Cisco Network Consulting and Support
Cisco IP Voice Phones and CUCM/CallManager Consulting
From Cisco CCIE-Certified Telephony Professionals
Exchanging live voice and video over IP has advanced from simply being being a smart means to reduce phone bills to being an indispensable technology for collaboration and worker productivity. Unified communications, at one time limited to combining Internet-based voice calls and faxing on a single platform in order to take the place of traditional PBX equipment, now includes VoIP and video, mobility, instant messaging, presence, services, and more in a cohesive ecosystem that is manageable, scalable, secure, fault-tolerant, economical, and intuitive.
Cisco is the market leader in providing solutions required to support the modern model of unified communications (UC). Cisco's unified communications solution adds to the efficiency of IT systems by cutting operational costs; combining multiple collaboration features with familiar software applications to increase user output; supporting collaboration among workers, associates, and vendors to save effort and improve business outcomes; and streamlining the management of your converged voice and data ecosystem.
Cisco's UC solutions cover several main product areas:,
- Call Control Platforms for managing rich media calls and sessions
- IP Endpoints to optimize end-user engagement
- Unified Communications Software Applications for integrated access to presence, IM, voice and video, phone messages, white boarding, and conferencing
- IP Gateways for interfacing with public networks and remote users
Call Control Agents - Unified Communications Manager (CallManager)
Cisco's call-processing agent is the core of Cisco's IP collaboration portfolio and gives you the versatility to implement a central call-processing design, a decentralized model, or a combination of the two. In a centralized approach, Unified Communications Manager (UC Manager or CUCM) expands enterprise telephony features to packet telephony devices such as IP phones, media management products, Voice over IP gateways, and mixed media applications across the network. Unified Communications Manager enables extra multimedia functions including unified messaging, multimedia conferencing, and group-based client communication networks.
The latest version of Cisco Unified CM, formerly known as Cisco CallManager, offers a wealth of enhancements that accelerate ROI by cutting administrative and support expenses, improving user productivity, enhancing teamwork, supporting the BYOD style of working, elevating security, and making optimal utilization of IT infrastructure. Headline innovations include automatic dial-plan replication, simplified certificate management, extended support for standards-based single sign-on (SSO) for administrators and end users, hardware-independent call recording, mobile access with no need for VPN tunneling, a new self-provisioning interface that makes it simple for workers to select their options and preferences for all of their endpoints, and support for Transport Layer Security for mobile users.
In cases where you implement a centralized Cisco Unified Communications Manager cluster to control voice processing for customers at distributed sites, administrators can help achieve continuous call availability through Cisco SRST, a Cisco IOS Software image for Cisco routers. If a WAN connection breaks, Cisco SRST in the router provides core Cisco Unified Communications Manager functions until the link is repaired. For information about Progent's consulting services for Cisco routers, refer to consulting and troubleshooting support services for Cisco ISR routers.
For small businesses, branch locations, and retail environments that do not require the full functionality available from Unified CM, Cisco Unified Communications Manager Express, previously known as CallManager Express provides a budget-friendly solution that handles the needs of locations with as many as 450 users. Since Unified Communications Manager Express Unified Communications Manager Express (Unified CCX) is embedded in the Cisco IOS Software operating on a Cisco ISR router, smaller organizations can quickly deploy a unified voice and data environment.
Cisco's BE6000 is a family of complete platforms that provide essential collaboration capabilities such as routing, gateway, high definition voice/video, messaging, IM and real-time presence, voice and video conferencing, and paging support, allowing any end user to connect on any endpoint from anywhere. All Business Edition 6000 versions are delivered preconfigured with virtualization and Unified Communications applications software, making implementation fast and simple and reducing operating expenses for organizations with up to 1000 workers. All systems come packaged preloaded with a virtualization hypervisor and collaboration applications software. You can instantly enable Unified Communications applications as their requirements grow.
The entry-level BE6000S includes five standard unified communications applications preloaded on one integrated router/gateway/virtualized blade server platform and can handle as many as 150 users and 300 devices. The mid-market Business Edition 6000M includes 4 unified communications application options activated on a virtualized Cisco C220 M4 server platform and can handle a maximum capacity of 1000 users, 1200 devices, and 100 contact center agents. The high-end Business Edition 6000H Supports 8 unified communications application options activated on a single virtualized Cisco C220 M4 server and supports up to 1000 users, 2500 devices, and 100 contact center agents.
For more details about Progent's support for Unified Communications Manager, visit Cisco Unified Communications Manager (CUCM) and CallManager planning, configuration, upgrades and technical support.
Cisco IP Phones: IP Voice and IP Media Endpoints
A collaboration endpoint is an end-user device, and can be a hardware phone set or a soft phone program that runs on a desktop or mobile computer. In the Internet Protocol world, each VoIP endpoint has an Ethernet connection. Voice over IP phones offer all of the functions that a conventional telephone provides, but Voice over IP phones often offer additional functions such as the ability to connect to websites or run business applications.
