Cisco Network Consulting and Support

Exchanging live voice and video over Internet Protocol has advanced from simply being being a savvy method to save money on phone carrier bills to being a strategic tool for competitive advantage. Converged communications, at one time limited to managing Internet-based voice calls and faxing on one network platform in order to replace traditional PBX equipment, now includes rich media, mobility, chat, real-time presence, collaboration services, and much more within a centralized framework that is easy to manage, extensible, protected, fault-tolerant, economical, and intuitive.

Cisco is the market leader in supplying solutions required to support the current model of unified communications (UC). Cisco's UC solution adds to the productivity of IT networks by slashing operating expenses; combining multiple collaboration functions with popular software applications to improve user output; supporting teamwork among workers, associates, and suppliers to save effort and enhance business results; and simplifying the support of your communications ecosystem.

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

• Call Control Platforms for managing rich media calls and sessions
• VoIP and Video Phones and Softphones to optimize worker engagement
• Unified Communications Software Applications for simplified access to real-time, IM, voice and video, voice messages, desktop sharing, and conferencing
• Communications Gateways for interfacing with outside networks and telecommuters

Call Control Software - Unified Communications Manager (CallManager)
Cisco's call-processing agent is the core of the Cisco IP Communications portfolio and provides the flexibility to deploy a central call-processing model, a decentralized model, or a mix of both. In a centralized deployment, Unified Communications Manager (UC Manager or CUCM) extends corporate telephony features to packet telephony products such as VoIP handsets, media management products, VoIP gateways, and mixed media applications across the IT environment. Unified Communications Manager supports additional mixed media functions such as unified messaging, video conferencing, and collaborative customer interaction networks.

The most recent release of Unified Communications Manager, formerly branded CallManager, includes a variety of enhancements that speed up ROI by lowering management and support costs, increasing user output, facilitating teamwork, supporting the BYOD style of working, elevating data protection, and making optimal use of IT infrastructure. Top innovations include automatic dial-plan replication and batch provisioning, streamlined certificate control, extended support for single sign-on (SSO) for managers and users, device-independent call recording, on-the-road access without the need for VPN tunneling, a new self-care interface that makes it simple for users to specify their options and preferences for all of their endpoints, and support for Transport Layer Security and Secure Real-Time Transport Protocol for mobile users.

In cases where you implement a central Cisco Unified Communications Manager cluster to control call processing for users at remote locations, IT managers can help achieve continuous phone availability through Cisco SRST, a Cisco IOS Software image for Cisco routers. If a Wide Area Network link breaks, Cisco Survivable Remote Site Telephony incorporated in the router provides core UC Manager capabilities until the link is repaired. For a description of Progent's consulting support for Cisco routers, refer to consulting and troubleshooting support for Cisco Integrated Services routers.

For small businesses, branch offices, and retail environments that do not need the full functionality offered by Unified CM, Unified Communications Manager Express, formerly named CallManager Express provides a budget-friendly PBX alternative that handles the needs of locations with up to 450 workers. Because Unified Communications Manager Express Unified Communications Manager Express (Unified CCX) is embedded in the IOS Software running on a Cisco Integrated Services Router (ISR), smaller organizations can rapidly implement a converged voice/data environment.

The Cisco BE6000 is a family of turn-key solutions that provide fundamental unified communications features such as routing, gateway, high definition voice and video, messaging, chat and real-time presence, teleconferencing, and paging services, allowing any end user to collaborate on any endpoint device from anywhere. All versions are shipped preloaded with virtualization and Unified Communications applications, making deployment quick and easy and reducing operating expenses for organizations with as many as 1000 workers. All BE6000 systems are delivered preconfigured with virtualization and UC applications. Organizations can simply enable Unified Communications software applications when their requirements grow.

