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Exchanging real-time voice and video over Internet Protocol (VoIP and Video over IP) has progressed from simply being being a smart technique to reduce phone bills to being a required tool for productive collaboration. Unified IP communications, once limited to combining Internet-based voice calls and faxing on the same platform to take the place of traditional PBX equipment, today includes rich media, mobile communications, instant messaging, presence, collaboration services, and much more in a single ecosystem that is manageable, scalable, protected, resilient, cost-effective, and intuitive.

Cisco is the global leader in supplying solutions for supporting the new paradigm of unified communications (UC). Cisco's unified communications product line adds to the productivity of information systems by cutting operating costs; integrating multiple collaboration features with familiar software programs to improve worker output; facilitating collaboration among workers, partners, and suppliers to save time and improve business results; and simplifying the support of your communications environment.

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

• Call Control Platforms for controlling rich media calls and sessions
• VoIP and Video Phones and Softphones to enhance worker engagement
• Unified Communications Applications for simplified access to presence, chat, voice and video, phone messages, white boarding, and conferencing
• Communications Gateways for interfacing with public networks and remote users

Call Control Agents - Unified Communications Manager (CallManager)
Cisco's call-processing agent is the centerpiece of the Cisco IP telephony infrastructure and gives you the flexibility to implement a centralized call-processing model, a decentralized model, or a mix of the two. In a centralized deployment, Unified Communications Manager (UC Manager or CUCM) extends enterprise telephony capabilities to packet products such as VoIP phones, media processing devices, Voice over IP gateways, and multimedia programs across the network. Unified Communications Manager enables additional multimedia services such as unified messaging, video conferencing, and group-based client interaction networks.

The most recent version of Unified CM, formerly branded CallManager, includes a variety of improvements that expedite ROI by cutting management and maintenance expenses, improving worker productivity, facilitating collaboration, accommodating the bring-your-own-device (BYOD) style of computing, fortifying security, and allowing optimal use of network resources. Headline new features include automatic dial-plan replication, simplified certificate management, expanded support for standards-based single sign-on (SSO) for administrators and users, device-independent call recording, on-the-road access with no need for VPN, a new self-provisioning utility that makes it simple for workers to select their options and preferences for all of their devices, and support for Transport Layer Security and Secure Real-Time Transport Protocol for mobile clients.

When you deploy a centralized Cisco Unified Communications Manager cluster to manage call processing for users at distributed locations, IT managers can help achieve continuous phone availability through Cisco Survivable Remote Site Telephony (SRST), a Cisco IOS Software image for routers. If a WAN link breaks, Cisco SRST incorporated in the Cisco router provides basic Unified Communications Manager capabilities until the connection is restored. For information about Progent's consulting support for Cisco ISR routers, refer to consulting and troubleshooting services for Cisco ISR routers.

For small businesses, branch locations, and retail deployments that do not need the complete functionality available from Unified CM, Unified Communications Manager Express, previously known as CallManager Express provides a budget-friendly PBX alternative that meets the needs of sites with up to 450 users. Because Cisco Unified Communications Manager Express Unified Communications Manager Express (Unified CCX) is embedded in the Cisco IOS Software operating on a Cisco ISR router, smaller offices can rapidly implement a unified voice and data solution.

The Cisco BE6000 is a family of turn-key solutions that offer fundamental collaboration capabilities including routing, gateway, premium voice and video, messaging, IM and real-time presence, conferencing, and paging support, enabling any user to connect on any endpoint device from any site. All systems are shipped preinstalled with virtualization and Unified Communications applications software, making deployment fast and simple and cutting cost of ownership for companies with from 25 to 1000 workers. All systems are shipped preinstalled with virtualization and collaboration applications. Organizations can instantly activate UC applications whenever their requirements evolve.