In contrast to conventional Private Branch Exchange technology, in a Cisco IP communications network you can perform almost instant moves, additions, and modifications. You merely take the IP handset to your new location, plug it into an Ethernet connection, and the phone registers itself with Cisco Unified Communications Manager. All user permissions and configurations are automatically replicated, doing away with the cost and delay of sending technicians to wiring closets. Another efficient feature is extension mobility, which allows you to sign into any Cisco VoIP device and receive your personal phone ID and rights.
Cisco offers a wide selection of VoIP handsets. Cisco's low-cost SPA 300 Series are basic IP and DECT screenless or monochrome phones that feature wide-band voice, support for hosted IP phone systems or an IP private branch exchange, easy deployment and safe online installation, in-service software updates, and web-based configuration. The value-priced SPA301 is a single-line VoIP phone with no screen or speakerphone, a base dialer that has one Ethernet port, and a wired handset without keys. The SPA302D, designed solely for operation with the Cisco SPA232D DECT Analog Telephone Adapter, is a multiline wireless Digital Enhanced Cordless Telecommunications IP phone that offers 10-lines, a 176 x 220 pixel color screen, and a dial pad with a speakerphone. Cisco's SPA303 is an entry-level 3-line IP phone with dual switched Ethernet ports, a 128x64 monochrome display and a speaker.
The SPA500 family VoIP phones are low-cost devices with support for both SIP and SPCP signaling protocols, two integral Ethernet switch ports, speakerphones, built-in web servers, PoE, and voice conferencing capability. Most versions have a 128 x 64 pixel mono screen display, The SPA501G has eight lines and has eight soft keys but no hi-res screen. The SPA502G has a single line and has no programmable buttons. The SPA504G IP Phone supports four lines and has four programmable keys. The SPA508G VoIP phone supports eight lines and eight programmable keys. The SPA509G supports 12 lines and has 12 soft keys. The SPA512G has four lines, no programmable buttons and supports 1xGb Ethernet. The SPA514G supports four lines, has programmable keys, and supports 10/100/1000 Ethernet. The high-end SPA525G2 includes a 320 x 240 color display, supports five lines, and has five soft keys.
Cisco's Unified IP Phones 3900 Series and 6900 Series are specialty VoIP devices intended for occasional-use environments such as cafeterias, elevators, and conference centers. The Unified SIP Phone 3905 IP Phone features a 128 x 32 pixel mono non-backlit screen, a Ethernet switch, a speakerphone, and Power over Ethernet (PoE). The simple Cisco Unified IP Phone 6901 is a single-line device with no display and uses a hook switch for call transfer and conferencing.
The 7800 Series of value-priced IP phones are VoIP endpoints featuring backlit mono displays, four programmable buttons, 11 fixed-feature keys, an integral Ethernet port with Class 1 PoE, and an integral speakerphone. Cisco's 7800 Series VoIP phones support only the SIP signaling protocol. All models in the 7800 family feature the same advanced speakers and microphones as Cisco's 8800 Series IP phones to deliver a state-of-the-art audio solution. Cisco's EnergyWise power-save feature, offered on the advanced 7800 models, reduces off-hours energy usage by up to 60 percent. The Cisco IP Phone 7811 is a single-line VoIP phone designed for common locations and for workers with occasional-to-light voice communications needs. The IP 7811 comes with a 3.28-inch 384 x 106 display and a narrow-band speakerphone. Wideband audio is available via an optional wideband handset. Cisco's IP Phone 7821 is a dual-line phone with a 396 x 162 display. The IP Phone 7841 is a four-line VoIP endpoint with a 396 x 162 screen and is the only model in the 7800 line that provides 1xGb Ethernet. The high-end IP Phone 7861 VoIP phone is a 16-line endpoint targeted for administrative staff, call center personnel, and supervisors who have heavy voice communications requirements.
The Cisco Unified IP Phone 7900 Series are dual-protocol (SIP/SCCP) IP voice and video endpoints with a 320 x 240 pixel color display, a 1xGb Ethernet switch, Class 3 PoE, 10 dedicated keys and a speakerphone. The Cisco Unified IP Phone 7945G is a dual-line unit and the Cisco Unified IP Phone 7965G features four lines. Both IP phones include a 5-inch screen and four soft buttons. The Cisco Unified IP Phone 7975G device is an eight-line media phone featuring a 5.6-inch touch screen and five programmable keys.