The entry-level Business Edition 6000S supports five preselected UC applications preloaded on one integrated 2921V router/IP gateway/virtualized E1600 M2 blade server platform and supports up to 150 workers and 300 endpoint devices. The medium-scale Business Edition 6000M includes 4 UC software application options enabled on a single virtualized Cisco C220 M4 server and supports a maximum capacity of 1000 workers, 1200 endpoint devices, and 100 contact center agents. The high-end BE6000S Supports 8 UC software application options enabled on a single virtualized Cisco UCS C220 M4 server platform and can handle up to 1000 users, 2500 endpoint devices, and 100 contact center agents.

For more information about Progent's support for Unified Communications Manager, see Cisco Unified Communications Manager (CUCM or Unified CM) and Cisco CallManager planning, configuration, migration and technical support.

Cisco IP Phones: IP Voice and IP Video Endpoints
A collaboration endpoint is a user instrument, and can be a hardware handset or a soft phone application on a desktop or handheld computer. In the IP world, every VoIP phone has an Ethernet connection. Voice over IP phones offer all of the capabilities that an ordinary phone handset provides, but Voice over IP phones can also offer additional functions such as the ability to access websites or host productivity-enhancing applications.

Unlike ordinary PBX systems, in a Cisco IP phone environment you can implement almost instantaneous moves, additions, and changes. All you do is take the VoIP handset to its new spot, plug it into an Ethernet connection, and the phone announces itself with Cisco Unified Communications Manager (formerly CallManager). All client rights and settings are programmatically re-established, eliminating the cost and hassle of dispatching technicians to rewire connections. Another helpful capability is extension mobility, which allows you to sign into any Cisco IP phone and get your own phone ID and privileges.

Cisco offers a wide range of VoIP hardware endpoints. Cisco's low-cost Small Business SPA 300 family are basic IP and Digital Enhanced Cordless Telecommunications screenless or monochrome devices offering wide-band voice, compatibility with hosted Internet Protocol phone systems or an IP private branch exchange, easy deployment and highly secure online provisioning, zero-downtime software upgrades, and browser-based set up. The value-priced SPA301 is a one-line VoIP endpoint with no display or speakerphone, a base dialer with one Ethernet port, and a wired handset without keys. The SPA302D, designed exclusively for operation with Cisco's SPA232D DECT ATA (Analog Telephone Adapter), is a multiple-line wireless DECT handset that supports 10-lines, a TFT 176 x 220 color screen, and a dial pad with a speakerphone. The SPA303 is an economical 3-line SIP-based phone with two switched Ethernet ports, a 128x64 mono display and a speaker.

Cisco's SPA500 family VoIP phones are low-cost endpoints that support both SIP and SPCP call control protocols, two Ethernet switch ports, speakerphones, PoE, and voice conferencing capability. Most models have a 128 x 64 pixel monochrome screen display, The SPA501G VoIP phone supports eight lines and has eight programmable keys but no LCD screen. The SPA502G has a single line and has no soft keys. The SPA504G IP Phone supports four lines and has four programmable buttons. The SPA508G IP Phone supports eight lines and eight soft buttons. The SPA509G supports 12 lines and has 12 programmable keys. The SPA512G IP Phone supports four lines, no programmable keys and supports 1xGb Ethernet. The SPA514G VoIP phone supports four lines, has programmable buttons, and supports Gigabit Ethernet. The high-end SPA525G2 IP Phone has a 320 x 240 pixel color display, supports five lines, and includes five programmable buttons.

Cisco's IP Phones 3900 Series and 6900 Series are specialty IP voice devices intended for infrequent-use settings such as cafeterias, elevators, and conference centers. Cisco's Unified SIP Phone 3905 features VoIP phone features a 128 x 32 mono display, a 10/100 Ethernet switch, a speakerphone, and Power over Ethernet (PoE). The bare-bones Cisco Unified IP Phone 6901 is a one-line endpoint without a display and requires a hook switch for transferring a call and joining a conference.