The entry-level Business Edition 6000S supports five standard UC software applications installed on one combination router/gateway/virtualized E1600 M2 blade server platform and supports a maximum capacity of 150 workers and 300 endpoint devices. The medium-scale Business Edition 6000M includes 4 UC software application options activated on a single virtualized Cisco C220 M4 server platform and supports a maximum capacity of 1000 workers, 1200 devices, and 100 contact center agents. The top-of-the-line Business Edition 6000H includes eight collaboration software application options activated on a single virtualized Cisco C220 M4 server and has the ability to support as many as 1000 workers, 2500 endpoint devices, and 100 contact center agents.

For more details about Progent's expertise with Unified Communications Manager, see Unified Communications Manager and CallManager design, configuration, upgrades and troubleshooting.

IP Phones: IP Voice and IP Video Endpoints
A communications endpoint is an end-user instrument, either a physical phone set or a soft phone application on a desktop or handheld computer. In the IP world, every IP endpoint has an Ethernet connection. VoIP phones offer all of the features that an analog phone provides, but VoIP phones can also offer additional functions including being able to access the web or run collaboration applications.

In contrast to traditional PBX systems, in a Cisco IP phone environment you can implement almost instantaneous relocations, adds, and changes. All you do is move the IP handset to your new spot, attach it to the Ethernet jack, and the IP phone registers itself with Cisco Unified Communications Manager (formerly CallManager). All client permissions and settings are automatically replicated, doing away with the expense and hassle of sending support personnel to wiring closets. An additional helpful capability is extension mobility, which enables you to log into any Cisco IP phone and receive your personal phone number and rights.

Cisco provides a wide selection of collaboration hardware endpoints. The entry-level SPA 300 family are no-frills IP and DECT devices that feature wide-band voice, support for hosted Internet Protocol telephony environments or an IP private branch exchange, simple deployment and secure online installation, in-service software updates, and web-based set up. The value-priced SPA301 is a one-line IP phone with no display or speakerphone function, a base dialer with a single Ethernet connector, and a corded handset without a keypad. The SPA302D, intended solely for use with the Cisco SPA232D Multi-Line DECT ATA, is a multiline wireless Digital Enhanced Cordless Telecommunications (DECT) handset that supports 10-lines, a 176 x 220 pixel color display, and a dial pad with a speakerphone. Cisco's SPA303 is an entry-level three-line SIP-based phone with dual Ethernet ports, a 128x64 mono display and a speakerphone.

The SPA500 line VoIP phones are affordable devices with support for both SIP and SPCP call control protocols, two Ethernet switch ports, speakerphones, built-in web servers, PoE, and conferencing support. Most versions have a 128 x 64 pixel mono screen display, The SPA501G has eight lines and has eight soft keys but no LCD display. The SPA502G VoIP phone supports a single line and has no programmable keys. The SPA504G has four lines and has four soft keys. The SPA508G VoIP phone supports eight lines and eight programmable keys. The SPA509G IP Phone supports 12 lines and has 12 soft buttons. The SPA512G IP Phone supports four lines, no programmable keys and supports 10/100/1000 Ethernet. The SPA514G VoIP phone supports four lines, has soft keys, and supports 10/100/1000 Ethernet. The top-of-the-line SPA525G2 VoIP phone has a 320 x 240 color display, supports five lines, and has five programmable buttons.

Cisco's Unified IP Phones 3900 Series and IP Phones 6900 Series are specialty VoIP endpoints intended for infrequent-use environments like cafeterias, elevators, and conference facilities. Cisco's Unified SIP Phone 3905 IP Phone features a 128 x 32 pixel mono non-backlit screen, an integrated 10/100 Ethernet switch, a speakerphone, and Power over Ethernet (PoE). The bare-bones Cisco Unified IP Phone 6901 is a single-line device without a screen and uses a hook switch for transferring a call or conferencing.