Cisco's IP Phone 8800 Series is a family of SIP-only IP phones that includes desktop units, a conference phone, and mobile wireless IP Phones. The desktop models are five-line IP phones featuring a 5-inch 800 x 480 pixel display, a Gigabit Ethernet switch, a speakerphone, four soft keys and 12 fixed-feature buttons. The Cisco IP Phone 8811 features a backlit mono screen and supports Class 2 Power over Ethernet. Cisco's IP Phone 8841 features a WVGA color screen and supports Class 2 PoE. Cisco's IP Phone 8845 has a WVGA color display, 720p HD video, an adjustable camera, Bluetooth, Cisco Intelligent Proximity for Mobile Voice, and supports Class 2 PoE. The Cisco IP Phone 8851 features a WVGA color screen and one 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. Cisco's IP Phone 8861 includes a WVGA color display, 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 includes 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, Wi-Fi, and Class 4 Power over Ethernet.
Cisco's wireless IP phones are industrial-grade wireless handsets intended for professionals who are on the move within campus, hospitality, health-care or other environments where management requires user endpoints that offer 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 VoIP phones offer mobile onsite workers the benefits of voice over wireless LAN (VoWLAN) communications in environments that support 802.11x Wi-Fi infrastructure. Cisco's 8821 Wireless VoIP Phone features a hi-res color screen, a rugged case designed to withstand dropping and compliant with IP67 for dust and moisture resistance, extended batteries, a speakerphone, and a Bluetooth radio to support cordless headsets. Cisco's 8821-EX Wireless VoIP Phone adds protection against sparking for use in potentially combustible work sites. The 8821-EX also features a shell fabricated out of yellow plastics, which makes the device easy to find during a crisis. Learn about Progent's Cisco Wireless IP Phone integration consultants.
Cisco's legacy 9900 Series of advanced VoIP phones integrate high-quality voice with high-resolution color screens to provide a productive collaborative communications solution for knowledge professionals and executive management. The two models in this line feature an SD 24-bit color display, a Bluetooth radio to support a wide choice of headsets, and an integrated Gigabit Ethernet port. Cisco's Power Save function is optional and can cut off-hour power consumption by as much as 90 percent. The IP Phone 9951 features a 5-inch screen and supports up to 2 Cisco IP Color Key Expansion Modules for expanding programmable line and function keys. The Cisco IP Phone 9971 features a 5.6-inch screen, an integrated Wi-Fi transceiver for connecting to Voice-over-wireless LAN (VoWLAN) environments, and 4 soft-label programmable touchscreen keys to access Cisco UC features. The 9971 IP phone supports up to 3 IP Color Key Expansion Modules for adding scalability to programmable line and feature keys.
Cisco Unified Communications Application Software
Under Cisco's Unified Communications architecture, IP voice, IP video, and other converged applications are physically independent from the call- and voice-processing mechanism, and they may reside at any location within the system. A cohesive network framework provides an open platform for feature-rich business applications and provides a firm foundation for downstream convergence-based applications. Cisco works with third-party IT industry partners to offer a broad selection of IP telephony and video applications and devices. Cisco also supports the capability to develop and administer specialized internal programs.
Collaborative applications offered by Cisco and supported by Progent's consultants include:
Cisco Jabber
Jabber is a UC application that provides presence, IM, voice, HD video, voicemail, desktop sharing, and online conferencing features for PCs, Macs, iPads and Android tablets as well as iPhones, Android phones, and Blackberries. Jabber is a rebranding and integration of the Unified Personal Communicator soft phone application, Cisco Mobile, and WebEx Connect, with significant enhancements in the areas of video features and desktop screen sharing, and extending the team environment to additional operating systems and devices. Cisco Jabber works with Unified CM for call and session control, Cisco Unified Presence for IM and presence, Unity Connection for voicemail and automated attendant, and WebEX Meeting for conferencing.
Because Jabber is based on popular communication protocols, it can interoperate with a broad selection of non-Cisco platforms. For example, Extensible Messaging and Presence Protocol (XMPP) allows Cisco Jabber to exchange instant messaging and presence information with other XMPP clients such as Adium, IBM Sametime, and Microsoft Lync. Cisco Jabber features can be accessed from Microsoft Office programs such as Microsoft Outlook and SharePoint. This cross-platform support maximizes output by providing a common user experience and accommodating the BYOD model of networking. Progent can provide the assistance of Microsoft-certified Exchange and Outlook consultants and SharePoint experts who can help you to use Jabber with Microsoft's premier collaboration platforms. Progent also offers help with iPhone and iPad integration and Android smartphone integration and management to help your organization to increase the productivity of your BYOD ecosystem.
Cisco WebEx Meeting Center
WebEX Meeting Center enables web conferencing for participants using a web browser or virtually any desktop or mobile device. Cisco WebEx is delivered as SaaS via Cisco's WebEx Cloud. This makes it simple to roll out and scale, reduces the cost of administration, avoids high initial expenditures, offers maximum uptime and world-class security, and provides fast performance. Important features include the ability to share discrete content or your whole screen with online attendees in real time, the capability to embed rich media into presentations including Microsoft PowerPoint and Flash animations, session recording plus playback for future reference and training, single sign-on (SSO) and integration with Cisco collaboration applications such as Jabber and TelePresence, plus strong data protection and encrypted connections with tight policy management.
