speakerphones, built-in web servers, Power over Ethernet, and voice conferencing capability. Most versions have a 128 x 64 mono screen display, The SPA501G VoIP phone supports eight lines and has eight soft buttons but no LCD display. The SPA502G IP Phone supports a single line and has no soft buttons. The SPA504G VoIP phone supports four lines and has four programmable keys. The SPA508G IP Phone supports eight lines and eight programmable buttons. The SPA509G supports 12 lines and has 12 programmable buttons. The SPA512G VoIP phone supports four lines, no programmable buttons and supports Gigabit Ethernet. The SPA514G IP Phone supports four lines, has programmable buttons, and supports 1xGb Ethernet. The top-of-the-line SPA525G2 VoIP phone has a 320 x 240 pixel color screen, supports five lines, and features five soft keys.
Cisco's IP Phones 3900 Series and IP Phones 6900 Series are specialty VoIP devices intended for infrequent-use settings such as cafeterias, hallways, and conference centers. The Unified SIP Phone 3905 IP Phone features a 128 x 32 monochrome non-backlit screen, a 10/100 Ethernet switch, a speakerphone, and Power over Ethernet (PoE). The simple Cisco Unified IP Phone 6901 is a single-line device without a display and requires a hook switch for call transfer and conferencing.
The 7800 family of budget-priced IP phones are VoIP desktop endpoints with backlit monochrome displays, four programmable buttons, 11 fixed-feature buttons, an integral Ethernet port with Class 1 Power over Ethernet (PoE), and a speakerphone. The 7800 Series support only the SIP signaling protocol. All devices in Cisco's 7800 line incorporate the same high-fidelity speakers and microphones as Cisco's 8800 Series IP phones to deliver a best-in-class audio experience. Cisco's EnergyWise power-save technology, offered on the higher end 7800 models, reduces after-hours energy usage by as much as 60 percent. The Cisco IP Phone 7811 is a single-line VoIP phone designed for shared areas as well as for employees with infrequent call needs. The IP 7811 VoIP phone comes with a 3.28-inch 384 x 106 display and a narrow-band speakerphone. Wideband audio is available through an extra-cost handset. Cisco's IP Phone 7821 is a two-line endpoint with a 396 x 162 display. The IP Phone 7841 is a four-line endpoint with a 396 x 162 display and is the only device 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 administrators, contact center personnel, and managers who have significant call needs.
The Cisco Unified IP Phone 7900 Series are SIP and SCCP media devices with a 320 x 240 pixel color display, an integral 1xGb Ethernet switch, Class 3 PoE, 10 fixed-feature keys and a speakerphone. The Cisco Unified IP Phone 7945G is a dual-line device and the Cisco Unified IP Phone 7965G supports four lines. Both IP phones have a 5-inch display and four programmable buttons. The Cisco Unified IP Phone 7975G device is an eight-line IP voice and video phone with a 5.6-inch touch screen and five programmable buttons.
Cisco's IP Phone 8800 Series is a line of SIP-only endpoints that includes desktop units, a conference phone, and wireless IP Phones. The desktop units are five-line IP phones featuring a 5-inch 800 x 480 pixel screen, a Gigabit Ethernet switch, a speakerphone, four programmable keys and 12 fixed-feature buttons. The Cisco IP Phone 8811 features a monochrome screen and supports Class 2 Power over Ethernet. The Cisco IP Phone 8841 has a WVGA color display and supports Class 2 Power over Ethernet. 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 connection with charging capability, supports Intelligent Proximity for Mobile Voice and Class 3 PoE, and is offered in Bluetooth and non-Bluetooth models. Cisco's IP Phone 8861 has a WVGA color screen, Bluetooth, two USB ports with charging capability, and supports Cisco Intelligent Proximity for Mobile Voice, 802.11ac Wi-Fi, and Class 4 PoE. The Cisco IP Phone 8865 has a WVGA color display, 720p HD video, a tiltable camera, Bluetooth, two USB connections with charging capability, and supports Cisco Intelligent Proximity for Mobile Voice, 802.11ac Wi-Fi, and Class 4 PoE.
