Expanding your at-home workforce may have a major impact on IT architecture, cybersecurity, and company culture. Progent has 20 years of background helping SMBs to design, deploy, manage, optimize, and troubleshoot IT networks that support a remote workforce. Progent can assist your London organization to select the appropriate technologies and follow leading practices in creating and maintaining a safe virtual office ecosystem for telecommuters that promotes teamwork and delivers top business value. Progent offers support services ranging from as-needed guidance for getting you over challenging technical bottlenecks to full project management to help you successfully complete mission-critical tasks.

Progent can help London, United Kingdom businesses to with any facet of creating a high-performing telecommuting ecosystem by delivering network infrastructure design and configuration services, IP voice expertise, voice/video conferencing support, collaboration platform customization and training, cloud connectivity, Call Desk augmentation, endpoint security, backup/restore solutions, and centralized management.

Network Infrastructure for a Remote Workforce
Integrating the physical and software infrastructure needed to support a remote workforce can be particularly challenging if you have to manage a combination of personal equipment like desktop computers and laptops, Internet routers, and wireless APs from an assortment of manufacturers and with a mix of operating systems and firmware releases. Progent's background delivering remote help for both outdated as well as modern technologies in remote office venues allows you to make cost-effective use of your existing network infrastructure and provides you with ready access to top-tire consultants for making necessary updates. Support services offered by Progent to help your company to implement a high-functioning telecommuting infrastructure include:

  • VPN technology allows you to establish a secure tunnel for authorized remote workers to use IT assets located at your corporate datacenter or in a public cloud. Progent can help your company to deploy and maintain VPN access between your teleworkers and your various network resources by providing online VPN integration consulting. For businesses using Cisco's ASA firewalls, Progent's Cisco-certified ASA Firewall consultants can assist your at-home workers to utilize Cisco's AnyConnect software for secure VPN tunneling for a wide range of devices including Windows, macOS, Apple iOS, Linux, and Google Android.
  • Virtual Desktop Infrastructure platforms enable a teleworker to see and use a data center PC's desktop. This technology gives network managers significant control over the computing environment of telecommuters and ensures remote users a consistent and more productive experience. Progent's VDI consulting services include Windows Remote Desktop support and Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops VDI solutions.
  • Routers connect at-home networks to the Internet and support VPN tunnels, home Wi-Fi connectivity, and firewall services. Progent can provide expert remote consulting for deploying routers from a variety of vendors. See router configuration support from Cisco-certified consultants.
  • Home Wi-Fi networks, typically supporting families and visitors, are commonly utilized by at-home employees to access their router for work. This can create throughput as well as security issues. Progent can help businesses to mitigate these issues by delivering expertise that include Cisco Aironet integration expertise, Cisco-certified Meraki wireless deployment consulting, and Ubiquiti WiFi AP integration help.
  • Internet access methods affect the performance and reliability of connections between telecommuters and the corporate data center. Business-critical processes might require backup Internet access in case the normal connection fails. Progent offers guidance for identifying service providers, selecting sensible bandwidth and data volume offerings, and integrating fault-tolerant Internet access. Refer to Internet connectivity solutions.

VoIP Solutions for Teleworkers
Extending the business PBX system to include telecommuters is vital to supporting a productive at-home workforce. A variety of cloud-centric digital PBX products are used by small and mid-size businesses to support telecommuters. Many larger organizations depend on Cisco's modern or older products for VoIP management. Progent can assist organizations of all sizes to design or maintain a telecommuter VoIP environment that provides the flexibility, transparency and protection required for teleworkers. Progent's Cisco-certified CCIE Voice consultants offer advanced support to assist businesses optimize their current Cisco VoIP environments to handle a growing at-home workforce.

  • Cisco Unified Communications Manager (CUCM) delivers advanced telephony capabilities to devices such as VoIP phones, media processing products, Voice over IP gateways, and mixed media applications deployed throughout the network. CUCM manages additional mixed media services such as unified messaging, video conferencing, and team interaction networks. For details about Progent's Unified Communications Manager support, refer to CUCM consultants.
  • Cisco CallManager is Cisco's legacy call-processing software and has been replaced by CUCM. Progent can assist you to maintain your current CallManager deployment or upgrade smoothly to Cisco's modern IP telephony products. To learn about Progent's support services for Cisco CallManager and Cisco's other early IP voice products, visit CallManager consulting.
  • Cisco IP Gateways provide integration with public telephony networks and with clients working beyond the corporate perimeter such as telecommuters. Progent offers expert support for Cisco's legacy IP gateways like the UC520, UC540 and UC560 series as well as for current Cisco SIP gateways. See Cisco Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) gateway configuration expertise.
  • Additional VoIP Platforms supported by Progent include Vonage, RingCentral and 8x8. Progent can assist you to enhance your WAN infrastructure to work with these solutions and provide online configuration and troubleshooting expertise.