WebEX Meeting Center runs on Windows, Apple Mac, and Linux-powered desktops and allows mobile workers to launch, schedule, and take part in meetings on Google Android devices, iPhones and iPads, BlackBerry handhelds, and Microsoft Windows Phone. You can also initiate online meetings with a few clicks from Microsoft Office, Microsoft Outlook, Lotus Notes, and a variety of instant messaging applications.
Cisco TelePresence Portfolio for On-premises Teleconferencing Infrastructure
For midsize organizations and larger enterprises who want to create a local or hybrid local/cloud environment for teleconferencing, Cisco offers a selection of Cisco TelePresence products that deliver high-quality and standards-based video conferencing for participants with virtually any IP endpoint at any location. Cisco TelePresence Server is a scalable teleconferencing bridge that works in conjunction with Cisco Unified Communications Manager to deliver multiparty telepresence to unified communications environments and can extend meetings to incorporate cloud-based Cisco WebEx Meeting Center users. Cisco TelePresence Conductor software streamlines management of the way video conferencing bandwidth and features should be rationed for every individual participant, enabling managers to specify the precise service level and user experience required for every user. Cisco TelePresence Content Server collects video and presentations for real-time distribution and on-demand playback.
Cisco Unity Connection Platform and Unity Express for Unified Voicemail and Automated Attendant
The Cisco Unity Connection, an integrated extension of Cisco Unified Communications Manager, is a unified voicemail platform that accelerates productive collaboration by providing a variety of options for retrieving voice messages within an environment that is easy to implement and administer. Cisco Unity Connection lets you read and manage your voicemail from your Exchange inbox, web browser, Cisco Jabber messaging integration platform, a Cisco Unified IP Phone, a smartphone, or an iPad or tablet. Cisco Unity Connection also provides sophisticated voice-recognition features for hands-free operation and powerful Automated Attendant capabilities such as intelligent routing for incoming calls and easily customizable call-filtering and message-notification settings. The Cisco Unity Connection system runs as a virtual machine that can reside on a Business Edition 6000 server or a Cisco Services Ready Engine 910 router service module and can support up to 20,000 voice mailboxes per server.
Cisco Unity Express (CUE), offered in select Cisco ISR routers, offers affordable voicemail, integrated messaging, IVR, and greeting services for small to mid-size businesses (SMBs) and corporate branch locations with up to 500 voice mailboxes. Cisco Unity Express allows you to manage voicemail via a Cisco IP Phone display, a browser, or an email client. Integrated Services Routers for which Cisco Unity Express is available as a network module include Cisco's 1861, 2900, and 3900 Series. Progent can provide comprehensive configuration and support services for Integrated Services Routers.
Unified Contact Center
Cisco Unified Contact Center Enterprise (Unified CCE) integrates with Unified Communications Manager and desktop agent applications like Cisco Finesse to provide automatic call distribution capabilities that allow an organization to match customers with the right salesperson or service representative. UCCE features intelligent call distribution, computer telephony integration (CTI), multiple channel customer contact management, call queuing, IVR and consolidated company-wide reporting to streamline the creation and management of a modern contact center. Cisco platforms supporting Unified CCE's customer contact management ecosystem include Cisco Unified IP Phones, Voice, and Cisco network infrastructure.
Unified Contact Center Express (Unified CCX) provides a packaged solution for building a customer contact center for mid-scale systems that support up to 400 agents. Multiple packages are offered, plus a variety of optional advanced features. Unified Contact Center Express integrates closely with Unified Communications Manager and offers smart call distribution, contact interaction management, integrated reporting, interactive voice response, and management of voice, email, chat, and social media inquiries. Cisco Unified Contact Center Express includes Cisco Finesse, a browser-based desktop agent that requires no client-side software setup. Optional enhancements include conditional routing, projected-wait-time announcements, and quality management.
Cisco Mobile Connect for Single Number Reach (SNR)
Mobile Connect, commonly known as Single Number Reach (SNR), allows users to be called from a single phone number that rings at the same time on their Cisco VoIP Phone and their smartphone. Users can switch live calls between their Cisco IP phone and their mobile phone without disruption. Unanswered calls can be redirected to a Unity or Unity Connection account. Users can create their own access lists that determine which calls get extended to different phones.
Prime Collaboration
Prime Collaboration Provisioning provides an automated platform for first-time deployments and for “day 2” moves, additions, changes, and deletions. An intuitive console provides a unified look at a user and the subscriber's services. Prime Collaboration Provisioning significantly accelerates company-wide rollouts and reduces the time required for ongoing updates. Prime Collaboration also offers advanced analytics including application adoption and usage trends, allowing organizations to make more efficient use of IT resources and further reduce TCO.
