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Exchanging live voice and video over Internet Protocol (VoIP and Video over IP) has progressed from simply being being a smart means to cut phone carrier bills to an indispensable technology for collaboration and productivity. Converged IP communications, once restricted to integrating Internet-based voice calls and faxing on one system to take the place of expensive PBX systems, now incorporates VoIP and video, mobile communications, IM, presence, services, and much more all within a single framework that is manageable, extensible, highly secure, resilient, cost-effective, and user friendly.

Cisco is the global leader in providing solutions required to support the modern model of unified communications (UC). Cisco's UC architecture enhances the efficiency of information systems by cutting operational expenses; integrating multiple collaboration features with familiar software applications to increase worker output; supporting teamwork among employees, associates, and vendors to save time and enhance business outcomes; and simplifying the support of your converged voice and data infrastructure.

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

• Call Control Platforms for controlling calls and sessions
• IP Phones and Softphones to optimize worker engagement
• UC Software Applications for more productive access to real-time, IM, voice and video, voice messages, desktop sharing, and conferencing
• IP Gateways for interfacing with outside networks and teleworkers

Call and Session Control Software - Unified Communications Manager/CallManager
The call-processing agent is the centerpiece of the Cisco IP Communications infrastructure and gives you the versatility to implement a centralized call-processing model, a decentralized model, or a mix of the two. In a centralized approach, Unified Communications Manager (UC Manager or CUCM) extends enterprise phone features to packet products such as VoIP handsets, media processing appliances, VoIP gateways, and mixed media programs across the IT environment. Cisco Unified Communications Manager supports extra mixed media functions including unified messaging, video conferencing, and group-based client interaction networks.

The latest version of Cisco Unified CM, formerly known as Cisco CallManager, includes a wealth of enhancements that expedite your return on investment by lowering management and maintenance expenses, improving worker output, facilitating collaboration, supporting the bring-your-own-device (BYOD) style of computing, fortifying security, and making efficient use of network resources. Top new features include Global Dial Plan Replication (GDPR), simplified certificate control, extended support for single sign-on (SSO) for managers and end users, hardware-agnostic call recording, mobile connectivity with no need for VPN, a new self-provisioning interface that makes it simple for workers to set their options and preferences for all devices, and support for Secure Real-Time Transport Protocol for mobile clients.

In cases where you deploy a central Unified Communications Manager cluster to control call processing for customers at distributed sites, administrators can help achieve non-stop phone availability through Cisco Survivable Remote Site Telephony (SRST), a Cisco IOS Software image for routers. If a Wide Area Network link fails, Cisco SRST incorporated in the router provides basic Cisco UC Manager functions until the connection is returned. For a description of Progent's consulting support services for Cisco ISR routers, refer to consulting and troubleshooting services for Cisco routers.

For small business networks, branch locations, and retail environments that do not need the complete functionality offered by Unified CM, Unified Communications Manager Express, previously named CallManager Express provides a cost-effective PBX alternative that handles the requirements of locations with up to 450 workers. Since Cisco Unified Communications Manager Express Unified Communications Manager Express (Unified CCX) is built into the IOS Software operating on a Cisco ISR router, smaller organizations can rapidly set up a converged voice and data solution.

The Cisco Business Edition 6000 is a family of all-in-one solutions that offer essential collaboration capabilities including routing, IP gateway, premium voice and video, messaging, chat and real-time presence, voice and video conferencing, and paging support, allowing any end user to collaborate on any device from any place. All solutions come packaged preinstalled with virtualization and collaboration applications, making deployment quick and easy and cutting operating expenses for companies with from 25 to 1000 employees. All BE6000 systems come preinstalled with virtualization and Unified Communications applications software. You can instantly activate Unified Communications applications whenever their needs grow.

