Cisco Network Consulting and Support

Exchanging live voice and video over IP has progressed from simply being being a smart method to reduce phone carrier bills to being a strategic technology for collaboration and productivity. Unified IP communications, once restricted to combining Internet-based voice calls and faxing on one system in order to replace traditional PBX equipment, today includes voice and video, mobile communications, instant messaging, real-time presence, collaboration services, and much more all in a cohesive framework that is easy to manage, extensible, highly secure, resilient, economical, and intuitive.

Cisco is the global leader in providing the hardware and software infrastructure required to support the new model of unified communications (UC). Cisco's UC architecture enhances the productivity of IT networks by slashing operational expenses; integrating rich media functions with popular software programs to increase worker output; facilitating collaboration among employees, partners, and suppliers to save effort and improve business outcomes; and streamlining the administration of your converged voice and data ecosystem.

Cisco's UC solutions cover several primary product categories:,

• Call Control Platforms for managing rich media calls and sessions
• Communications Endpoints to enhance worker productivity
• UC Software Applications for more productive access to real-time, IM, voice and video, phone messages, white boarding, and voice/video conferencing
• Communications Gateways for accessing public networks and telecommuters

Call Control Agents - Unified Communications Manager (CallManager)
The call-processing agent is the heart of the Cisco IP telephony portfolio infrastructure and provides the flexibility to deploy a centralized call-processing design, a decentralized model, or a combination of the two. In a centralized deployment, Unified Communications Manager (UC Manager or CUCM) extends enterprise phone capabilities to packet devices such as IP phones, media processing devices, Voice over IP gateways, and mixed media programs across the IT environment. Unified Communications Manager enables extra mixed media functions such as unified messaging, multimedia conferencing, and group-based client communication networks.

The latest release of Unified Communications Manager, previously branded CallManager, includes a wealth of enhancements that expedite ROI by lowering management and maintenance expenses, improving worker productivity, enhancing collaboration, supporting the bring-your-own-device model of computing, strengthening security, and allowing optimal use of network resources. Top innovations include automatic dial-plan replication and batch provisioning, streamlined certificate management, extended support for single sign-on (SSO) for administrators and users, device-agnostic call recording, mobile connectivity with no need for VPN tunneling, a new self-care interface that makes it simple for workers to select their options for all of their devices, and support for Transport Layer Security for mobile users.

In cases where you deploy a centralized Unified Communications Manager cluster to control voice processing for users at distributed locations, IT managers can help ensure continuous phone operation using Cisco Survivable Remote Site Telephony (SRST), an IOS Software image for routers. If a Wide Area Network connection fails, Cisco Survivable Remote Site Telephony incorporated in the router provides basic Unified Communications Manager services until the connection is repaired. For a description of Progent's consulting support for Cisco routers, refer to consulting support for Cisco routers.

For small business networks, branch offices, and retail environments that do not require the full feature set offered by Unified CM, Unified Communications Manager Express, formerly named CallManager Express provides an economical solution that handles the needs of locations with as many as 450 workers. Since Cisco Unified Communications Manager Express Unified Communications Manager Express (Unified CCX) is embedded in the Cisco IOS Software operating on a Cisco Integrated Services Router (ISR), smaller organizations can quickly deploy a unified voice and data environment.

Cisco's Business Edition 6000 is a family of end-to-end platforms that offer essential collaboration capabilities such as routing, gateway, premium voice and video, messaging, instant messaging and presence, teleconferencing, and paging services, allowing any end user to connect on any endpoint from any location. All BE6000 solutions are delivered preinstalled with a virtualization hypervisor and collaboration applications, making deployment quick and simple and cutting cost of ownership for companies with from 25 to 1000 workers. All systems come packaged preinstalled with virtualization and collaboration applications software. Organizations can instantly activate Unified Communications applications when their needs dictate.

The office-in-a-box BE6000S supports five standard collaboration applications installed on a single combination 2921V router/gateway/virtualized E1600 M2 server platform and can handle as many as 150 users and 300 devices. The mid-market BE6000M supports four UC software application options activated on a virtualized Cisco UCS C220 M4 server and can handle a maximum capacity of 1000 users, 1200 devices, and 100 contact center agents. The top-of-the-line Business Edition 6000H Supports 8 unified communications application options enabled on a virtualized Cisco UCS C220 M4 server platform and has the ability to support as many as 1000 workers, 2500 devices, and 100 contact center agents.