Cisco's wireless IP phones are industrial-grade Wi-Fi handsets designed for workers who are on the move within campus, warehouse, retail or other venues where IT 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 collaboration. Cisco's 8821 and 8812-EX wireless IP phones provide on-the-move onsite users the advantages of voice over wireless LAN (VoWLAN) technology in workplaces that support 802.11a/b/g/n/ac Wi-Fi infrastructure. Cisco's 8821 Wireless IP Phone features a 2.4 inch color screen, a durable shell rated Mil-SPEC 810G for shock resistance and compliant with IP67 for particulate and splash resistance, extended batteries, a full-duplex speakerphone, and a Bluetooth transceiver to support wireless headsets. The 8821-EX Wireless VoIP Phone adds spark suppression for hazardous work sites. Cisco's 8821-EX also features a shell composed out of yellow plastics, which makes the 8821-EX easy to locate in a crisis. Find out about Progent's Cisco Wireless VoIP Phone integration consulting.
Cisco's discontinued 9900 Series of high-performance IP phones mix high-definition voice with business-grade color displays to offer a rich multimedia communications solution for knowledge professionals and executive management. Both models in the 9900 line incorporate a Standard Definition 24-bit color display, a Bluetooth 2.0 transceiver to work with a wide selection of headsets, and a built-in Gigabit Ethernet port. Cisco's EnergyWise function is optional and can reduce off-work power draw by 90 percent. The IP Phone 9951 features a 5-inch display and supports up to 2 Cisco IP Color Key Expansion Modules for expanding programmable line and feature keys. The IP Phone 9971 features a 5.6-inch display, an integrated 802.11a/b/g Wi-Fi transceiver for deployment with wireless networks, and four customizable touchscreen keys to invoke Cisco Unified Communications features. The 9971 VoIP phone allows up to 3 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 phone, IP video, and other UC applications are physically isolated from the call-processing and voice-processing infrastructure, and they may be at any location within the system. A single network framework offers a versatile platform for powerful business applications and provides a solid foundation for downstream convergence-based software. Cisco works with leading IT industry companies to offer a broad range of IP telephony and IP video applications and products. Cisco also supports the capability to create and administer customized internal applications.
UC applications offered by Cisco and supported by Progent include:
Jabber
Cisco Jabber is a unified communications application that provides presence, IM, voice, HD video, voice messaging, screen sharing, and online conferencing functions for PCs, Apple Macs, iPads and Android tablets as well as iPhones, Android phones, and Blackberries. Cisco Jabber is a rebranding and combination of the Cisco Unified Personal Communicator soft phone application, Cisco Mobile, and Cisco WebEx Connect, with major enhancements to HD video capabilities and desktop screen sharing, and expanding the team environment to more platforms and endpoint hardware. Jabber works in conjunction with Unified Communications Manager for call and session management, Cisco Unified Presence for instant messaging and presence, Unity Connection for voicemail and programmable attendant, and Cisco WebEx Meeting for conferencing.
Since Jabber is built around popular industry protocols, it can communicate with a broad selection of third-party platforms. For instance, Extensible Messaging and Presence Protocol (XMPP) enables Jabber to trade instant messaging and presence information with a variety of XMPP clients such as Adium, IBM Sametime, and Microsoft Lync and Office Communications Server. Cisco Jabber features are available from Microsoft Office applications including Outlook and Microsoft SharePoint. This broad platform support optimizes productivity by delivering a consistent end-user experience and fully enabling the bring-your-own-device model of networking. Progent can provide the expertise of Microsoft-certified Exchange consultants and Microsoft SharePoint application developers who can assist you to integrate Jabber with Microsoft's powerful collaboration products. Progent also offers help with iPhone and iPad integration as well as Google Android smartphone integration and management to assist your organization to increase the productivity of your BYOD environment.