Cisco Communications Gateways
Cisco's collaboration gateways permit Cisco Unified Communications deployments to connect with other systems and with users operating beyond the firewall. Cisco's line of gateways provide UC support for a wide variety of gateway as well as session-border-control deployments.
Communications gateways available from Cisco and supported by Progent include:
Cisco Expressway Communication Gateway
Cisco's Expressway is a powerful unified communications and collaboration gateway that enables organizations to provide employees, vendors, consumers, or partners who are working on various outside network environments, collaboration platforms, or endpoint devices to access to Unified Communication features. Cisco's Expressway gateway works with a Cisco Communications Manager deployment or Cisco Business Edition, or can be run via the cloud with Cisco HCS to make collaboration more pervasive. Key capabilities of Expressway are include:
- Mobile and Remote Connectivity: Remote workers with any Jabber-compatible desktop or handheld computer or telecommuters with Cisco TelePresence endpoints have the convenience of single-sign-on (SSO) plus Transport Layer Security (TLS) and can access all their collaboration applications (high-definition video, voice, data instant messaging, and realtime presence) without requiring the extra step of a VPN. Also, teleworkers have the ability to utilize their Cisco TelePresence endpoints without the need for a VPN, providing a user experience at home identical to the office.
- Jabber Guest Support: Expressway is critical for supporting Jabber Guest, which makes it possible for “guests” to communicate with your organization easily and safely using streamlined browser and mobile video calls.
- Cisco Cloud Connectivity: Cisco Expressway can function 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 meeting environment that transparently integrates business-quality voice, HD video, and content sharing to anyone, anywhere, using any device.
- Interoperability: In case your organization currently has non-Cisco video systems, Expressway can help you to migrate easily to Cisco technology whenever you choose. Cisco Expressway offers video interoperability with industry standard H.323, H.264 Scalable Video Coding (SVC), or Session Initiation Protocol systems. Gateway standards supported by Expressway include IPv4 to IPv6, H.323 to Session Initiation Protocol, and Microsoft Lync 2013 H.264 Scalable Video Coding (SVC) to AVC.
Cisco Unified Border Element is an enterprise-class session border gateway that interconnects converged business communications networks to the public switched telephone network. In addition to offering session border control, Cisco Unified Border Element (CUBE) provides simple and cost-efficient collaboration outside the corporate firewall. Sample collaboration functions enabled by CUBE include:
- WebEx Cloud Connected Audio (CCA) for high-capacity SIP-media-connected conferencing
- Voice and Video recording
- Enterprise Call-center and interactive-voice-response (IVR) solutions
- Policy-based security evaluation of voice calls
- Business-to-business teleconferencing over SIP
Cisco's End-of-Life UC520, UC540 and UC560 VoIP Gateways
The end-of-life Cisco Unified Communications 500 product line is an early VoIP and unified communications system for small organizations. UC500 packages deliver voice, data, voicemail, auto attendant, IP video, security, and WiFi functionality, work with older generation Cisco IP Voice endpoints, and support public switched telephone network (PSTN) connections.
All Cisco's UC500 packages include a desktop switch with 8 PoE interfaces plus additional FXS and foreign exchange office (FXO) interfaces, a firewall, and VPN support. Integrated WiFi is an option. User capacity can be expanded by connecting with Cisco Catalyst Express switches. Each UC500 offering also includes 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 include 4 foreign exchange stations and 4 FXO ports. The Cisco UC540 package allows 24 to 32 users and has 8 FXO interfaces. The Cisco UC560 system allows 48 users and 12 foreign exchange office interfaces.
Progent's seasoned VoIP consultants can help you to maintain your legacy UC500 VoIP gateway or design and implement an efficient upgrade to a current IP telephony and voicemail system like the Cisco Business Edition 4000.
How Progent Can Assist You with Cisco VoIP and IP Media Phones, CUCM, and Telepresence
Progent can provide online or onsite access to a certified CCIE Collaboration expert to help your business to plan, deploy, manage and troubleshoot converged communications networks built on Cisco Unified Communication technology in an in-house, distributed, or hybrid deployment. Progent's Cisco engineers have in-depth backgrounds supporting Cisco Unified Communications Manager and CallManager, IP voice and video phones and soft phones, Unified Communications applications like Jabber and Unity Connection, Cisco's teleconferencing products, collaboration gatekeepers, utilities built into Cisco switches and routers. Progent can also provide expertise with related technologies like Cisco SRST, CUBE, SIP gateways, CAC, VoIP trunks, various signaling protocols, and Cisco's architecture for voice, video and integrated data. Progent's SIP infrastructure experts can in addition help you to create SIP connectivity solutions that include SIP VoIP phones and media phones, SIP-based CUBE trunks, and SIP administration tools via Cisco Unified CM.