The 7800 Series of value-priced IP phones are VoIP endpoints featuring backlit mono displays, four programmable keys, 11 dedicated buttons, an Ethernet switch with Power over Ethernet (PoE), and an integral speakerphone. The 7800 Series VoIP phones support only the SIP call control protocol. All devices in Cisco's 7800 family incorporate the same high-fidelity speakers and microphones as Cisco's 8800 Series IP phones to provide a best-in-class audio experience. Cisco's EnergyWise power-save technology, available on the higher end 7800 units, reduces off-hours energy usage by up to 60 percent. The Cisco IP Phone 7811 is a one-line VoIP phone designed for common locations as well as for workers with infrequent voice communications requirements. The IP 7811 comes with a 3.28-inch 384 x 106 display plus a narrow-band speakerphone. Wideband audio is available through an extra-cost handset. Cisco's IP Phone 7821 is a two-line phone with a 396 x 162 display. The IP Phone 7841 is a four-line VoIP endpoint with a 396 x 162 display and is the only device in the 7800 line to support Gigabit Ethernet. The top-of-the-line IP Phone 7861 VoIP phone is a 16-line endpoint targeted for administrative staff, contact center personnel, and managers who have significant voice communications requirements.

Cisco Unified IP Phone 7900 Series are dual-protocol (SIP/SCCP) media devices with a 320 x 240 color display, a 1xGb Ethernet switch, Class 3 Power over Ethernet (PoE), 10 fixed-feature keys and a speakerphone. The Cisco Unified IP Phone 7945G is a two-line device and the Cisco Unified IP Phone 7965G supports four lines. Both VoIP phones have a 5-inch display and four soft keys. The Cisco Unified IP Phone 7975G device is an eight-line IP voice and video phone featuring a 5.6-inch touch screen and five soft keys.

Cisco's IP Phone 8800 Series is a portfolio of SIP-based IP phones that features desktop devices, a conference phone, and mobile wireless IP Phones. The desktop models are five-line IP phones featuring a 5-inch 800 x 480 display, a Gigabit Ethernet switch, a speakerphone, four soft keys and 12 dedicated buttons. The Cisco IP Phone 8811 includes a mono display and supports Class 2 PoE. The Cisco IP Phone 8841 has a WVGA color screen and supports Class 2 Power over Ethernet. Cisco's IP Phone 8845 has a WVGA color display, 720p HD video, an adjustable camera, Bluetooth, Cisco Intelligent Proximity for Mobile Voice, and supports Class 2 PoE. The Cisco IP Phone 8851 features 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 offered in Bluetooth and non-Bluetooth models. Cisco's IP Phone 8861 has a WVGA color screen, Bluetooth, dual USB ports with charging capability, and supports Cisco Intelligent Proximity for Mobile Voice, Wi-Fi, and Class 4 PoE. The Cisco IP Phone 8865 includes a WVGA color screen, 720p HD video, an adjustable camera, Bluetooth, two USB connections with charging capability, and supports Cisco Intelligent Proximity for Mobile Voice, 802.11ac Wi-Fi, and Class 4 PoE.

Cisco's wireless IP phones are industrial-grade Wi-Fi devices designed for workers who are mobile within campus, hospitality, retail or other venues where IT management wants portable phones that offer more administrative control, data security and ruggedness than is possible with the BYOD (Bring-Your-Own-Device) style of mobile communications. Cisco's 8821 and 8812-EX wireless VoIP phones offer mobile on-premises workers the benefits of voice over wireless LAN (VoWLAN) technology in workplaces that support 802.11a/b/g/n/ac Wi-Fi infrastructure. Cisco's 8821 Wireless IP Phone includes a hi-res color screen, a durable case rated Mil-SPEC 810G for shock resistance and IP67 for particulate and splash resistance, extended batteries, a speakerphone, and a Bluetooth radio to support cordless headsets. The 8821-EX Wireless IP Phone adds protection against sparking for potentially combustible environments. Cisco's 8821-EX also features a case composed out of industry-standard yellow plastics, which makes it easier to locate during an emergency. Learn about Progent's Cisco Wireless VoIP Phone integration consultants.