The office-in-a-box BE6000S supports five fixed UC applications preloaded on one integrated 2921V router/IP gateway/virtualized E1600 M2 blade server device and supports a maximum capacity of 150 users and 300 endpoint devices. The mid-market Business Edition 6000M supports 4 collaboration software application options activated on a single virtualized C220 M4 server and supports a maximum capacity of 1000 workers, 1200 endpoint devices, and 100 contact center agents. The high-end BE6000S Supports 8 unified communications software application options activated on a single virtualized C220 M4 server platform and has the capacity for up to 1000 users, 2500 devices, and 100 contact center agents.

For more information about Progent's expertise with Unified Communications Manager (CallManager), visit Cisco Unified Communications Manager (CUCM or Unified CM) and CallManager design, integration, migration and troubleshooting.

IP Phones: VoIP and IP Media Endpoints
A communications endpoint is a user device, and can be a physical phone set or a software phone program on a desktop or handheld computer. In the IP environment, every IP handset or soft phone is Ethernet connected. VoIP phones offer all of the functions that an ordinary phone handset has, but IP phones can also have extra features including the ability to connect to the web or host business applications.

In contrast to traditional PBX technology, in a Cisco IP telephony environment you can perform virtually instant relocations, adds, and modifications. You merely take the IP phone to its new spot, attach it to an Ethernet connection, and the IP phone registers itself with Cisco Unified Communications Manager (formerly CallManager). All client privileges and configurations are programmatically re-established, eliminating the expense and delay of dispatching technicians to rewire connections. Another useful capability is location independence, which enables you to sign into any Cisco VoIP phone and get your personal phone extension and rights.

Cisco provides a wide range of VoIP handsets. Cisco's entry-level Small Business SPA 300 Series are basic IP and Digital Enhanced Cordless Telecommunications (DECT) devices offering wide-band audio, compatibility with hosted Internet Protocol phone systems or an IP PBX, easy deployment and secure online provisioning, zero-downtime software upgrades, and web-based configuration. The value-priced SPA301 is a single-line IP phone with no screen or speakerphone function, a base dialer that has one Ethernet port, and a wired handset with no keys. The SPA302D, designed solely for use with the Cisco SPA232D DECT ATA (Analog Telephone Adapter), is a multiline cordless DECT handset that supports 10-lines, a TFT 176 x 220 color display, and a keypad with a speakerphone. The SPA303 is an entry-level three-line SIP-based phone with dual Ethernet ports, a 128x64 mono display and a speakerphone.

Cisco's SPA500 family IP phones are low-cost endpoints that support SIP and SPCP signaling protocols, two integral switch ports, speakerphones, built-in web servers, PoE, and conferencing capability. Most models have a 128 x 64 pixel monochrome screen display, The SPA501G has eight lines and has eight programmable buttons but no LCD screen. The SPA502G VoIP phone supports a single line and has no programmable keys. The SPA504G VoIP phone supports four lines and has four soft buttons. The SPA508G IP Phone supports eight lines and eight programmable keys. The SPA509G VoIP phone supports 12 lines and features 12 programmable buttons. The SPA512G has four lines, no soft keys and supports 10/100/1000 Ethernet. The SPA514G IP Phone supports four lines, has programmable keys, and supports Gigabit Ethernet. The high-end SPA525G2 includes a 320 x 240 color display, supports five lines, and includes five programmable buttons.

Cisco's Unified IP Phones 3900 Series and 6900 Series are specialty VoIP devices designed for infrequent-use settings like lobbies, elevators, and conference centers. The Unified SIP Phone 3905 features VoIP phone features a 128 x 32 mono screen, a Ethernet switch, a speakerphone, and Power over Ethernet. The simple Cisco Unified IP Phone 6901 is a single-line endpoint without a display and uses a hook switch for transferring a call and conferencing.