WebEX Meeting Center
Cisco WebEx Meeting Center provides web and video conferencing for users with a web browser or virtually any desktop or mobile computer. Cisco WebEx Meeting Center is delivered as software as a service through the Cisco WebEx Cloud. This makes it simple to deploy and expand, streamlines management, avoids high up-front expenditures, features high availability and enterprise-grade security, and delivers fast throughput. Key features include support for sharing discrete content or your whole screen display with remote attendees in real time, the capability to add multimedia into presentations including Microsoft PowerPoint and Flash videos, recording plus playback for training and demonstrations, single sign-on and integration with other Cisco collaboration applications such as Cisco Jabber and Cisco TelePresence, plus stringent data protection and encrypted connections with tight policy management.
Cisco WebEx Meeting Center works with Microsoft Windows, Mac, and Linux-powered desktops and notebooks and permits mobile workers to start, schedule, and attend conferences on Android devices, Apple iPhones and iPads, BlackBerry handhelds, and Microsoft Windows Phone. Users can also initiate web conferences with a few clicks from Microsoft Office, Outlook, Lotus Notes, and a selection of IM applications.
Cisco TelePresence Products for In-house Teleconferencing Ecosystems
For medium-size businesses and larger enterprises who want to create an in-house or hybrid local/cloud environment for teleconferencing, Cisco provides a portfolio of Cisco TelePresence software and equipment that enable high-quality and standards-based teleconferencing for attendees with almost any endpoint device at any location. Cisco TelePresence Server is an expandable teleconferencing bridge that runs in conjunction with Cisco Unified CM to deliver multiparty video, audio and content sharing to unified communications environments and can extend meetings to support cloud-connected WebEx Meeting Center users. Cisco TelePresence Conductor software streamlines management of the way conferencing bandwidth and features are allocated for every individual attendee, allowing managers to define the precise service level and experience required for each user. Cisco TelePresence Content Server captures video conference presentations for live distribution as well as video on demand (VOD) playback.
Cisco Unity Connection and Unity Express for Converged Voice Messaging
The Cisco Unity Connection, an integrated extension of Cisco Unified CM, is a unified voice messaging system that accelerates collaboration by providing flexible set of alternatives for retrieving voice messages within a framework that is easy to implement and maintain. Cisco Unity Connection allows you to access and manage your voice messages from your Exchange inbox, web browser, Cisco Jabber, a Cisco Unified VoIP Phone, an iPhone or other smartphone, or an iPad or tablet. Unity Connection also offers advanced voice-recognition features for hands-free management and powerful Automated Attendant capabilities such as smart routing for inbound phone calls and custom call-filtering and message-notification options. The Unity Connection platform runs as a VM that can reside on a Business Edition 6000 server or a Cisco Services Ready Engine 910 router blade and can support as many as 20,000 mailboxes on each server.
Unity Express (CUE), available in select Cisco Integrated Services routers, provides cost-effective voicemail, integrated messaging, interactive voice response, and automated-attendant functions for small to medium businesses and enterprise satellite locations with up to 500 workers. Cisco Unity Express allows you to manage voicemail using a Cisco IP Phone display, your web browser, or an email client. ISR Routers for which Cisco Unity Express is available as a network module include Cisco's 1861, 2900, 3800, and 3900 Series. Progent offers comprehensive consulting and support services for all Integrated Services Routers.
Cisco Unified Contact Center
Cisco Unified Contact Center Enterprise (UCCE) integrates closely with Cisco Unified CM and desktop agent applications such as Cisco Finesse to offer automatic call distribution capabilities that allow an organization to match customers with the right sales or service agent. Unified CCE provides intelligent call routing, computer telephony integration, multichannel contact management, network call queuing, interactive voice response (IVR) and advanced company-wide reporting to simplify the creation and management of a modern customer contact center. Cisco platforms incorporated in UCCE's client interaction management solution include Cisco Unified IP Phones, Voice, and Cisco LAN/WAN technology.