Cisco's legacy 9900 family of high-performance VoIP endpoints integrate high-quality voice with hi-res color screens to offer a productive multimedia unified communications solution for knowledge professionals and executive management. The two IP phones in the 9900 line incorporate an SD 24-bit color screen, a Bluetooth radio to support a wide range of headsets, and a built-in 1 GE Ethernet switch. The Cisco Power Save feature is offered as an option and can lower off-hour power use by up to 90 percent. The Cisco IP Phone 9951 features a 5-inch screen and allows 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 display, a built-in 802.11a/b/g Wi-Fi radio for connecting to voice-over-wireless LAN networks, and four soft-label programmable touchscreen keys to access Cisco UC features. The 9971 IP phone supports up to 3 Cisco IP Expansion Modules for expanding programmable line and function keys.

Unified Communications Applications
Under Cisco's Unified Communications platform, IP telephony, IP video, and other UC applications are physically independent from the call-processing and voice-processing infrastructure, and they may reside anywhere within the system. A single network framework offers a versatile environment for powerful applications and acts as a solid foundation for downstream convergence-based applications. Cisco works with leading IT industry companies to provide a wide range of IP voice and IP video software applications and devices. Cisco also supports the ability to create and manage customized in-house applications.

Unified Communications application software available from Cisco and supported by Progent include:

Jabber
Cisco Jabber is a unified communications application that supports presence, IM, voice, high-definition video, voice messaging, desktop sharing, and real-time conferencing functions for Windows 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, Cisco Mobile, and Cisco WebEx Connect, with significant enhancements to HD video capabilities and desktop sharing, and extending the collaboration experience to additional platforms and endpoint hardware. Cisco Jabber operates with Cisco Unified CM for call and session management, Cisco Unified Presence for instant messaging and presence, Unity Connection for voice messaging and automated attendant, and Cisco WebEx Meeting for online meetings.

Because Cisco Jabber is built around popular communication protocols, it can communicate with a broad selection of non-Cisco products. For example, XMPP allows Cisco Jabber users to trade IM and presence information with a variety of XMPP clients such as Adium for Mac OS, Sametime, and Microsoft Lync. Cisco Jabber features are available from Microsoft Office programs such as Outlook and Microsoft SharePoint. This extensive platform compatibility optimizes productivity by delivering a consistent end-user environment and accommodating the BYOD model of networking. Progent can provide the assistance of certified Exchange and Outlook consultants and Microsoft SharePoint experts who can assist you to take advantage of Jabber with Microsoft's popular collaboration platforms. Progent also offers help with iPhone integration and management as well as Google Android phone and tablet integration to help your organization to increase the productivity of your BYOD environment.

WebEX Meeting Center
Cisco WebEx Meeting Center provides web meetings for participants using a browser or virtually any desktop or mobile device. Cisco WebEx is delivered as software as a service (SaaS) through Cisco's WebEx Cloud. This makes it easy to deploy and scale, reduces the cost of management, eliminates high up-front expenditures, offers maximum uptime and world-class data protection, and delivers consistently high performance. Important capabilities include support for sharing specific content or your whole screen display with remote participants in real time, the capability to embed rich media into presentations including Microsoft PowerPoint and Flash videos, network-based recording plus playback for training and demonstrations, single sign-on and support for other Cisco collaboration products like Jabber and TelePresence, plus stringent data privacy and encrypted connections with tight policy control.

WebEX Meeting Center runs on Microsoft Windows, Apple Mac, and Linux-powered desktops and notebooks and permits mobile users to start, schedule, and attend conferences on Android smartphones and tablets, Apple iPhones and iPads, BlackBerry phones, and Microsoft Windows Phone. Users can also initiate web conferences with a few clicks from Microsoft Office, Microsoft Outlook, Lotus Notes, and a variety of IM applications.

Cisco TelePresence Products for On-premises Video Conferencing Ecosystems
For midsize businesses and larger enterprises who wish to create an in-house or hybrid local/cloud environment for teleconferencing, Cisco provides a portfolio of Cisco TelePresence platforms that deliver high-definition teleconferencing for attendees with almost any endpoint device at any site. Cisco TelePresence Server is an expandable video conferencing bridge that runs in conjunction with Cisco Unified CM to bring multiparty video, audio and content sharing to unified communications deployments and can extend conferences to support cloud-based Cisco WebEx Meeting Center users. Cisco TelePresence Conductor software streamlines the control of how teleconferencing bandwidth and features should be allotted for every individual attendee, allowing administrators to define the precise service level and user experience needed for every user. Cisco TelePresence Content Server captures video and presentations for live streaming and video on demand playback.