For more details about Progent's expertise with Unified Communications Manager, visit Unified Communications Manager and CallManager planning, configuration, migration and troubleshooting.

IP Phones: IP Voice and IP Video Endpoints
An IP communications endpoint is an end-user device, and can be a physical phone or a software phone application on a desktop or handheld computer. In the Internet Protocol environment, every VoIP handset or soft phone has an Ethernet connection. IP phones have all of the capabilities that an ordinary phone provides, but IP phones often have additional features including the ability to access the web or run productivity-enhancing software.

Unlike ordinary PBX systems, in a Cisco IP communications environment you can perform virtually instantaneous moves, adds, and changes. All you do is move the IP handset to its new location, attach it to the Ethernet connection, and the device announces itself with Cisco Unified Communications Manager (formerly CallManager). All user rights and configurations are programmatically re-established, eliminating the cost and delay of sending support personnel to rewire connections. An additional helpful capability is extension mobility, which enables you to sign into any Cisco VoIP phone and get your personal phone number and rights.

Cisco offers a wide selection of VoIP handsets. The entry-level SPA 300 family are no-frills IP and Digital Enhanced Cordless Telecommunications screenless or monochrome devices that feature wide-band audio, compatibility with hosted IP phone systems or an IP PBX, easy deployment and secure online installation, in-service software updates, and browser-based set up. The value-priced SPA301 is a single-line VoIP endpoint with no screen or speakerphone function, a base dialer with a single Ethernet connector, and a wired handset without a keypad. The SPA302D, designed exclusively for operation with the Cisco SPA232D Multi-Line DECT ATA (Analog Telephone Adapter), is a multiple-line cordless Digital Enhanced Cordless Telecommunications handset that offers 10-lines, a 176 x 220 color screen, and a dial pad with a speakerphone. The SPA303 is an affordable 3-line IP phone with dual Ethernet ports, a 128x64 monochrome display and a speaker.

Cisco's SPA500 Series VoIP phones are low-cost devices with support for both SIP and SPCP signaling protocols, two integral switch ports, speakerphones, built-in web servers, Power over Ethernet (PoE), and conferencing support. Most versions have a 128 x 64 monochrome screen display, The SPA501G VoIP phone supports eight lines and has eight programmable buttons but no LCD screen. The SPA502G has a single line and has no programmable buttons. The SPA504G IP Phone supports four lines and has four soft keys. The SPA508G IP Phone supports eight lines and eight programmable keys. The SPA509G VoIP phone supports 12 lines and has 12 soft buttons. The SPA512G IP Phone supports four lines, no programmable keys and supports 1xGb Ethernet. The SPA514G supports four lines, has programmable buttons, and supports 10/100/1000 Ethernet. The high-end SPA525G2 VoIP phone has a 320 x 240 color screen, supports five lines, and includes five soft keys.

Cisco's IP Phones 3900 Series and 6900 Series are specialty IP voice endpoints intended for occasional-use settings such as lobbies, elevators, and conference centers. The Unified SIP Phone 3905 IP Phone features a 128 x 32 mono non-backlit display, a Ethernet switch, a speakerphone, and PoE. The bare-bones Cisco Unified IP Phone 6901 is a single-line device without a display and requires a hook switch for transferring a call or joining a conference.

Cisco's 7800 line of value-priced IP phones are VoIP devices with backlit mono displays, four soft keys, 11 dedicated buttons, an integral Ethernet port with Class 1 Power over Ethernet, and a speakerphone. The 7800 Series VoIP phones support only the SIP call control protocol. All models in the 7800 Series incorporate the same advanced speakers and microphones as Cisco's 8800 Series IP phones to provide a best-in-class audio solution. Cisco's EnergyWise power-save feature, available on the higher end 7800 units, cuts 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 workers with occasional-to-light call needs. The IP 7811 comes with a 3.28-inch 384 x 106 display plus a narrow-band speakerphone. Wideband audio is offered via an optional handset. Cisco's IP Phone 7821 is a two-line endpoint with a 396 x 162 screen. The IP Phone 7841 is a four-line endpoint with a 396 x 162 screen and is the only device in the 7800 family to support 1xGb Ethernet. The high-end IP Phone 7861 VoIP phone is a 16-line endpoint intended for administrative staff, contact center agents, and managers who have heavy voice communications requirements.