Progent's custom application programmers can create specialized IP telephony software that will help your organization to integrate the telephony capabilities of Cisco Unified Communications Manager into your business processes for enhanced efficiency. Progent can audit your existing network and Internet access infrastructure to make sure your system is optimized to accommodate high-quality VoIP and high-definition video, help you to select and integrate Cisco products that make sense for your current situation and future expansion strategy, and interface your Cisco Unified Communications products with products from other suppliers. Progent's CISSP-ISSAP certified network security and compliance consultants can assist you to create, deploy, and validate an enterprise-wide security plan for your unified communications ecosystem. Also, Progent can help your organization to deploy Cisco fault-tolerant technologies such as Cisco Unified SRST for affordable call control backup in remote-branch and telecommuter sites, and Progent's disaster recovery planning consultants can help you create a sensible DR/BC strategy to protect your business-critical communications system.
Unified Communications Manager/CallManager Upgrade Services
Releases of Unified Communications Manager 8.6 lower than 8.6 and every release of its predecessor CallManager have reached end-of-life. Therefore Cisco Engineering will cease to develop, repair, or test the product software. Security updates for this business-critical application will stop, which in certain circumstances could create regulatory compliance or even legal liability problems.
Progent will continue to provide comprehensive support for end-of-life versions of Cisco Unified Communications Manager and Cisco CallManager, but in case your business is still using an out-of-dated edition of this critical application your organization should start now to prepare for your migration. Progent's Cisco-certified consultants can help you to migrate efficiently to the current edition of Cisco Unified Communications Manager and can often save clients up to 50% off consulting expense compared to competing IT service firms thanks to Progent's documented procedures and experience in this area. By following leading practices, Progent can make sure your company gets a fast return on your investment by showing you how to take full advantage of the new and improved feature set, reduced management and support expense, more productive collaboration, and tighter data protection provided by the newest edition of Unified Communications Manager.
Progent's migration consulting services include return-on-investment assessment, project management or co-management, system testing, Cloud connectivity, setting up collaboration endpoints from Cisco and other providers, mobile integration, security and compliance consulting, management automation, disaster recovery planning, network architecture design, staff and user training, and ongoing consulting and troubleshooting. Progent also has put together ultra-affordable upgrade service bundles to make sure your costs are visible and affordable.
For additional information about Progent's engineering expertise for Cisco solutions, select a topic:
- Overview of Progent's Cisco Expertise
- Fast and Affordable Remote Assistance from a Cisco Certified Internetwork Expert (CCIE) Consultant
- Cisco Firepower Firewalls: Integration and Management Support
- Cisco ASA 5500-X Series Firewall with Cisco Firepower Services: Configuration and Management Expertise
- ASA 5500 Firewall Upgrade. Migration Services
- PIX Firewall Engineering Services
- Cisco Routers Consulting Services
- Cisco Wireless Network Design Services
- Cisco Aironet Wireless Access Points Design Services
- Cisco Small Business WiFi Access Points Engineering Help
- Cisco Catalyst 802.11ax Wi-Fi 6/6E APs Planning, Deployment and Debugging Consulting
- Cisco Wireless Controllers Support Services
- Cisco Meraki Wireless Access Points Consulting Help
- Cisco Unified Communications Manager (CUCM or Unified CM) and Cisco CallManager Integration and Troubleshooting
- Cisco Jabber Migration and Support Expertise
- Cisco Catalyst Switches Configuration and Maintenance Services
- Cisco Nexus Switches Consulting and Support Services
- Cisco Meraki Switches Support and Troubleshooting Services
- Cisco VPN and Network Security Engineering Expertise
- SIP and CUBE Integration Solutions: SIP Trunks and Cisco CUBE Integration Expertise
- Design Expertise for Cisco-powered Data Centers
- Infrastructure Design Consulting for Service Providers
- Streamlined Management Strategies for Cisco Environments
An index of content::
System Center 2016 Data Protection Manager Support Outsourcing
System Center 2016 Troubleshooting Support and Help
Progent has over two decades of experience configuring, maintaining and troubleshooting the core platforms that make up System Center and can assist your organization to plan, install, support, and fix your System Center 2012 R2 solution to maximize the availability and performance of your applications and infrastructure across multiple Windows and Linux/Unix OS environments and local and Cloud-connected datacenters. Progent's consultants can assist your organization to migrate to the current edition of Microsoft System Center from an earlier one or from a third-party IT management solution to deliver the advantages of best-in-class provisioning, centralized management, security, plus datacenter and critical application availability and performance monitoring.
Windows Server 2019 PowerShell Professionals
Top Ranked Windows Server 2019 Hybrid Integration Technical Support
Progent's Microsoft-certified Windows Server 2019 consultants can help your company to design and carry out a cost-effective migration to Windows Server 2019 using existing deployment architecture or a new cloud-based or hybrid deployment model. Windows Server 2019 offers significant enhancements in capacity, speed, ease of management, virtualization, cybersecurity, hybrid local/cloud deployments, resilience, and Linux support.