The 7800 Series of budget-priced IP phones are VoIP devices with backlit monochrome displays, four programmable buttons, 11 dedicated keys, an integral Ethernet switch with Class 1 Power over Ethernet (PoE), and a speakerphone. Cisco's 7800 Series support only the SIP call control protocol. All models in Cisco's 7800 line incorporate the same high-fidelity speakers and microphones as Cisco's 8800 Series IP phones to deliver a state-of-the-art audio experience. Cisco's EnergyWise power-save feature, available on the higher end 7800 models, reduces after-hours energy consumption by up to 60 percent. The Cisco IP Phone 7811 is a one-line VoIP phone designed for shared areas as well as for employees with occasional-to-light call needs. The IP 7811 comes with a 3.28-inch 384 x 106 display and a narrow-band speakerphone. Wideband audio is offered through an optional handset. Cisco's IP Phone 7821 is a two-line endpoint with a 396 x 162 screen. The IP Phone 7841 is a four-line phone with a 396 x 162 screen and is the only unit in the 7800 family that provides 1xGb Ethernet. The high-end IP Phone 7861 VoIP phone is a 16-line endpoint targeted for administrators, contact center agents, and supervisors who have significant call needs.

Cisco Unified IP Phone 7900 Series are SIP and SCCP media devices with a 320 x 240 pixel color screen, a 1xGb Ethernet switch, Class 3 PoE, 10 fixed-feature keys and a speakerphone. The Cisco Unified IP Phone 7945G is a two-line unit and the Cisco Unified IP Phone 7965G includes four lines. Both VoIP phones have a 5-inch display and four programmable keys. The Cisco Unified IP Phone 7975G unit is an eight-line media phone with a 5.6-inch touch screen and five soft buttons.

Cisco's IP Phone 8800 Series is a portfolio of SIP-based endpoints that features desktop devices, a conference IP phone, and mobile 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 soft buttons and 12 fixed-feature buttons. Cisco's IP Phone 8811 features a mono screen and supports Class 2 PoE. The Cisco IP Phone 8841 has a WVGA color screen and supports Class 2 PoE. Cisco's IP Phone 8845 features a WVGA color display, 720p HD video, a tiltable camera, Bluetooth, Cisco Intelligent Proximity for Mobile Voice, and supports Class 2 Power over Ethernet. The Cisco IP Phone 8851 features a WVGA color display and one 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. The Cisco IP Phone 8861 has a WVGA color display, Bluetooth, dual USB connections 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, dual USB connections with charging capability, and supports Cisco Intelligent Proximity for Mobile Voice, Wi-Fi, and Class 4 PoE.

Cisco's wireless IP phones are industrial-grade wireless devices designed for professionals who are mobile within campus, warehouse, retail or other environments where management wants portable phones that offer more control, security and ruggedness than is achievable with the BYOD mode of mobile communications. Cisco's 8821 and 8812-EX wireless IP phones provide on-the-move on-premises users the advantages of voice over wireless LAN (VoWLAN) technology in workplaces with 802.11a/b/g/n/ac Wi-Fi. Cisco's 8821 Wireless VoIP Phone includes a hi-res color screen, a durable case designed for shock resistance and IP67 for dust and moisture resistance, extended batteries, a full-duplex speakerphone, and a Bluetooth radio to support cordless headsets. Cisco's 8821-EX Wireless VoIP Phone adds protection against sparking for use in hazardous environments. Cisco's 8821-EX also features a shell made of yellow plastics, which makes it easier to find in an emergency. Find out about Progent's Wireless VoIP Phone integration support.

Cisco's legacy 9900 line of powerful IP phones integrate high-definition voice with hi-res color screens to provide a rich collaborative unified communications solution for knowledge professionals and executives. Both models in the 9900 line include a Standard Definition 24-bit color display, a Bluetooth 2.0 radio to work with a wide selection of headsets, and a built-in 1 GE Ethernet port. Cisco's EnergyWise power-save function is optional and can reduce off-work energy draw by as much as 90 percent. The Cisco IP Phone 9951 features a 5-inch screen and allows up to 2 IP Color Key Expansion Modules for adding scalability to programmable line and function keys. The Cisco IP Phone 9971 features a 5.6-inch display, an integrated 802.11a/b/g Wi-Fi transceiver for deployment with Voice-over-WLAN environments, and four customizable touchscreen keys to invoke Cisco UC features. The 9971 VoIP phone allows up to 3 Cisco IP Color Key Expansion Modules for adding customizable line and function keys.