The 7800 family of economical IP phones are VoIP desktop endpoints with backlit mono screens, four soft buttons, 11 dedicated buttons, an integral Ethernet switch with PoE, and a speakerphone. The 7800 Series VoIP phones support only the SIP call control protocol. All models in Cisco's 7800 Series feature the same high-fidelity speakers and microphones as Cisco's 8800 Series IP phones to deliver a best-in-class audio solution. Cisco's EnergyWise power-save feature, offered on the advanced 7800 models, cuts off-hours energy usage by up to 60 percent. The Cisco IP Phone 7811 is a one-line phone designed for shared locations as well as for workers 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 offered through an optional handset. Cisco's IP Phone 7821 is a two-line VoIP endpoint with a 396 x 162 screen. The IP Phone 7841 is a four-line VoIP endpoint with a 396 x 162 screen and is the only unit in the 7800 family to support 1xGb Ethernet. The high-end IP Phone 7861 VoIP phone is a 16-line device targeted for administrative staff, call center personnel, and supervisors who have significant voice communications requirements.

The Cisco Unified IP Phone 7900 Series are dual-protocol (SIP/SCCP) IP voice and video devices with a 320 x 240 pixel color screen, a Gigabit Ethernet switch, Class 3 Power over Ethernet (PoE), 10 fixed-feature keys and a speakerphone. The Cisco Unified IP Phone 7945G is a dual-line device and the Cisco Unified IP Phone 7965G supports four lines. Both IP phones include a 5-inch screen 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 keys.

Cisco's IP Phone 8800 Series is a portfolio of SIP-based IP phones that features desktop devices, a conference IP 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 buttons and 12 fixed-feature keys. Cisco's IP Phone 8811 includes a backlit 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 a USB connection with charging capability, supports Intelligent Proximity for Mobile Voice and Class 3 PoE, and is available in Bluetooth and non-Bluetooth versions. Cisco's IP Phone 8861 has a WVGA color display, Bluetooth, two USB ports with charging capability, and supports Cisco Intelligent Proximity for Mobile Voice, 802.11ac Wi-Fi, and Class 4 Power over Ethernet. The Cisco IP Phone 8865 includes a WVGA color display, 720p HD video, an adjustable camera, Bluetooth, dual USB connections with charging capability, and supports Cisco Intelligent Proximity for Mobile Voice, 802.11ac Wi-Fi, and Class 4 PoE.

Cisco's wireless VoIP phones are industrial-grade wireless handsets intended for workers who are mobile within office, warehouse, retail or other venues where management wants portable phones that provide more control, security and durability than is achievable with the BYOD (Bring-Your-Own-Device) mode of workplace communications. Cisco's 8821 and 8812-EX wireless VoIP phones provide on-the-move on-premises workers the advantages of voice over wireless LAN technology in workplaces with 802.11x Wi-Fi infrastructure. Cisco's 8821 Wireless IP Phone features a 2.4 inch color screen, a durable case rated Mil-SPEC 810G to withstand dropping and IP67 for dust and splash resistance, extended batteries, a built-in full-duplex speakerphone, and a Bluetooth radio for hands-free operation with cordless headsets. The 8821-EX Wireless IP Phone adds protection against sparking for potentially combustible work sites. The 8821-EX also has a shell made out of industry-standard yellow plastics, which makes the 8821-EX easy to find in a crisis. Find out about Progent's Wireless VoIP Phone integration consulting.

Cisco's legacy 9900 family of powerful IP phones mix high-quality voice with hi-res color displays to provide a rich multimedia unified communications solution for knowledge professionals and executive management. The two IP phones in this line include a Standard Definition VGA color screen, a Bluetooth transceiver to work with a wide selection of headsets, and a built-in 10/100/1000 Ethernet switch. Cisco's EnergyWise power-save feature is offered as an option and can cut off-hour energy draw by up to 90 percent. The IP Phone 9951 features a 5-inch screen and supports up to 2 IP Expansion Modules for adding customizable line and feature keys. The IP Phone 9971 features a 5.6-inch screen, an integrated Wi-Fi transceiver for deployment with voice-over-wireless LAN environments, and 4 soft-label programmable touchscreen keys to invoke Cisco Unified Communications features. The 9971 allows up to 3 Cisco IP Expansion Modules for adding scalability to programmable line and function keys.