Cisco Unified IP Phone 7900 Series are SIP and SCCP IP voice and video endpoints with a 320 x 240 color screen, a 10/100/1000 Ethernet switch, Class 3 PoE, 10 fixed-feature buttons and a speakerphone. The Cisco Unified IP Phone 7945G is a two-line device and the Cisco Unified IP Phone 7965G features four lines. Both IP phones include a 5-inch display and four programmable keys. The Cisco Unified IP Phone 7975G unit is an eight-line IP voice and video phone with a 5.6-inch touch screen and five soft keys.

Cisco's IP Phone 8800 Series is a family of SIP-only endpoints that features desktop units, a conference phone, and wireless IP Phones. The desktop models are five-line IP phones with 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 includes a backlit mono screen and supports Class 2 PoE. The Cisco IP Phone 8841 features a WVGA color screen and supports Class 2 Power over Ethernet. 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 screen and a USB connection with charging capability, supports Intelligent Proximity for Mobile Voice and Class 3 Power over Ethernet, and is available in Bluetooth and non-Bluetooth versions. 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 display, 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 industrial-grade Wi-Fi devices designed for workers who are on the move within campus, warehouse, retail or other environments where management wants portable phones that offer more control, data security and ruggedness than is possible with the BYOD (Bring-Your-Own-Device) mode of mobile communications. Cisco's 8821 and 8812-EX wireless VoIP phones provide on-the-move onsite workers the benefits of voice over wireless LAN (VoWLAN) communications in environments with 802.11x Wi-Fi. The 8821 Wireless VoIP Phone features a 2.4 inch color screen, a rugged shell designed for shock resistance and compliant with IP67 for particulate and splash resistance, extended batteries, a full-duplex speakerphone, and an integrated Bluetooth radio for hands-free operation with wireless headsets. Cisco's 8821-EX Wireless VoIP Phone adds anti-sparking protection for use in potentially combustible environments. The 8821-EX also features a case composed out of yellow plastics, which makes the device easy to find the event of a crisis. Find out about Progent's Cisco Wireless IP Phone integration and troubleshooting support.

Cisco's discontinued 9900 Series of powerful IP endpoints combine high-quality voice with high-resolution color displays to offer a rich collaborative unified communications solution for knowledge professionals and executive management. The two IP phones in this family have a Standard Definition 24-bit color screen, a Bluetooth 2.0 transceiver to support a broad range of headsets, and an integrated 1 GE Ethernet switch. The Cisco Power Save feature is offered as an option and can reduce off-hour power draw by 90 percent. The IP Phone 9951 features a 5-inch screen and allows up to 2 IP Expansion Modules for adding customizable line and feature keys. The Cisco IP Phone 9971 features a 5.6-inch display, an integrated 802.11a/b/g Wi-Fi transceiver for connecting to voice-over-wireless LAN networks, and four programmable touchscreen keys to invoke Cisco UC features. The 9971 VoIP phone allows up to 3 Cisco IP Expansion Modules for expanding customizable line and function keys.

Unified Communications Applications
Under Cisco's Unified Communications platform, IP phone, IP video, and other UC applications are physically separate from the call/voice processing infrastructure, and they may reside at any location within the network. A cohesive connectivity infrastructure offers a versatile environment for feature-rich applications and acts as a solid foundation for future convergence-based software. Cisco cooperates with leading technology vendors to provide a wide selection of IP telephony and IP video applications and products. Cisco also enables the ability to develop and manage 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, IM, business-quality voice, video, voicemail, desktop sharing, and real-time conferencing features for PCs, Macs, tablets as well as smartphones. Cisco Jabber is a rebranding and integration of the Cisco Unified Personal Communicator, Cisco Mobile, and Cisco WebEx Connect, with significant improvements to video capabilities and desktop screen sharing, and extending the team experience to additional operating systems and devices. Cisco Jabber works with Cisco Unified Communications Manager for call management, Cisco Unified Presence for IM and presence, Unity Connection for voicemail and automated attendant, and Cisco WebEx Meeting for online meetings.

Because Jabber is built around popular industry protocols, it can interoperate with a broad selection of non-Cisco platforms. For example, XMPP enables Jabber to exchange IM and presence data with a variety of XMPP clients such as Adium for Mac, Sametime, and Microsoft Lync and Office Communications Server. Jabber collaboration features can be accessed from Microsoft Office programs including Outlook and Microsoft SharePoint. This extensive platform compatibility optimizes productivity by providing a consistent user environment and fully enabling the bring-your-own-device paradigm of networking. Progent offers the services of certified Exchange consultants and Microsoft SharePoint experts who can help you to take advantage of Jabber with Microsoft's popular collaboration products. Progent also can provide help with Apple iPhone integration and Google Android smartphone and tablet integration to help your organization to increase the business value of your BYOD ecosystem.