Cisco Unified Communications Applications
Within Cisco's Unified Communications platform, IP phone, video, and other converged applications are isolated from the call- and voice-processing mechanism, and they may be anywhere within the system. A cohesive connectivity infrastructure offers an open environment for feature-rich business applications and provides a solid basis for future convergence-based applications. Cisco works with leading IT industry vendors to offer a wide range of IP phone and video applications and products. Cisco also supports the ability to create and manage customized internal programs.

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

Jabber
Cisco Jabber is a UC client application that supports presence, IM, voice, high-definition video, voice messaging, screen sharing, and online conferencing functions for Windows PCs, Apple Macs, iPads and Android tablets as well as iPhones, Android phones, and Blackberries. Cisco Jabber is a rebranding and integration of the Cisco Unified Personal Communicator, Cisco Mobile, and Cisco WebEx Connect, with major enhancements in the areas of HD video capabilities and screen sharing, and extending the team experience to additional platforms and devices. Cisco Jabber works in conjunction with Cisco Unified Communications Manager for call and session control, Cisco Unified Presence for IM and presence, Unity Connection for voicemail and automated attendant, and Cisco WebEx Meeting for online meetings.

Since Jabber is based on key communication protocols, it can communicate with a wide selection of non-Cisco products. As an example, XMPP enables Jabber to exchange instant messaging and presence information with other XMPP clients including as Adium for Mac OS, Sametime, and Microsoft Lync. Cisco Jabber capabilities can be accessed from Microsoft Office applications such as Microsoft Outlook and Microsoft SharePoint. This extensive platform support optimizes output by providing a consistent user environment and fully enabling the BYOD model of computing. Progent offers the expertise of Microsoft-certified Exchange consultants and SharePoint application developers who can assist you to take advantage of Jabber with Microsoft's popular collaboration platforms. Progent also can provide help with Apple iPhone integration and management as well as Google Android phone integration and management 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 handheld computer. Cisco WebEx is delivered as software as a service (SaaS) through the Cisco WebEx Cloud. This makes it easy to deploy and expand, reduces the cost of management, avoids heavy up-front investment, offers high availability and enterprise-class security, and delivers excellent throughput. Important features include support for sharing discrete content or your entire screen display with remote participants in real time, the capability to incorporate multimedia into presentations including PowerPoint and Flash videos, session recording plus playback for future reference and training, single sign-on (SSO) and integration with other Cisco collaboration products like Cisco Jabber and Cisco TelePresence, plus stringent data privacy and encrypted connections with tight policy control.

Cisco WebEx Meeting Center runs on Microsoft Windows, Mac, and Linux-powered PCs and allows mobile workers to initiate, calendarize, and take part in meetings on Google Android smartphones and tablets, Apple iPhones and iPads, BlackBerry handhelds, and Windows Phone. You can also launch online meetings instantly from Microsoft Office, Microsoft Outlook, Notes, and a selection of instant messaging solutions.

Cisco TelePresence Products for In-house Video Conferencing Ecosystems
For medium-size businesses and larger enterprises who wish to create an on-premises or hybrid in-house/cloud solution for video conferencing, Cisco provides a selection of Cisco TelePresence platforms that deliver high-quality teleconferencing for participants with almost any IP endpoint at any location. Cisco TelePresence Server is an expandable teleconferencing bridge that works in conjunction with Cisco Unified CM to provide multiparty video, audio and content sharing to UC environments and can extend meetings to include cloud-based WebEx Meeting Center participants. Cisco TelePresence Conductor software streamlines the control of how conferencing bandwidth and features should be allotted for every individual attendee, allowing managers to define the precise service level and user experience required for each user. Cisco TelePresence Content Server collects video conference presentations for live distribution as well as video on demand (VOD) viewing.