Unified Contact Center Express (Unified CCX) provides a packaged solution for creating a customer contact center for branch or midmarket deployments that handle as many as 400 agents. Several packages are available, as well as a selection of optional enhancements. Cisco Unified Contact Center Express integrates with Cisco Unified CM and provides smart call routing, client interaction management, integrated reporting, IVR, and management of voice, email, chat, and social media requests. Unified CCX comes with Cisco Finesse, a web-based desktop agent that needs no client installation. Optional enhancements include call-in-queue, estimated-wait-time announcements, and workforce and quality management.
Cisco Mobile Connect for Single Number Reach (SNR)
Mobile Connect, popularly known as Single Number Reach (SNR), allows users to be reached via a single number that rings simultaneously on their Cisco VoIP Phone and their smartphone. Users can switch live calls between their desktop VoIP phone and their cell phone seamlessly. Unanswered calls can be transferred to a Unity or Unity Connection voicemail account. Users can create personal access lists that determine which calls are directed to alternate phones.
Prime Collaboration
Prime Collaboration Provisioning provides an automated process for initial deployments as well as for “day 2” moves, additions, changes, and deletions. A user-friendly console delivers a single look at a user and the subscriber's services. Cisco Prime Collaboration substantially accelerates site rollouts and reduces the time required for future updates. Prime Collaboration in addition provides management analytics including application adoption and consumption rates, allowing organizations to make more efficient use of resources and further lower TCO.
Cisco Communications Gateways
Cisco's collaboration gateways allow Cisco Unified Communications networks to connect with public networks and with users operating outside the firewall. Cisco's line of communication gateways provide unified communications services for a wide variety of gateway and session-border-control deployments.
Communications gateways available from Cisco and supported by Progent include:
Expressway Converged Communication Gateway
Cisco's Expressway is a powerful collaboration gatekeeper that enables companies to allow team members, suppliers, customers, or partners who are working on various outside networks, workgroup applications, or endpoint devices to access to Cisco Unified Communication features. Cisco's Expressway collaboration gateway works with a Cisco Communications Manager deployment or Cisco Business Edition 6000 (BE6000), or can be accessed via the cloud with Cisco Hosted Collaboration Solution to help make productive collaboration more pervasive. Key features of Expressway are are:
- Mobile and Off-site Access: Remote users who have any Jabber-compatible client or telecommuters with Cisco TelePresence endpoints have the convenience of single-sign-on plus TLS security and can connect to all their collaboration workloads (high-definition video, voice, data IM, and realtime presence) without requiring the inconvenience starting a VPN. Also, teleworkers can use their Cisco TelePresence endpoints without a VPN tunnel, delivering a user experience at home that is the same as the office.
- Jabber Guest Support: Cisco Expressway is required for enabling the Cisco Jabber Guest, which allows “guests” to interact with your organization simply and securely through lightweight browser and mobile video calls.
- Cisco Cloud Access: Expressway can act as a gateway that creates a path between on-premises Cisco or non-Cisco collaboration solutions and Cisco's WebEx cloud. By offering support for Cisco Collaboration Meeting Rooms, Cisco Expressway deliver an advanced, extensible teleconferencing environment that transparently integrates business-quality voice, video, and data sharing to any client, at any location, on any device.
- Interoperability: If your company already has non-Cisco video products, Cisco Expressway can assist you to move efficiently to Cisco technology when you choose. Cisco Expressway provides video compatibility with industry standard H.323, H.264 SVC, or Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) environments. Interoperability standards allowed by Cisco Expressway include IPv4 to IPv6, H.323 to SIP, and Microsoft Lync 2013 H.264 Scalable Video Coding (SVC) to AVC.