Cisco WebEx Meeting Center
Cisco WebEx Meeting Center provides web conferencing for participants using a web browser or virtually any PC or mobile computer. WebEx Meeting Center is delivered as SaaS via the Cisco WebEx Cloud. This makes it easy to deploy and scale, reduces the cost of management, eliminates heavy initial investment, offers maximum uptime and enterprise-grade security, and provides excellent performance. Important capabilities include the ability to share discrete content or an whole screen with online participants in real time, the ability to embed rich media into your presentations including PowerPoint and Flash videos, session recording plus playback for training, single sign-on and support for other Cisco collaboration products like Cisco Jabber and Cisco TelePresence, plus strong data privacy and encrypted connections with tight policy management.

Cisco WebEx Meeting Center works with Windows, Apple Mac, and Linux desktops and allows mobile users to start, schedule, and take part in meetings on Google Android smartphones and tablets, Apple iPhones and iPads, BlackBerry handhelds, and Microsoft Windows Phone. You can also initiate web meetings with a few clicks from Microsoft Office, Outlook, Lotus Notes, and a selection of instant messaging solutions.

Cisco TelePresence Portfolio for On-premises Teleconferencing Infrastructure
For medium-size businesses and enterprises who wish to build an on-premises or hybrid in-house/cloud environment for teleconferencing, Cisco provides a selection of Cisco TelePresence software and equipment that deliver high-quality and standards-based video conferencing for users with virtually any endpoint device at any site. Cisco TelePresence Server is an expandable teleconferencing bridge that works in conjunction with Cisco Unified Communications Manager to deliver multiparty video, audio and content sharing to UC deployments and can extend conferences to support cloud-based Cisco WebEx Meeting Center users. Cisco TelePresence Conductor software streamlines the control of the way video conferencing resources should be rationed for every individual attendee, enabling managers to specify the exact service level and experience needed for every user. Cisco TelePresence Content Server captures video and presentations for live distribution and video on demand (VOD) playback.

Cisco Unity Connection and Unity Express for Unified Voicemail
The Cisco Unity Connection, an extension of Unified CM, is a unified voice messaging system that accelerates teamwork by offering a variety of options for accessing voice messages within a framework that is simple to deploy and administer. Unity Connection allows you to read and manage voicemail messages from your Exchange inbox, browser, Cisco Jabber messaging integration platform, a Cisco Unified IP endpoint, a smartphone, or a tablet. Cisco Unity Connection also provides sophisticated speech-recognition capabilities for hands and eyes free operation and extensive Automated Attendant features such as smart routing for incoming phone calls and easily customizable call-filtering and message-notification settings. The Unity Connection platform operates as a fully virtualized system that can be hosted on a BE6000 server or a Cisco SRE 910 router service module and can support up to 20,000 mailboxes on each server.

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

Cisco Unified Contact Center
Cisco Unified Contact Center Enterprise (Unified CCE) integrates closely with CUCM and agent desktop applications like Finesse to provide automatic call distribution (ACD) capabilities that allow an organization to connect customers with the right sales or service agent. Unified CCE or UCCE offers smart call distribution, computer telephony integration, support for multichannel contact management, network call queuing, interactive voice response and advanced company-wide reporting to streamline the creation and administration of a modern customer contact center. Cisco platforms supporting Unified CCE's customer interaction management ecosystem include Unified IP Phones, Cisco Voice Gateways, and Cisco LAN/WAN technology.

Unified Contact Center Express (Unified CCX or CCX) offers a packaged bundle for creating a customer contact center for mid-scale systems that handle up to 400 agents. Multiple packages are offered, as well as a selection of optional enhancements. Unified CCX works with Cisco Unified CM and offers smart call distribution, contact interaction management, reporting, IVR, and management of voice, email, chat, and social media inquiries. Unified Contact Center Express comes with Finesse, a browser-based desktop agent that requires no client software setup. Advanced options include conditional routing, projected-wait-time announcements, and workforce quality management.