Cisco Unified Communications Applications
Under Cisco's Unified Communications architecture, IP voice, IP video, and other converged applications are isolated from the call-processing and voice-processing mechanism, and they may be at any location within the network. A single network infrastructure offers a versatile platform for powerful business applications and serves as a solid basis for downstream convergence-based software. Cisco works with third-party IT industry vendors to provide a broad selection of IP telephony and IP video applications and products. Cisco also supports the ability to develop and manage specialized in-house programs.

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

Cisco Jabber
Jabber is a converge media application that provides presence, IM, voice, HD video, voice messaging, screen sharing, and online conferencing capabilities for PCs, Macs, tablets and iPhones, Android phones, and Blackberries. Cisco Jabber is a rebranding and integration of the Cisco Unified Personal Communicator, Cisco Mobile, and WebEx Connect, with important enhancements in the areas of video features and screen sharing, and extending the team environment to more operating systems and endpoint hardware. Cisco Jabber works with Cisco Unified Communications Manager for call and session control, Cisco Unified Presence for IM and presence, Cisco Unity Connection for voice messaging and programmable attendant, and Cisco WebEx Meeting for conferencing and online meetings.

Because Jabber utilizes key industry standards, it can communicate with a wide range of third-party products. As an example, XMPP allows Jabber users to exchange instant messaging and presence data with various XMPP clients such as Adium for Mac OS, IBM Sametime, and Microsoft Lync and Office Communications Server. Jabber features are available from Microsoft Office programs such as Microsoft Outlook and SharePoint. This cross-platform compatibility optimizes productivity by delivering a consistent user environment and accommodating the BYOD paradigm of networking. Progent can provide the expertise of Microsoft-certified Exchange and Outlook consultants and SharePoint experts who can help you to use Jabber with Microsoft's popular collaboration products. Progent also offers expertise with iPhone and iPad integration and Android smartphone integration to help your organization to increase the business value of your BYOD ecosystem.

Cisco WebEx Meeting Center
WebEX Meeting Center enables online meetings for users with a browser or virtually any PC or handheld computer. Cisco WebEx Meeting Center is delivered as SaaS via Cisco's WebEx Cloud. This makes it easy to roll out and scale, streamlines administration, eliminates heavy up-front investment, offers high availability and enterprise-grade data protection, and provides excellent performance. Important features include support for sharing discrete content or your whole screen with remote attendees in real time, the ability to add multimedia into presentations including Microsoft PowerPoint and Flash videos, recording plus editing and playback for training and demonstrations, single sign-on and integration with other Cisco collaboration products like Cisco Jabber and Cisco TelePresence, plus strong data protection and encrypted access with strict policy control.

WebEX Meeting Center works with Windows, Apple Mac, and Linux PCs and permits mobile workers to initiate, schedule, and attend conferences on Google Android smartphones and tablets, Apple iPhones and iPads, BlackBerry phones, and Microsoft Windows Phone. You can also initiate web conferences instantly from Microsoft Office, Microsoft Outlook, Lotus Notes, and a selection of IM solutions.

Cisco TelePresence Portfolio for In-house Teleconferencing Environments
For medium-size businesses and enterprises who wish to create a local or hybrid on-premises/cloud solution for video conferencing, Cisco offers a selection of Cisco TelePresence platforms that enable high-quality and standards-based video conferencing for users with virtually any endpoint device at any location. Cisco TelePresence Server is a scalable video conferencing bridge that works in conjunction with Cisco Unified CM to deliver multiparty video, audio and content sharing to converged environments and can extend meetings to incorporate cloud-based WebEx Meeting Center participants. Cisco TelePresence Conductor software simplifies the control of the way teleconferencing resources are allotted for each participant, enabling administrators to specify the precise service level and user experience needed for every user. Cisco TelePresence Content Server captures video conference presentations for real-time streaming and video on demand viewing.