Cisco Unified Border Element is an enterprise-class session border controller that connects unified communications systems to the public switched telephone network. Beyond offering session border control, CUBE delivers easy and affordable collaboration outside the firewall. Sample unified communications functions supported by CUBE include:
- Cisco WebEx Cloud Connected Audio (CCA) for SIP-media-connected audio conferencing
- Voice and Video recording
- Enterprise Call-center and interactive-voice-response (IVR) solutions
- Policy-based 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 Series is an all-in-one VoIP gateway appliance and software package for small businesses. UC500 models deliver voice, data, voicemail, auto attendant, IP video, firewall, and WiFi capabilities, run with older Cisco VoIP phones, and support public switched telephone network (PSTN) connections.
All Cisco's UC500 series bundles include a compact switch appliance with 8 Power-over-Ethernet ports plus additional FXS and foreign exchange office (FXO) interfaces, a firewall, and VPN support. Built-in WiFi is an option. VoIP user capacity can be expanded by attaching Cisco Catalyst Express companion switches. Each UC500 model also comes with licenses for Cisco Unified Communications Manager for VoIP call processing and Cisco Unity Express software for voice messaging and automated attendant. The Cisco UC520 system supports 8 to 16 users and include 4 foreign exchange stations and 4 FXO ports. The Cisco UC540 package allows 32 users and has 8 FXO ports. The Cisco UC560 system allows 48 VoIP clients and 12 foreign exchange office interfaces.
Progent's Cisco-certified VoIP experts can help you to support your legacy UC500 VoIP system or plan and carry out a smooth migration to a current IP telephony and voicemail solution like the Cisco cloud-managed Business Edition 4000.
How Progent Can Help You with Cisco VoIP and IP Media Phones, Cisco Unified CM, and Video Conferencing
Progent offers remote or on-premises help from a certified CCIE Collaboration consultant to assist your business to design, install, manage and troubleshoot unified communications networks built on Cisco Unified Communication products in an in-house, distributed, or hybrid environment. Progent's Cisco-certified consultants have in-depth experience with Unified Communications Manager and Cisco CallManager, Voice over IP and video phones and soft phones, Unified Communications applications such as Cisco Jabber and WebEx Meeting Center, Cisco's immersive telepresence products, communication gateways, tools built into Cisco Catalyst switches and routers. Progent can also offer support for technologies like Cisco Survivable Remote Site Telephony, Cisco Unified Border Element, SIP gateways, Call Admission Control, IP voice 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 infrastructure environments that include SIP VoIP phones and video endpoints, SIP trunks, and SIP management tools with CUCM.
Progent's application programmers can build specialized IP telephony software that will enable your company to integrate the telephony capabilities of Cisco Unified Communications Manager into your company processes for enhanced efficiency. Progent can audit your current network and Internet access infrastructure to make sure your environment is configured to accommodate business-quality VoIP and HD video, help you to select and deploy Cisco products appropriate for your current situation and downstream expansion plans, and integrate your Cisco collaborative communications products with technology from other vendors. Progent's CISSP-ISSAP certified information security consultants can assist you to develop, deploy, and validate a comprehensive security and compliance plan for your unified communications ecosystem. In addition, Progent can assist your organization to configure Cisco fault-tolerant mechanisms like Cisco Unified Survivable Remote Site Telephony for cost-effective call control backup in branch office and teleworker environments, and Progent's disaster recovery planning consultants can help you create a sensible disaster recovery strategy to ensure the availability of your vital communications environment.
Cisco Unified Communications Manager/CallManager Upgrade Services
Versions of Unified CM earlier than 8.6 and all versions of CallManager have arrived at end-of-life. Therefore Cisco Engineering will cease to develop, fix, or test this older software. Security updates for this pivotal product will stop, which in certain situations may cause compliance or legal liability issues.