Cisco's Unity Connection and Unity Express for Converged Voicemail
The Cisco Unity Connection, an extension of Cisco Unified Communications Manager, is a unified voicemail solution that accelerates teamwork by providing flexible set of alternatives for accessing voice messages within a framework that is easy to implement and maintain. Unity Connection lets you read and manage voicemail messages from your Exchange inbox, browser, Jabber, a Cisco Unified IP Phone, a smartphone, or a tablet. Unity Connection also provides advanced voice-recognition features for hands-free operation and powerful Automated Attendant functions such as intelligent routing for inbound phone calls and easily customizable call-filtering and message-notification options. The Cisco Unity Connection system runs as a fully virtualized system that can be hosted on a BE6000 server or a Cisco SRE 910 router blade and can support up to 20,000 mailboxes on each server.

Cisco Unity Express (CUE), offered in select Cisco Integrated Services routers, offers cost-effective voicemail, integrated messaging, interactive voice response, and greeting functions for small to mid-size businesses (SMBs) and corporate satellite offices with as many as 500 voice mailboxes. Cisco Unity Express permits users to manage voicemail via a Cisco Unified IP Phone display, a browser, or your email system. Cisco routers for which Unity Express is available as an advanced integration module include Cisco's 1861, 2900, 3800, and 3900 families. Progent offers comprehensive configuration and support services for all ISR routers.

Cisco Unified Contact Center
Unified Contact Center Enterprise (UCCE) integrates with Cisco CUCM and agent desktop applications like Cisco Finesse to provide automatic call distribution (ACD) capabilities that allow an organization to connect customers with the proper sales or service agent. Unified CCE offers smart call routing, computer telephony integration (CTI), support for multichannel contact management, network-wide call queuing, interactive voice response (IVR) and consolidated company-wide reporting to simplify the creation and administration of a large-scale contact center. Cisco products incorporated in Unified CCE's customer contact management solution include Unified IP Phones, Voice, and Cisco LAN/WAN technology.

Cisco Unified Contact Center Express (CCX) provides a packaged bundle for building a customer contact center for mid-scale deployments that handle as many as 400 agents. Several bundles are available, plus a variety of optional advanced features. Cisco Unified Contact Center Express works with CUCM and offers intelligent call distribution, client management, reporting, interactive voice response, and the ability to manage voice, email, web chat, and social media inquiries. Cisco Unified CCX comes with Cisco Finesse, a browser-based desktop agent that requires no client installation. Special options include conditional routing, expected-wait-time announcements, and quality management.

Cisco Mobile Connect for Single Number Reach (SNR)
Mobile Connect, commonly referred to as Single Number Reach (SNR), allows users to be called from one phone number that rings simultaneously on their desktop IP Phone and their cell phone. Users can transfer live conversations between their Cisco IP phone and their cell phone without disruption. Unanswered calls can be transferred to a Cisco Unity or Unity Connection account. Users can create their own access lists that determine which calls are directed to alternate endpoints.

Cisco Prime Collaboration Provisioning
Prime Collaboration Provisioning provides an automated process for initial deployments and for “day 2” moves, adds, changes, and deletions. A user-friendly console provides a single view of a user and the subscriber's services. Prime Collaboration Provisioning significantly accelerates company-wide rollouts and minimizes the effort needed to implement ongoing updates. Prime Collaboration in addition offers advanced analytics including application adoption and usage rates, enabling administrators to make more efficient use of IT resources and further lower total cost of ownership.

Cisco Communications Gateways
Cisco's collaboration gateways allow Cisco converged communications deployments to connect with public systems and with users working beyond the firewall. Cisco's line of gateways provide unified communications services for all types of gateway and session-border-control applications.