Cisco Mobile Connect and Single Number Reach
Mobile Connect, popularly referred to as Single Number Reach (SNR), makes it possible for users to be reached from a single number that rings at the same time on their Cisco VoIP Phone and their cell phone. Users can transfer active calls between their Cisco VoIP phone and their smartphone seamlessly. Unanswered calls can be redirected to a Cisco Unity or Unity Connection account. Users can create personal access lists that specify which calls are directed to different phones.

Cisco Prime Collaboration Provisioning
Cisco Prime Collaboration offers an automated platform for first-time installs as well as for follow-on moves, adds, changes, and deletions. A user-friendly console provides a single view of a user and the subscriber's services. Cisco Prime Collaboration significantly accelerates company-wide installations and reduces the time needed to implement ongoing updates. Prime Collaboration in addition provides advanced analytics including application adoption and consumption trends, allowing administrators to optimize IT resources and further reduce total cost of ownership.

Cisco Communications Gateways
Cisco's communications gateways permit Cisco converged communications deployments to connect with public systems and with clients working outside the corporate firewall. Cisco's portfolio of gateways deliver unified communications support for a wide variety of gateway as well as session-border-control deployments.

Communications gateways offered by Cisco and supported by Progent's certified consultants include:

Cisco Expressway Collaboration Gateway
Cisco's Expressway is an advanced converged media gatekeeper that allows companies to allow colleagues, vendors, consumers, or business partners who are working on various outside network environments, workgroup platforms, or endpoint equipment to connect to Unified Communication functions. The 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 (HCS) to help make productive collaboration more universal. Key features of Cisco Expressway include:

• Mobile and Remote Connectivity: Remote workers with any Jabber-supported device or teleworkers with Cisco TelePresence endpoints have the convenience of single-sign-on and of Transport Layer Security (TLS) and can access all their Jabber applications (high-definition video, voice, rich content instant messaging, and presence) without requiring the extra step of starting a VPN. In addition, teleworkers have the ability to use their Cisco TelePresence endpoints without the need for a VPN, providing a user environment at home that is identical to the corporate office.
• Cisco Jabber Guest Support: Expressway is required for enabling Cisco's Jabber Guest, which allows “guests” to communicate with your organization easily and securely using lightweight web-browser and mobile video phone calls.
• Cisco Cloud Access: Cisco Expressway can act as a gateway that creates a path between on-premises Cisco or non-Cisco collaboration solutions and the WebEx cloud. By offering support for Cisco Collaboration Meeting Rooms (CMRs), Expressway offers a world-class, extensible meeting experience that seamlessly combines high-quality voice, video, and data sharing to any client, at any location, on any endpoint.
• Interoperability: In case your company already has non-Cisco video systems, Expressway can assist you to migrate easily to Cisco products whenever it makes business sense. Cisco Expressway offers video interoperability with industry standard H.323, H.264 SVC, or SIP systems. Internetworking capabilities allowed by Cisco Expressway include IPv4 to IPv6, H.323 to Session Initiation Protocol (SIP), and Microsoft Lync 2013 H.264 Scalable Video Coding (SVC) to AVC.

• WebEx Cloud Connected Audio for high-capacity SIP-media-connected audio conferencing
• Voice/Video recording
• SIP-based Call-center and interactive-voice-response applications
• Policy-based evaluation of voice calls
• Business-to-business teleconferencing over SIP

Cisco's End-of-Life UC520, UC540 and UC560 VoIP Gateways
The legacy Cisco Unified Communications 500 Series is an all-in-one VoIP gateway system for small businesses. UC500 packages deliver voice, data, voicemail, auto attendant, IP video, firewall, and WiFi capabilities, run with older Cisco VoIP phones, and support various public switched telephone network connections.

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

Progent's Cisco-certified VoIP consultants can help you to maintain your legacy UC500 VoIP gateway or plan and implement a smooth migration to a modern VoIP solution like Cisco's cloud-managed Business Edition 4000.

How Progent Can Assist You with Cisco VoIP and IP Media Phones, Cisco Unified CM, and Video Conferencing
Progent can provide online or on-premises access to a certified CCIE Collaboration expert to assist you to plan, install, administer and repair unified communications networks that incorporate Cisco Unified Communication products in a centralized, cloud-based, or hybrid environment. Progent's Cisco-certified consultants have extensive experience supporting Unified Communications Manager and CallManager, VoIP phones and other endpoints, Unified Communications applications like Jabber and Unity Connection, Cisco's video conferencing products, collaboration gateways, tools incorporated into Cisco Catalyst switches and routers. Progent can also offer expertise with technologies like Cisco SRST, Cisco Unified Border Element, H.323 and SIP gateways, Call Admission Control, VoIP trunks, PSTN, and Cisco's AVVID architecture. Progent's SIP integration experts can also assist you to create SIP connectivity environments that incorporate SIP-based IP voice phones and video phones, SIP-based CUBE trunks, SIP conferencing and SIP management tools via CUCM.