Cisco Unity Connection Platform and Unity Express for Converged Voicemail
Cisco's Unity Connection, an integrated extension of Unified CM, is a unified voicemail solution that promotes teamwork by offering flexible set of options for accessing calls and messages within an environment that is easy to implement and maintain. Unity Connection allows you to read and manage voicemail messages from your email inbox, web browser, Cisco Jabber messaging integration platform, a Cisco Unified VoIP Phone, an iPhone or other smartphone, or a tablet. Unity Connection also offers sophisticated voice-recognition features for hands-free management and extensive Automated Attendant features such as intelligent routing for incoming phone calls and custom call-screening and message-notification settings. The Cisco Unity Connection system operates as a virtual machine that can reside on a BE6000 server or a Cisco Services Ready Engine 910 router blade and can support as many as 20,000 mailboxes per server.

Cisco Unity Express (CUE), available in select Cisco ISR routers, offers cost-effective voicemail, unified messaging, IVR, and automated-attendant functions for small to mid-size businesses (SMBs) and enterprise branch locations with up to 500 voice mailboxes. Unity Express allows users to access and manage voicemail messages via a Cisco IP Phone screen, your web browser, or an email client. Integrated Services Routers for which Cisco Unity Express is offered as a network module or advanced integration module include Cisco's 1861, 2900, and 3900 Series. Progent can provide certified deployment and troubleshooting services for all ISR routers.

Cisco Unified Contact Center
Unified Contact Center Enterprise (Unified CCE or UCCE) integrates with Cisco CUCM and agent desktop software like Finesse to offer automatic call distribution (ACD) capabilities that allow an organization to match customers with the right sales or service agent. UCCE provides intelligent call distribution, computer telephony integration (CTI), multichannel customer contact management, network-wide call queuing, interactive voice response (IVR) and advanced enterprise-wide reporting to streamline the deployment and administration of a large-scale customer contact center. Cisco platforms incorporated in Unified CCE's client contact management ecosystem include Cisco Unified IP Phones, Cisco Voice Gateways, and Cisco LAN/WAN technology.

Unified Contact Center Express (Unified CCX) offers an out-of-the-box solution for creating a customer interaction management center for mid-scale deployments that support as many as 400 agents. Multiple bundles are offered, plus a selection of special options. Unified CCX works with Cisco CUCM and offers smart call distribution, contact management, integrated reporting, IVR, and management of voice, email, web chat, and social media requests. Unified CCX includes Finesse, a browser-based customizable desktop agent that requires no client software setup. Optional advanced features include call-in-queue, expected-wait-time messages, and quality management.

Cisco Mobile Connect and Single Number Reach
Mobile Connect, commonly referred to as Single Number Reach (SNR), makes it possible for users to be reached via one phone number that rings at the same time on their Cisco VoIP Phone and their smartphone. Users can switch active calls between their desktop IP phone and their cell phone without disruption. Unanswered calls can be redirected to a Unity or Unity Connection voicemail account. Users can create personal access lists that determine which calls get extended to alternate endpoints.

Prime Collaboration
Prime Collaboration provides an automated platform for initial installs and for follow-on moves, additions, changes, and deletions. A user-friendly console delivers a single look at a user and the user's services. Prime Collaboration Provisioning substantially speeds up site installations and minimizes the effort required to implement ongoing updates. Prime Collaboration in addition offers management analytics including application adoption and usage rates, allowing administrators to make more efficient use of resources and further reduce total cost of ownership.

Cisco Communications Gateways
Cisco's communications gateways allow Cisco Unified Communications environments to communicate with public networks and with clients operating outside the corporate firewall. Cisco's line of communication gateways deliver unified communications services for all types of gateway as well as session-border-control deployments.