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

Expressway Communication Gateway
Cisco's Expressway is an advanced converged media gatekeeper that allows companies to allow workers, suppliers, customers and prospects, or partners who are working on various outside networks, workgroup platforms, or endpoint devices to access to Unified Communication features. The Expressway gateway integrates with a Cisco Communications Manager deployment or Cisco Business Edition, or can be run through the cloud with Cisco Hosted Collaboration Solution (HCS) to help make productive collaboration more pervasive. Key capabilities of Cisco Expressway are:

• Mobile and Off-site Connectivity: Off-site workers with any Jabber-compatible device or telecommuters with Cisco TelePresence endpoints get the convenience of one-time sign-on as well as Transport Layer Security (TLS) and can connect to all their collaboration applications (high-definition video, high-quality voice, rich content IM, and realtime presence) without the inconvenience starting a VPN. In addition, telecommuters can use their Cisco TelePresence endpoints without a VPN, delivering a user environment at home that is identical to the office.
• Jabber Guest Support: Cisco Expressway is integral for enabling Cisco's Jabber Guest, which makes it possible for “guests” to communicate with your business easily and securely via lightweight browser and mobile multimedia calls.
• Cisco Cloud Access: Expressway can act as a gateway that creates a path between on-premises Cisco or third-party collaboration solutions and the WebEx cloud. By offering support for Cisco Collaboration Meeting Rooms (CMRs), Expressway offers an advanced, extensible meeting experience that transparently integrates business-quality voice, HD video, and content sharing to anyone, at any location, on any device.
• Interoperability: In case your organization currently has third-party video technology, Cisco Expressway can assist you to migrate easily to Cisco technology whenever it makes business sense. Cisco Expressway offers video compatibility with industry standard H.323, H.264 Scalable Video Coding (SVC), or SIP environments. Interoperability standards 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.

• Cisco WebEx Cloud Connected Audio (CCA) for SIP-media-connected audio conferencing
• Voice/Video recording
• SIP-based Call-center and interactive-voice-response solutions
• Policy-based security evaluation of phone calls
• Business-to-business teleconferencing over SIP

Cisco's End-of-Life UC520, UC540 and UC560 VoIP Phone Systems
The legacy Cisco Unified Communications 500 Series is an all-in-one VoIP gateway solution for small organizations. UC500 packages deliver voice, data, voicemail, automated attendant, video, firewall, and wireless functionality, run with older Cisco IP Voice phones, and support public switched telephone network (PSTN) connections.

All of Cisco's UC500 series bundles include a desktop switch with 8 PoE ports plus additional foreign exchange stations (FXS) and foreign exchange office (FXO) ports, a firewall, and VPN. Integrated WiFi is an option. User capacity can be increased by attaching Cisco Catalyst Express switches. Every UC500 model also includes licenses for Cisco Unified Communications Manager for VoIP call processing as well as Cisco Unity Express for voice messaging and automated attendant. The Cisco UC520 package supports 8 to 16 VoIP users and incorporate 4 foreign exchange stations and 4 FXO ports. The Cisco UC540 system allows 32 clients and has 8 foreign exchange office ports. The Cisco UC560 package allows 48 VoIP clients and 12 foreign exchange office ports.

Progent's Cisco-certified VoIP consultants can help you to support your legacy UC500 VoIP gateway or design and implement an efficient upgrade to a current IP telephony and voicemail solution like the Cisco Business Edition 4000.

How Progent Can Assist You with Cisco IP Voice and IP Media Phones, Cisco Unified CM, and Telepresence
Progent can provide remote or onsite help from a certified CCIE Collaboration specialist to assist your business to design, install, manage and troubleshoot converged communications networks that incorporate Cisco Unified Communication products in a centralized, distributed, or hybrid deployment. Progent's Cisco consultants have extensive backgrounds supporting Unified Communications Manager and CallManager, VoIP phones and soft phones, UC applications like Cisco Jabber and WebEx Meeting Center, Cisco's immersive telepresence technologies, communication gatekeepers, tools built into Cisco switches and routers. Progent can also provide expertise with related technologies like Cisco SRST, Cisco Unified Border Element, H.323 and H.264 gateways, Call Admission Control, IP voice trunks, various signaling protocols, and AVVID. Progent's SIP integration experts can in addition assist you to create SIP infrastructure environments that incorporate SIP-based IP voice phones and media phones, SIP trunks, and SIP management tools via CUCM.