Progent will continue to offer comprehensive consulting and troubleshooting support for end-of-life versions of Unified Communications Manager and CallManager, but in case your business is now using an out-of-dated edition of this critical application you should begin now to prepare for your migration. Progent's Cisco-certified consulting professionals can assist you to upgrade smoothly to the latest release of Cisco Unified CM and can often save customers up to 50% off consulting service fees compared to competing computer service companies because of Progent's documented procedures and hands-on experience in this area. By following leading practices, Progent can make sure your business realizes a quick return on your IT investment by helping you benefit fully from the enhanced features, reduced management and support costs, more engaging collaboration, and tighter security provided by the current version of Cisco Unified CM.
Progent's migration consulting services include return-on-investment analysis, project management, system testing, Cloud integration, configuring collaboration endpoints from Cisco and third-party providers, smartphone and tablet connectivity, security and compliance services, management automation, disaster recovery planning, network infrastructure design, staff and user training, and ongoing consulting services and technical support. Progent also offers ultra-affordable upgrade service bundles to make sure your costs are predictable and under control.
To learn more information concerning Progent's consulting expertise for Cisco solutions, choose a topic:
- Introduction to Cisco Consulting Services
- Fast and Affordable Online Assistance from a Cisco CCIE Consultant
- Cisco Firepower NGFW Series Firewalls: Configuration and Troubleshooting Support
- ASA 5500-X Firewall with Cisco Firepower: Integration and Management Services
- ASA 5500 Firewall Engineering Assistance
- Cisco PIX 500 Firewall Consulting Support
- Cisco Routers Consulting Support
- Cisco Wireless Deployment Support
- Cisco Aironet Wireless APs Engineering Expertise
- Cisco Small Business Wireless APs Deployment Support
- Cisco Catalyst 802.11ax Wi-Fi 6/6E Wireless APs Solution Design, Deployment and Troubleshooting Support
- Cisco WiFi Controllers Integration Consulting
- Cisco Meraki APs Engineering Help
- Cisco Unified Communications Manager (CUCM or Unified CM) and Cisco CallManager Integration and Troubleshooting
- Cisco Jabber Consulting and Support Expertise
- Cisco Catalyst Switches Consulting and Support Expertise
- Nexus Switches Support and Troubleshooting Expertise
- Cisco Meraki Switches Deployment Expertise
- Cisco VPN and Security Integration Assistance
- SIP and CUBE Integration Solutions: SIP Trunks and CUBE Integration Consulting
- Cisco Duo MFA Two-factor Authentication Services for At-Home Workers
- Design Expertise for Cisco-based Datacenters and Colocation Centers
- Network Optimization Expertise for Service Providers
- Unified Cloud-based and Hybrid Management Technologies for Cisco Environments
An index of content::
Cisco Virtual Private Network Online Help
24-Hour Cisco Virtual Private Network Support and Help
Progent's Cisco Security/VPN professionals and CCIE and CCNP certified support staff can help your small or mid-size business integrate and support Cisco's security and VPN technology such as routers, switches, firewalls, intrusion detection systems and VPN access concentrators. Cisco VPN products include both remote access and site-to-site VPNs with Cisco IOS Software and AIM hardware encryption cards, and hardware appliances, such as a VPN concentrator, router, Cisco PIX Firewall, or task-specific VPN server for dial-up services. Cisco VPN solutions are simple to administer and provide the flexibility to evolve with your growing business requirements. Progent's Cisco-Premier network consultants support Cisco's comprehensive family of hardware and software aimed at eliminating data pilfering, virus and worm assaults, DDoS attacks, and other threats to your information system. Progent can show you how to deploy Cisco products to get secure access, intrusion protection, and full Identity services based on Cisco Access Control Server using RADIUS security and TACACS to establish a centralized client access control framework for user authentication, permissions, and accounting from an easy-to-use Web interface.
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Dell DRAC Consultancy
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Progent's Cisco-authorized network engineers can show you how to design an affordable, high availability Internet connection architecture that can deliver non-stop Internet connectivity through a broad array of high availability Internet access products and services including high availability BGP, transparent fail-over, and multiple ISPs. Progent offers CCIE consultants to help you utilize the latest technology for high availability Internet connectivity to create a cost-effective, fully redundant Internet network with automatic failover and other capabilities to deliver non-stop Internet connections.