Cisco Unity Connection Platform and Unity Express for Converged Voicemail
The Cisco Unity Connection, an extension of Cisco Unified Communications Manager, is a converged voicemail platform that accelerates productive collaboration by offering a variety of options for accessing calls and messages within a framework that is easy to implement and administer. Unity Connection lets you read and manage your voice messages from your Exchange inbox, browser, Cisco Jabber messaging integration platform, a Cisco Unified VoIP Phone, a smartphone, or an iPad or tablet. Cisco Unity Connection also offers advanced speech-recognition capabilities for hands-free operation and extensive Automated Attendant functions that include smart routing for incoming phone calls and easily customizable call-screening and message-notification settings. The Cisco Unity Connection system runs as a fully virtualized system that can reside on a BE6000 server or a Cisco Services Ready Engine 910 router blade and can support up to 20,000 voice mailboxes per server.

Unity Express (CUE), available in select Cisco Integrated Services routers, offers affordable voicemail, integrated messaging, IVR, and automated-attendant services for small to mid-size businesses (SMBs) and enterprise branch offices with as many as 500 workers. Cisco Unity Express allows users to manage voicemail messages via a Cisco Unified IP Phone screen, your web browser, or an email system. ISR Routers for which Cisco Unity Express is available as a network module or advanced integration module include Cisco's 1861, 2800, 2900, 3800, and 3900 families. Progent offers certified consulting and troubleshooting services for all ISR routers.

Unified Contact Center
Cisco Unified Contact Center Enterprise (Unified CCE) integrates with Unified CM and agent desktop software such as Finesse to provide automatic call distribution (ACD) capabilities that allow an organization to connect customers with the proper sales or service agent. Unified CCE or UCCE offers intelligent call distribution, computer telephony integration, support for multichannel contact management, network-wide call queuing, interactive voice response (IVR) and consolidated company-wide reporting to simplify the deployment and administration of a large-scale contact center. Cisco platforms supporting UCCE's client contact management ecosystem include Cisco Unified IP Phones, Voice, and Cisco network infrastructure.

Cisco Unified Contact Center Express (Unified CCX or CCX) provides 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 available, as well as a selection of special options. Cisco Unified CCX works with Cisco Unified Communications Manager and provides smart call distribution, contact management, integrated reporting, interactive voice response, and the ability to manage voice, email, web chat, and social media requests. Unified CCX comes with Finesse, a browser-based customizable desktop agent that needs no client-side software setup. Special options include call-in-queue, projected-wait-time announcements, and productivity optimization with workforce and quality management.

Cisco Mobile Connect and Single Number Reach
Mobile Connect, popularly known as Single Number Reach (SNR), makes it possible for users to be called from one phone number that rings at the same time on their Cisco desktop VoIP Phone and their cell phone. Users can switch active conversations between their Cisco VoIP phone and their smartphone seamlessly. Calls that are not answered can be transferred to a Cisco Unity or Cisco Unity Connection account. Users can create their own access lists that specify which calls are extended to alternate endpoints.

Cisco Prime Collaboration Provisioning
Cisco Prime Collaboration offers an automated platform for first-time deployments as well as for follow-on moves, adds, changes, and deletions. An intuitive interface provides a unified view of a user and the subscriber's services. Cisco Prime Collaboration Provisioning substantially speeds up company-wide installations and reduces the time required to implement future changes. Prime Collaboration in addition provides advanced analytics that show application adoption and consumption rates, enabling administrators to optimize resources and further lower TCO.

Cisco Collaboration Gateways
Cisco's collaboration gateways permit Cisco Unified Communications networks to communicate with other networks and with clients working outside the firewall. Cisco's line of gateways deliver unified communications services for a wide variety of gateway as well as session-border-control deployments.