CCDP Expert Certified IT Consultants ASA Firewall with Firepower
Cisco ASA and VMware Consulting
The current Cisco ASA 5500-X Series Next-Generation Firewalls with Firepower Services provide substantially more value than Cisco's legacy firewalls and have superseded the ASA 5500 and PIX 500 firewalls for all new deployments. Progent's Cisco-certified CCIE network experts can assist you to maintain your current PIX or ASA 5500 firewalls or migrate to ASA 5500-X firewalls with Firepower Services. Progent can also assist your business to plan, integrate, optimize, manage and troubleshoot firewall solutions built around Cisco ASA 5500-X firewalls with Firepower Services.
SCDPM 2012 Planning Technical Consultant
SCDPM 2012 Network Consulting
Progent's Microsoft-certified consultants offer online or onsite support to help businesses of any size to design, implement, administer, and troubleshoot a backup-and-restore system based on System Center 2012 Data Protection Manager. Progent's consultants can assist you to upgrade from earlier versions of Data Protection Manager or from another backup/recovery platform, and Progent can optimize your Data Protection Manager implementation for on premises, cloud, or hybrid datacenters. Progent offers as-needed help for resolving particularly stubborn issues, or full project management support. Progent's consultants can also help your business to incorporate SCDPM 2012 into an enterprise-class disaster recovery strategy.
Class Photoshop
Learn Macintosh Applications
Progent's Apple Mac experts can support the creative facets of Macintosh environments by providing help services and training in graphics, audio, and motion video. Progent's consultants can provide help in a variety of Mac applications including Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, QuarkXPress, Apple Logic, MOTU Digital Performer, Digidesign Pro Tools, Final Cut Pro, Apple Motion, and After Effects. Progent can also assist you with special jobs such as scanning or digitizing audio or video or configuring an audio/video production facility.
SMS Upgrade Specialists
Network Consulting SMS Upgrade
Systems Management Server offers extra functionality for change and configuration management of Windows-based networks via SMS Feature Packs. Feature Packs reduce the net operational costs of managing and deploying software by making it easier to copy system images, control mobile computers, and operate management utilities. In addition to alerting you about techniques to save management expenses by installing Microsoft SMS 2003 Feature Packs, Progent's consultants can show you how to plan and implement IT tasks that cover processes that Feature Packs are intended to make more efficient. Progent's adoption and upgrade services can minimize spending and eliminate business disruption as you transition to the latest operating systems and programs. Progent's wireless engineers can show you how to develop sensible processes and standards to manage PDAs and intelligent mobile phones so your field force remains productive and secure. Progent's CISSP-certified consultants and CISM-certified consulting professionals can help you design a security plan that includes standards, processes and technologies to keep your IT network protected.
Dynamics GP Accounting Remote Consulting
Computer Consulting Great Plains
Progent's Microsoft certified consultants offer a variety of support services for Microsoft Dynamics GP/Great Plains. Dynamics GP/Great Plains is a Microsoft accounting platform and corporate management tool based, like all Microsoft financial solutions, on the scalable and popular foundation of Microsoft Windows technology. Microsoft Dynamics GP 2010, the most recent edition of Microsoft accounting products in the Dynamics GP line, offers a cost-effective solution for managing and integrating finances, e-commerce, supply chain, manufacturing, project accounting, on-site support, customer relationships, and HR. Dynamics GP/Great Plains is simple to deploy and integrate, and with its segmented approach you are able to license only the capability you currently need, with the ability to expand users and increase functionality when necessary. Progent's Dynamics GP Software support experts can help you install, configure and manage Microsoft Dynamics GP 2010 and also older versions of Microsoft Dynamics GP.
Emergency Microsoft Certified Partner SQL Server 2019 OLTP IT Consulting
24/7/365 SQL Server 2019 Machine Learning Server Network Consultants
Progent's Microsoft-certified SQL Server 2019 experts can assist you to evaluate the business case for upgrading to SQL Server 2019 and can deliver fast online or on-premises contact with consulting experts in system planning and deployment, software development, database administration, and cybersecurity.
24-Hour Microsoft SUS Consultant
SUS Consulting Services
Microsoft Windows Server Update Services allows IT administrators to deploy and track the latest Microsoft patches and security updates to Microsoft Windows Server 2000, Microsoft Windows Server 2003, and Microsoft Windows XP platforms. By using Microsoft SUS, network support staff can fully and easily manage the distribution of patches that are released via Microsoft Update to servers and desktops in a company. Progent can help you with technical details of the initial setup of Microsoft WSUS such as designing the Microsoft Software Update Services deployment, setting up client's computers, establishing the Group Policy parameters, and making sure your Microsoft Windows Server Update Services GPO is linked to an Active Directory container appropriate for your system environment.