Progent's custom application developers can build specialized IP telephony software that will help your organization to integrate the capabilities of Cisco Unified Communications Manager into your company operations for increased productivity. Progent can analyze your current network and Internet connectivity architecture to determine whether your system is configured to support business-quality VoIP and high-definition video, assist you to select and install Cisco products appropriate for your current needs and downstream growth goals, and integrate your Cisco collaborative communications solution with products from other vendors. Progent's CISSP-ISSAP certified network security consultants can show you how to develop, implement, and test a comprehensive security and compliance strategy for your unified communications solution. Also, Progent can assist you to configure Cisco high-availability technologies such as Cisco Unified SRST for affordable call control redundancy in branch office and telecommuter environments, and Progent's disaster recovery and business continuity preparedness experts can help you develop a viable disaster recovery strategy to protect your crucial communications environment.

Unified Communications Manager/CallManager Migration Services
Versions of Cisco Unified Communications Manager 8.6 earlier than 8.6 and every version of its predecessor CallManager have arrived at end-of-life. Therefore Cisco will cease to enhance, fix, or test this older software. Security updates for this pivotal application will stop, which in certain circumstances could create compliance or potential liability problems.

Progent will continue to provide premier consulting and support for outdated releases of Cisco Unified Communications Manager and CallManager, but in case your company is now running an out-of-dated version of this critical software you should begin now to prepare for your upgrade. Progent's collaboration consulting professionals can assist you to migrate efficiently to the latest release of Unified CM and can typically save clients as much as 50% off consulting costs compared to competing IT service firms because of Progent's documented process and hands-on experience in this practice area. By adhering to best practices, Progent can ensure that your organization realizes a fast payback on your IT investment by showing you how to take full advantage of the new and improved feature set, lower management and support costs, more productive collaboration capabilities, and tighter security offered by the latest release of Cisco Unified CM.

Progent's upgrade services include ROI analysis, project management, pilot testing, Cloud integration, setting up endpoint devices from Cisco and third-party providers, smartphone and tablet connectivity, security and compliance services, management automation, business continuity planning, network infrastructure design, training for IT staff and end users, and ongoing consulting services and technical support. Progent also offers fixed-priced migration packages to make sure your costs are visible and affordable.

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

• Introduction to Cisco Engineering Services
• Timely Remote Access to a CCIE Consultant
• Cisco Firepower NGFW Series Firewalls: Integration and Troubleshooting Services
• ASA 5500-X Series Firewall with Firepower Services: Configuration and Troubleshooting Expertise
• ASA 5500 Firewalls Integration Expertise
• Cisco PIX Firewall Troubleshooting Support
• Cisco Routers Configuration and Troubleshooting Expertise
• Cisco Wireless Consulting Help
• Aironet Access Points Deployment Support
• Cisco Small Business 100, 300 and 500 WiFi APs Deployment Support
• Cisco Catalyst 802.11ax Wi-Fi 6/6E APs Solution Design, Deployment and Troubleshooting Consulting
• Cisco Wireless Controllers Experts
• Meraki APs Engineering Support
• Cisco Unified Communications Manager (CUCM or Unified CM) and Cisco CallManager Consulting and Technical Support
• Cisco Jabber Configuration and Troubleshooting Expertise
• Cisco Catalyst Switches Deployment Services
• Cisco Nexus Switches Support and Troubleshooting Expertise
• Cisco Meraki Switches Support and Troubleshooting Expertise
• Cisco VPN and Network Security Engineering Expertise
• SIP and CUBE Infrastructure Solutions: SIP Trunks and CUBE Integration Consulting
• Design and Support for Cisco-powered Data Centers
• Data Center Design Expertise for ISPs
• Centralized Network Management Technologies for Cisco-powered Infrastructure