Collaboration gateways offered by Cisco and supported by Progent include:

Expressway Converged Communication Gateway
Cisco's Expressway is an advanced collaboration gateway that enables companies to provide team members, suppliers, consumers, or partners who are working on different networks, workgroup platforms, or endpoint equipment to connect to Cisco Unified Communication services. Cisco's Expressway gateway integrates with a Cisco CM system or Cisco Business Edition 6000, or can be run via the cloud with Cisco Hosted Collaboration Solution (HCS) to make productive collaboration more universal. Key features of Expressway are include:

• Mobile and Off-site Connectivity: Off-site workers who have any Jabber-supported device or teleworkers with Cisco TelePresence endpoints have the convenience of single-sign-on and of Transport Layer Security (TLS) and are able to access all their Jabber applications (high-definition video, voice, data instant messaging, and presence) without the extra step of a VPN. Also, telecommuters have the ability to utilize their Cisco TelePresence endpoints without a VPN tunnel, delivering a user experience at home the same as the office.
• Cisco Jabber Guest Support: Cisco Expressway is required for enabling Cisco's Jabber Guest, which allows “guests” to interact with your business easily and safely through lightweight web-browser and mobile multimedia calls.
• Cisco Cloud Connectivity: Expressway can act as a gateway that creates a path between on-premises Cisco or third-party collaboration solutions and the WebEx cloud. By supporting Cisco Collaboration Meeting Rooms (CMRs), Cisco Expressway deliver a world-class, scalable conferencing experience that transparently integrates business-quality voice, high-definition video, and data sharing to anyone, anywhere, using any device.
• Interoperability: In case your organization already has third-party video systems, Cisco Expressway can help you to move efficiently to Cisco products whenever it makes business sense. Cisco Expressway offers video interoperability with industry standard H.323, H.264 Scalable Video Coding (SVC), or Session Initiation Protocol systems. Interoperability standards allowed by Expressway include IPv4 to IPv6, H.323 to Session Initiation Protocol (SIP), and Microsoft Lync H.264 Scalable Video Coding (SVC) to H.264/MPEG-4 AVC.

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

Cisco's Legacy UC520, UC540 and UC560 VoIP Phone Systems
The legacy Cisco Unified Communications 500 (UC500) product line is an all-in-one VoIP communications system for small businesses. UC500 packages provide voice, data, voicemail, auto attendant, video, firewall, and wireless capabilities, run with older Cisco IP Voice endpoints, and support various public switched telephone network (PSTN) connections.

All Cisco's UC500 series bundles include a desktop switch appliance with 8 Power-over-Ethernet ports plus additional foreign exchange stations (FXS) and FXO interfaces, a firewall, and VPN. Built-in WiFi is an option. VoIP user capacity can be expanded by attaching Cisco Catalyst Express companion switches. Every UC500 model also comes with software 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 include 4 foreign exchange stations and 4 FXO interfaces. The Cisco UC540 package supports 24 to 32 users and provides 8 FXO ports. The Cisco UC560 package allows 48 users and 12 FXO ports.

Progent's seasoned VoIP experts can help you to maintain your legacy UC500 VoIP system or design and implement an efficient upgrade to a current IP telephony and voicemail solution like Cisco's Business Edition 4000.

How Progent Can Assist You with Cisco VoIP and IP Media Phones, CUCM, and Telepresence
Progent offers online or onsite access to a Cisco Certified Internetwork Expert (CCIE) Collaboration consultant to assist your business to plan, install, administer and repair converged communications environments built on Cisco Unified Communication products in an in-house, cloud-based, or hybrid environment. Progent's Cisco engineers have in-depth experience with Cisco Unified Communications Manager and Cisco CallManager, Voice over IP and video phones and other endpoints, UC applications such as Cisco Jabber and WebEx Meeting Center, Cisco's teleconferencing products, collaboration gatekeepers, tools built into Cisco switches and routers. Progent can also offer support for technologies like Cisco Survivable Remote Site Telephony, Cisco Unified Border Element, SIP gateways, CAC, IP voice trunks, PSTN, and Cisco's AVVID architecture. Progent's SIP infrastructure experts can also help you to create SIP connectivity environments that include SIP VoIP phones and video endpoints, SIP-based CUBE trunks, SIP conferencing and SIP administration tools with Cisco Unified CM.