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Specialist Microsoft SMS
Progent's Microsoft certified consultants offer small and medium size companies enterprise-level consulting services for Microsoft Systems Management Server 2003. Systems Management Server is Microsoft's standard tool for change and configuration management. SMS 2003, included in Microsoft System Center 200, allows you to deliver important applications rapidly and automatically to specified workers, reduce product expense and adhere to licensing agreements by determining patterns of usage, enhance Windows security by improving your awareness of weak points and by delivering targeted patches, manage your external workforce through industry standards independent of connection or geography, and lower operational costs by fully exploiting the management functions built into Windows. Progent's SMS consulting professionals can help you use SMS effectively for automated software and application deployment, security patch control, and asset tracking management including software and appliance inventory.
Security Certification Symantec Firewall
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Progent's Symantec consultants can assist you to support discontinued Symantec firewall and VPN products including the Symantec Raptor and Symantec VelociRaptor line or show you how to upgrade to current firewall/VPN solutions. Progent can also help you design and implement a complete security plan that can include firewall and VPN appliances and software, managed security and network defense services, server and application monitoring products, and documented policies and processes. Progent has the expertise to be your one-stop resource for continuing technical support, administration, training, and security consulting.
At Home Workforce Video Conferencing Online Technical Support
Teleworker Conferencing Professionals
Progent can help small and mid-size businesses to set up and troubleshoot video conferencing solutions to allow their teleworkers to interact productively with teammates and customers.
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Solaris Consultant
Progent's Sun Solaris family consulting services offer small companies and developers help with managing and maintaining Sun Solaris environments that operate with Microsoft-powered technology. Progent offers your business access to Sun Solaris consultants, consulting professionals certified by Microsoft and Cisco, and security specialists with CISSP certification. This wide array of experience offers you an easy single consulting firm to help you create and manage a protected and reliable cross-platform network and communications solution that supports Sun Solaris and Microsoft interoperability by combining Windows with major variants of UNIX including Mac OS X, Sun Solaris, AIX UNIX from IBM, HP-UX, Berkeley UNIX (BSD), SCO, and Silicon Graphics IRIX (SGI/IRIX or leading Linux variations including RedHat, SUSE Linux, CentOS, Ubuntu Linux, PCLOS, fedora Linux, Gentoo, Mandriva Linux, Debian-GNU, and Slackware Linux.
IT documentation management Specialists
Consultants ProSight IT documentation management
ProSight IT Asset Management is a cloud-based IT documentation management service that allows you to capture, update, retrieve and safeguard information related to your network infrastructure, procedures, applications, and services. You can instantly locate passwords or serial numbers and be alerted automatically about impending expirations of SSL certificates or warranties. By cleaning up and organizing your IT documentation, you can eliminate as much as 50% of time spent searching for vital information about your IT network. ProSight IT Asset Management features a centralized repository for storing and sharing all documents related to managing your business network like standard operating procedures and self-service instructions. ProSight IT Asset Management also supports advanced automation for gathering and relating IT information. Whether you're making enhancements, doing regular maintenance, or reacting to a crisis, ProSight IT Asset Management delivers the knowledge you need as soon as you need it.
Hornetsecurity Altaro VM Backup and vSphere Outsourcing
Network Consultants Hornetsecurity Altaro VM Backup and vCenter
Altaro VM Backup software from Hornetsecurity provides small and mid-size organizations a dependable and budget-friendly platform for backing up and recovering Microsoft Hyper-V and VMware-based virtual machines (VMs). Altaro VM Backup can be deployed in on-premises, remote, multi-site, and cloud-hosted environments and also enables low-cost cloud backup to Azure Block Blob storage. Altaro VM Backup protects against ransomware by leveraging Immutable Cloud Storage. This produces tamper-proof data that cannot be modified by any user including administrators or root users. Progent is a certified Hornetsecurity/Altaro partner and can provide a wide array of remote or on-premises services to help you to plan, deploy, manage and troubleshoot a modern backup/restore system based on Altaro VM Backup software. With ProSight DPS Altaro VM Backup, Progent offers a managed backup/recovery service based on Altaro VM Backup technology.