Progent's application programmers can create specialized unified communications applications that will enable your business to integrate the capabilities of Cisco Unified Communications Manager into your company operations for enhanced efficiency. Progent can audit your current network and Internet access infrastructure to make sure your environment is configured to accommodate business-quality Voice over IP and HD video, help you to choose and install Cisco products that make sense for your present situation and future growth plans, and integrate your Cisco Unified Communications solution with products from other suppliers. Progent's CISSP-ISSAP certified network security and compliance consultants can assist you to develop, deploy, and validate an enterprise-wide security and compliance plan for your unified communications solution. In addition, Progent can assist your organization to configure Cisco high-availability mechanisms like Cisco Unified SRST for cost-effective call control redundancy in branch office and home-office environments, and Progent's disaster recovery and business continuity preparedness experts can help you create a sensible DR/BC strategy to protect your business-critical unified communications environment.

Cisco Unified Communications Manager/CallManager Migration Consulting
Releases of Cisco Unified CM before 8.6 and every release of its predecessor CallManager have arrived at end-of-life. This means Cisco will no longer enhance, repair, or test the product software. Security patches for this business-critical application will end, which in some situations may cause regulatory compliance or even potential liability issues.

Progent continues to offer comprehensive consulting and troubleshooting support for outdated versions of Cisco Unified CM and Cisco CallManager, but if your business is now using a legacy edition of this critical software your organization should begin immediately to plan your upgrade. Progent's Cisco-certified consulting professionals can assist you to migrate non-disruptively to the latest release of Unified Communications Manager and can typically save customers up to 50% off consulting service fees compared to most IT service firms thanks to Progent's documented procedures and hands-on experience in this area. By following best practices, Progent can ensure that your business sees a quick return on your IT investment by helping you take full advantage of the new and improved features, reduced administrative and support expense, more productive collaboration capabilities, and stronger data protection provided by the newest version of Unified CM.

Progent's upgrade services include return-on-investment analysis, project management, pilot testing and validation, Cloud connectivity, setting up endpoint devices from Cisco and third-party vendors, smartphone and tablet integration, security and compliance services, management automation, disaster recovery planning, network topology design, staff and user training, and continuing consulting and troubleshooting. Progent also offers fixed-priced upgrade service bundles to keep your costs predictable and under control.

To find out more details concerning Progent's engineering support for Cisco solutions, pick a topic:

• Introduction to Progent's Cisco Expertise
• Fast and Affordable Online Support from a CCIE Network Engineer
• Cisco Firepower Firewalls: Configuration and Management Services
• ASA 5500-X Series Firewall with Firepower Services: Configuration and Management Expertise
• ASA 5500 Series Firewall Management Help
• Cisco PIX 500 Firewall Management Support
• Cisco Routers Configuration and Troubleshooting Services
• Cisco Wireless Network Design Expertise
• Cisco Aironet APs Design Expertise
• Cisco Small Business Wireless APs Consulting Support
• Catalyst Wi-Fi 6/6E Access Points Planning, Deployment and Debugging Support
• Cisco Wireless Controllers Integration Consulting
• Cisco Meraki Access Points Deployment Services
• Cisco Unified Communications Manager (CUCM or Unified CM) and CallManager Integration and Troubleshooting
• Cisco Jabber Migration and Support Expertise
• Cisco Catalyst Switches Consulting and Support Expertise
• Cisco Nexus Switches Consulting and Support Services
• Meraki MS Switches Consulting and Support Services
• Cisco VPN and Security Engineering Services
• SIP and CUBE Integration Solutions: SIP Trunks and Cisco CUBE Integration Expertise
• Cisco Duo MFA Two-factor Authentication (2FA) Services for an At-Home Workforce
• Infrastructure Design for Cisco-based Datacenters and Colocation Centers
• Network Optimization Consulting for ISPs
• Unified Cloud-based and Hybrid Management Solutions for Cisco-powered Environments