Microsoft Certified Partner SCCM 2012 Troubleshooting Network Consultants
SCCM 2012 Intune Integration Troubleshooting
Progent can assist your organization to prepare for, deploy, and administer Microsoft System Center 2012 R2 Configuration Manager. Progent can assist you to upgrade efficiently to SCCM 2012 from a legacy change management solution or help you to enhance your existing SCCM 2012 environment to support your changing IT requirements. In addition, Progent can help you to build an infrastructure that takes full advantage of SCCM by providing advanced consulting support for associated Microsoft platforms including Active Directory Domain Services (ADDS), Microsoft SQL Server and SQL Server Reporting Services (SSRS), and Internet Information Services (IIS).
Specialist WannaCry Ransomware Removal
WannaCry Ransomware Recovery Engineers
Progent provides expertise for security evaluation packages including LANguard from GFI for performing a set of automatic system testing scans to uncover potential security gaps. Progent has extensive knowledge of network auditing tools and can show you how to make sense of audit reports and react appropriately. Progent can help you design security into your business operations, configure scanning tools, define and deploy a protected network environment, and suggest policies to optimize the safety of your network. Progent's security consultants are available to help you configure a firewall, implement secure remote connectivity to email and data, and install VPN. Progent's accredited security consultants can also test the security of web-based applications and can conduct extensive information security evaluations of enterprise-wide security to determine your organization's compliance with important international security standards such as HIPAA, NIST, and ISO 17799.
Support Outsourcing Microsoft Small Business Server 2008
Microsoft Small Business Server Consultants
Microsoft Small Business Server is an affordable suite of server products that provides the basis for a powerful but manageable information. The integration demands of the Microsoft .NET functions bundled with Small Business Server calls for a network expert with real-world expertise and extensive knowledge in planning and building cohesive end-to-end business technology solutions. Progent's Microsoft-certified experts have extensive backgrounds with the technologies incorporated in SBS 2011 and Microsoft SBS 2008. This expertise ensures you success in deploying, managing, and servicing network solutions powered by the SBS suite of servers and applications.
SCCM Security Technology Consulting Services
SCCM Cloud Management Gateway Consultant Services
Configuration Manager automates application and device deployment across multiple sites, centralizes security and compliance settings control, keeps track of network resources, guards against company data leakage, provides network health reporting, enables safe end-user self service, and delivers a single control mechanism for managing multi-OS ecosystems running on-premises, cloud-centric, or hybrid deployment topologies. Progent's Microsoft-certified Configuration Manager consulting team and Azure cloud experts can assist your organization with any facet of planning, installing, operating and troubleshooting a SCCM solution for local, cloud, or hybrid environments.
Computer Consulting Catalyst MPLS
24/7/365 IT Consultant Catalyst 3650 Switch
Progent's Cisco-certified CCIE experts can assist your business to set up, manage, upgrade, optimize and troubleshoot Catalyst switches. Progent can also help you to harden the security and compliance of Catalyst switches and migrate efficiently from legacy appliances to current devices.
Navision and Dynamics NAV Help and Support
Dynamics NAV Applications Support
Microsoft Dynamics Business Central (previously, formerly} called Dynamics NAV and Navision) provides small and midsize businesses a single platform for financials, inventory, operations, project management, procurement, sales and marketing, supply chain management, and advanced analytics. Progent's Dynamics 365 Business Central consultants can assist company to manage your older Dynamics NAV system or upgrade efficiently to a cloud-based, onsite, or hybrid deployment.
CCNP Certified Video IP Phones IT Consultants
Emergency Professional 7800 Series IP Phone
Progent's Cisco-certified VoIP phone and video IP phone consultants can assist you to configure, manage, and troubleshoot Cisco VoIP phones, desktop video IP phones and wireless IP phones. Progent can provide expertise for all versions of Cisco's IP phones from legacy VoIP products to the latest HD media phones. Progent's IP telephony experts can also help you to integrate your IP phones with Cisco Unified CM, formerly named CallManager, or with Unified Communications Manager Express (CME) to build a modern IP-PBX environment for unified messaging and company-wide collaboration. Progent can also help you to install Cisco Unified Communications Manager apps that include Cisco Unified CM IM and Presence Service with Jabber support, Cisco Unity Express for voicemail management, Cisco Unified Mobility for Single Number Reach (SNR, and Unified Contact Center Enterprise (UCCE) for creating an advanced customer contact center. Progent's consultants can deliver support with any facet of Cisco VoIP Phone integration including reviewing dial plans, setting up SIP gateways, deploying ISR routers with CUBE internetworking support, and creating Cisco UCS server clustering and Cisco Survivable Remote Site Telephony solutions for survivability.