Collaboration gateways available from Cisco and supported by Progent's certified consultants include:

Expressway Collaboration Gateway
Cisco's Expressway is a powerful converged media gateway that allows organizations to allow employees, vendors, customers, or business partners who are using various outside network environments, workgroup platforms, or endpoint equipment to access to Cisco Unified Communication services. Cisco's Expressway integrates with an enterprise Cisco Communications Manager system or Cisco Business Edition 6000 (BE6000), or can be accessed via the cloud with Cisco HCS to help make collaboration more pervasive. Important capabilities of Expressway are include:

• Mobile and Off-site Access: Off-site users with any Jabber-supported desktop or handheld computer or telecommuters with Cisco TelePresence endpoints have the convenience of one-time sign-on as well as TLS security and can access all their collaboration workloads (video, business-quality voice, data instant messaging, and presence) without requiring the inconvenience a VPN connection. In addition, telecommuters have the ability to use their Cisco TelePresence endpoints without a VPN, delivering a user experience at home that is the same as the corporate office.
• Cisco Jabber Guest Support: Cisco Expressway is integral for supporting the Cisco Jabber Guest, which allows “guests” to communicate with your business simply and securely through streamlined web-browser and mobile multimedia phone calls.
• Cisco Cloud Access: Expressway can act as a gateway that creates a path between on-premises Cisco or third-party systems and Cisco's WebEx cloud. By offering support for Cisco Collaboration Meeting Rooms (CMRs), Cisco Expressway deliver a world-class, extensible conferencing environment that seamlessly integrates voice, HD video, and data sharing to any client, anywhere, on any device.
• Interoperability: If your company already has third-party video technology, Expressway can help you to migrate efficiently to a Cisco solution whenever it makes business sense. Cisco Expressway provides video interoperability with standards-based H.323, H.264 Scalable Video Coding (SVC), or Session Initiation Protocol systems. Interoperability standards supported 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/AVC.

• WebEx Cloud Connected Audio for high-capacity SIP-based conferencing
• Voice and Video recording
• SIP-based Call-center and IVR applications
• Policy-led evaluation of voice calls
• B2B telepresence over SIP

Cisco's End-of-Life UC520, UC540 and UC560 VoIP Gateways
The legacy Cisco Unified Communications 500 (UC500) Series is an early VoIP communications appliance and software package for small businesses. UC500 models deliver voice, data, voicemail, auto attendant, IP video, security, and wireless functionality, run with older Cisco IP Voice phones, and support PSTN interfaces.

All of Cisco's UC500 packages include a compact switch appliance with 8 PoE ports plus additional FXS and foreign exchange office (FXO) interfaces, a firewall, and VPN support. Integrated WiFi is optional. VoIP user capacity can be increased 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 package supports 8 to 16 users and incorporate 4 foreign exchange stations and 4 FXO ports. The Cisco UC540 package allows 24 to 32 clients and has 8 foreign exchange office ports. The Cisco UC560 system supports 48 VoIP clients and 12 foreign exchange office interfaces.

Progent's seasoned VoIP experts can assist you to support your legacy UC500 VoIP gateway or design and carry out 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 Telepresence
Progent offers online or onsite access to a certified CCIE Collaboration specialist to assist you to plan, install, administer and troubleshoot unified communications environments that incorporate Cisco Unified Communication technology in an in-house, cloud-based, or hybrid environment. Progent's Cisco consultants have in-depth experience integrating Cisco Unified Communications Manager and CallManager, Voice over IP and video phones and other endpoints, UC applications such as Jabber and Unity Connection, Cisco's teleconferencing technologies, collaboration gatekeepers, utilities built into Cisco Catalyst switches and routers. Progent can also offer expertise with technologies such as Cisco SRST, CUBE, H.323 and H.264 gateways, CAC, IP voice trunks, PSTN, and Cisco's architecture for voice, video and integrated data. Progent's SIP integration consultants can in addition help you to build SIP connectivity environments that include SIP IP voice phones and media phones, SIP-based CUBE trunks, SIP conferencing and SIP management tools with Cisco Unified CM.