Progent's application developers can create specialized unified communications applications that will help your company to incorporate the telephony capabilities of Cisco Unified Communications Manager into your company processes for enhanced efficiency. Progent can revue your existing network and Internet access architecture to make sure your environment is configured to support high-quality Voice over IP and high-definition video, help you to select and deploy Cisco hardware and software appropriate for your present situation and downstream growth goals, and interface your Cisco collaborative communications solution with technology from other vendors. Progent's CISSP-ISSAP certified network security consultants can show you how to create, implement, and test an enterprise-wide security and compliance plan for your converged communications ecosystem. In addition, Progent can help your organization to deploy Cisco high-availability technologies like Cisco Unified Survivable Remote Site Telephony (SRST) for cost-effective call control redundancy in branch office and home-office sites, and Progent's disaster recovery and business continuity preparedness consultants can help you create a viable DR/BC strategy to protect your business-critical unified communications system.

Unified Communications Manager/CallManager Migration Consulting
Releases of Cisco Unified CM before 8.6 and all releases of CallManager have reached end-of-life. This means Cisco Engineering will no longer enhance, fix, or validate this older software. Security patches for this business-critical application will end, which in certain situations could create regulatory compliance or legal liability issues.

Progent continues to provide expert support services for end-of-life releases of Unified Communications Manager and Cisco CallManager, but in case your business is now using an out-of-dated version of this essential software your organization should begin immediately to plan your migration. Progent's Cisco-certified consultants can help you to migrate efficiently to the current version of Unified CM and can often save customers as much as 50% off consulting expense versus most computer service companies thanks to Progent's documented process and experience in this area. By adhering to leading practices, Progent can make sure your business gets a fast return on your investment by showing you how to benefit fully from the new and improved feature set, lower administrative and support expense, more productive collaboration, and tighter data protection offered by the current edition of Cisco Unified CM.

Progent's upgrade consulting services include return-on-investment assessment, project management or co-management, pilot testing and validation, Cloud integration, setting up collaboration endpoints from Cisco and third-party providers, smartphone and tablet integration, data protection consulting, streamlined management, disaster recovery planning, network infrastructure design, training, and continuing consulting and technical support. Progent also has put together fixed-priced migration packages to make sure your costs are visible and under control.

To see additional details concerning Progent's engineering help for Cisco networking products, select a topic:

• Overview of Cisco Consulting Services
• Timely Remote Support from a Cisco CCIE Engineer
• Cisco Firepower Firewalls: Integration and Management Services
• Cisco ASA 5500-X Firewall with Firepower: Configuration and Management Services
• Cisco ASA 5500 Firewall Integration Services
• Cisco PIX Series Firewall Consulting Assistance
• Cisco Routers Engineering Support
• Cisco Wireless Engineering Services
• Cisco Aironet Access Points Deployment Services
• Cisco Small Business 100, 300 and 500 Wireless APs Consulting Services
• Catalyst 802.11ax Wi-Fi 6/6E Wireless APs Solution Design, Deployment and Troubleshooting Expertise
• Cisco WiFi Controllers Integration Consulting
• Cisco Meraki Wireless APs Consulting Support
• Cisco Unified Communications Manager (CUCM or Unified CM) and Cisco CallManager Configuration and Technical Support
• Cisco Jabber Configuration and Troubleshooting Expertise
• Catalyst Switches Consulting and Support Services
• Cisco Nexus Switches Deployment Expertise
• Cisco Meraki Switches Support and Troubleshooting Expertise
• Cisco VPN Consulting Assistance
• SIP and CUBE Infrastructure Solutions: SIP Trunks and Cisco CUBE Integration Expertise
• Cisco Duo MFA Two-factor Authentication (2FA) Services for Telecommuters
• Design and Support for Cisco-powered Datacenters
• Infrastructure Optimization Expertise for ISPs
• Unified Cloud-based and Hybrid Management Technologies for Cisco-based Environments