Internal Network Security Scan Consultant
Wireless Security Scan Consultant
Progent offers small businesses a pair of low-cost network security evaluation packages that include, at a preset price, remotely managed inventory scans of your security profile which are analyzed by certified information security specialists who assess the results of the remote scan, present objective summaries of your current security vulnerability, and offer recommendations for improvements. Progent has developed two complementary security evaluation scanning packages for external and internal security scanning that are priced to meet the budgetary realities of small businesses while offering enterprise-quality assessments of your IT network's vulnerability to attack.
24/7/365 Microsoft System Center Operations Manager Remote Support Services
Operations Manager Consulting
Small to mid-sized businesses can now get all the advantages of Operations Manager 2007 and also have fast access to Progent's Microsoft and Cisco certified network support experts. With Progent's economically priced network service programs, mid-size organizations can choose a simple co-sourcing package based on System Center Operations Manager 2007 with network monitoring, reporting, Help Desk and remote service or a complete 24x7 outsourcing package. Progent supports System Center Operations Manager 2007 to provide small and midsize business networks enterprise-class reliability, protection and performance.
Technical Support MSP360 Ultimate Backup
MSP360 Managed Backup IT Consultants
Progent can assist you to create, implement and administer a backup plan based on MSP360 Backup technology to protect your IT assets hosted on any major public cloud. Progent can provide monitoring and management to protect against data loss resulting from user mistakes, software flaws, ill-intentioned insiders, and malware attacks like ransomware.
Windows 2022 Network Consultant
Windows Server 2022 Container Image Support
Progent's certified Windows Server 2022 experts can help your organization to plan and carry out a cost-effective migration to Windows Server 2022 using an on-premises deployment architecture or a hybrid deployment model that integrates cloud-hosted Windows Server Online with an on-site implementation of Windows Server 2022.
Consultant IoT sensors patch management
Consulting Services Smartphone patch management
Progent's managed services for software/firmware update management provide organizations of all sizes a flexible and affordable alternative for assessing, testing, scheduling, applying, and documenting software and firmware updates to your servers, peripherals {like printers, infrastructure appliances like routers and wireless access points, and Internet-of-Things (IoT) devices such as alarms and robotics.
24/7 Professional ProSight Reporting Auvik Network Managemrnt
Network Engineer ProSight Reporting ConnectWise Automate
ProSight Reporting is a growing family of in-depth reporting tools designed to work with the industry's top ticketing and network monitoring programs such as ConnectWise Manage, ConnectWise Automate, Customer Thermometer, Auvik, and SentinelOne.
Email Virus Fingerprint Consultant
Consultancy Email Encryption Key Management
Progent's ProSight Email Guard uses the services and infrastructure of top information security companies to deliver web-based control and world-class security for all your inbound and outbound email. The powerful architecture of Progent's Email Guard integrates cloud-based filtering with an on-premises security gateway device to offer advanced protection against spam, viruses, Denial of Service Attacks, Directory Harvest Attacks, and other email-borne threats. The cloud filter serves as a preliminary barricade and blocks most threats from reaching your network firewall. This decreases your exposure to inbound attacks and conserves network bandwidth and storage. ProSight Email Guard's on-premises gateway appliance provides a deeper layer of analysis for inbound email. For outbound email, the local gateway offers anti-virus and anti-spam filtering, policy-based Data Loss Prevention, and email encryption. The onsite security gateway can also assist Microsoft Exchange Server to track and protect internal email traffic that originates and ends within your corporate firewall.