Progent's custom application developers can build specialized unified communications applications that will enable your company to integrate the telephony capabilities of Cisco Unified Communications Manager into your company operations for enhanced efficiency. Progent can revue your current network and Internet connectivity architecture to make sure your system is configured to support business-quality IP voice and high-definition video, help you to select and install Cisco hardware and software that make sense for your present situation and downstream expansion goals, and interface your Cisco collaborative communications products with products from other suppliers. Progent's CISSP-ISSAP certified network security consultants can assist you to develop, deploy, and test an enterprise-wide security and compliance plan for your converged communications ecosystem. In addition, Progent can assist your organization to deploy Cisco high-availability technologies such as Cisco Unified SRST to provide cost-effective call control backup in remote-branch and teleworker sites, and Progent's disaster recovery planning consultants can help you create a viable DR/BC plan to ensure the availability of your business-critical unified communications system.

Unified Communications Manager/CallManager Upgrade Services
Releases of Unified CM before 8.6 and every version of its predecessor CallManager have reached end-of-life. Therefore Cisco Engineering will cease to enhance, repair, or test this older software. Security updates for this pivotal application will stop, which in some circumstances may cause compliance or even potential liability problems.

Progent will continue to offer comprehensive support services for end-of-life editions of Cisco Unified Communications Manager and CallManager, but in case your business is still using a legacy release of this pivotal application your organization should start immediately to plan your migration. Progent's Cisco-certified consulting professionals can assist you to upgrade smoothly to the latest release of Cisco Unified CM and can often save customers up to 50% off consulting service costs versus most computer service companies because of Progent's documented process and experience in this area. By following best practices, Progent can ensure that your business gets a fast payback on your IT investment by helping you take full advantage of the new and improved feature set, lower administrative and support expense, more productive collaboration capabilities, and tighter data protection provided by the newest version of Cisco Unified CM.

Progent's upgrade services include return-on-investment analysis, project management, pilot testing, Cloud connectivity, setting up collaboration endpoints from Cisco and third-party suppliers, smartphone and tablet connectivity, security and compliance services, streamlined management, disaster recovery/business continuity planning, network infrastructure design, training, and continuing consulting services and technical support. Progent also has put together fixed-priced upgrade packages to make sure your costs are visible and affordable.

To find out additional information concerning Progent's professional help for Cisco products, choose a topic:

• Overview of Cisco Expertise
• Fast Remote Assistance from a Cisco Certified Internetwork Expert (CCIE) Network Engineer
• Cisco Firepower Firewalls: Configuration and Troubleshooting Support
• ASA 5500-X Firewalls with Firepower: Consulting and Management Support
• ASA 5500 Firewalls Engineering Help
• Cisco PIX 500 Series Firewall Management Assistance
• Cisco Routers Configuration and Troubleshooting Support
• Cisco Wireless Network Design Help
• Aironet Wireless Access Points Deployment Help
• Cisco Small Business 100, 300 and 500 Wireless Access Points Deployment Services
• Catalyst Wi-Fi 6 Wireless APs Solution Design, Deployment and Troubleshooting Services
• Cisco WiFi Controllers Consulting
• Cisco Meraki Access Points Design Services
• Cisco Unified Communications Manager (CUCM or Unified CM) and Cisco CallManager Consulting and Technical Support
• Cisco Jabber and Management Services
• Catalyst Switches Engineering Services
• Cisco Nexus Switches Configuration and Maintenance Expertise
• Cisco Meraki MS Switches Support and Troubleshooting Expertise
• Cisco VPN and Network Security Consulting Services
• SIP and CUBE Infrastructure Solutions: SIP Trunking and Cisco CUBE Integration Expertise
• Design Solutions for Cisco-powered Data Centers
• Infrastructure Design Consulting for ISPs
• Streamlined Network Management Strategies for Cisco-powered Environments