Voice/Video Conferencing for an At-Home Workforce
A wide selection of voice/video conferencing platforms from major vendors support virtual discussions, video conferencing, chat sessions, and screen/content sharing for both local workers and telecommuters. Many organizations utilize multiple conferencing products to meet the needs of their various partners and customers. Progent's communications experts can assist you to manage your existing conferencing ecosystem and optimize the experience of your at-home employees.

  • Skype for Business is Microsoft's popular communications product that enables presence, instant messaging, audio and video conferencing plus the seamless integration of these functions within Office desktop and Microsoft 365 productivity software including PowerPoint, Word, Excel and Outlook. Progent offers the skills of Microsoft-certified specialists who can assist you to deploy and manage Skype for Business client software to accommodate your at-home employees. To learn more about Progent's support expertise for Skype for Business, refer to Skype for Business consulting services.
  • FaceTime is Apple's group video phone platform for iOS and Mac devices. FaceTime works on Wi-Fi or cellular Internet connections. Current editions of FaceTime support as many as 32 simultaneous users for video calls. For details about Progent's consulting expertise for FaceTime, visit Progent's FaceTime configuration expertise.
  • Webex Meeting Center supports remote conferencing for most desktop or mobile devices. Delivered through Cisco's Webex Cloud platform, Webex services include sharing discrete content or computer screens, presentations that embed rich media such as Microsoft PowerPoint, network-based recording, plus revision and playback for future reference and training. For details about Progent's support expertise for Cisco Webex and for other video conferencing products from Cisco, visit Progent's Webex Meeting Center support services.
  • Teams is Microsoft's follow-up for Skype for Business. Teams provides a hub for conferencing, contacts, and content with capabilities such as IP voice and video conferencing, threaded chat, plus data sharing. For details about Progent's support expertise for Teams and for additional Microsoft 365 products, refer to Progent's Microsoft Teams consulting services.
  • Additional Conferencing Platforms supported by Progent's conferencing experts include Google Meet, Amazon Chime, Zoom, and Slack. Progent can deliver integration and debugging services for these products and help your business to optimize your WAN architecture to host them.

Microsoft Collaboration Platforms for an At-Home Workforce
Microsoft's collaboration products are tightly integrated with Microsoft's familiar Microsoft Office and Microsoft 365 families, providing a rich environment of applications that create a consistent user interface for exchanging information across a corporate network and on a broad selection of endpoint computers. Progent has delivered remote consulting services for Microsoft SharePoint and Exchange Server since their original publication and can help businesses to deploy these critical collaboration platforms to optimize the effectiveness of your at-home workforce.

SharePoint Configuration Consultants for Remote WorkersSharePoint utilizes web entities to promote collaboration and information sharing by providing policy-driven access to data, business processes, and tools for searching through enterprise-wide business data. SharePoint allows you to create protected portals that allows remote workers to see and update consolidated corporate intelligence via Intranets (Wikis), Blogs, social networking web sites, and Web Parts (Widgets). For information about Progent's SharePoint expertise, visit SharePoint integration and development consulting.

Exchange Configuration Consultants for At-Home WorkersExchange and Exchange Online offer secure collaboration features including public folders, shared mailboxes, and shared calendars and contacts. Progent's Microsoft certified Exchange experts can show you how to activate and utilize these features for your at-home workers. For details about Progent's Exchange consulting services, go to deployment consulting for Exchange.

Onedrive Deployment Consultants for At-Home WorkersOneDrive is Microsoft's shared cloud-based file hosting and synchronization service, similar to GoogleDrive. At-home workers can store files to the OneDrive service, and co-workers can access them safely via a web browser. Provided with Office and Microsoft 365, OneDrive allows remote workers to co-edit documents. Edits made offline are synced when you go back online. For details about Progent's expertise for Microsoft OneDrive, refer to Microsoft Onedrive integration experts.

Public Cloud Integration for At-Home Workers
Progent can provide advanced remote support for helping businesses to create, maintain and optimize integrated network models that include internal data centers, telecommuters, branch offices, and cloud resources. Progent offers expertise for all types of public cloud service including Infrastructure as a Service, Platform as a Service, and Software as a Service (SaaS). Progent can help teleworkers resolve issues with cloud access, identity, and cybersecurity.

Microsoft Azure Integration for TeleworkersAzure is a popular family of public cloud services that allows you to utilize IT infrastructure, servers, and critical apps hosted on Microsoft's extensive cloud. Microsoft Azure includes more than one hundred services services including hosting for Windows and Linux-based VMs, on-demand cloud storage, messaging, app development with Visual Studio, and data protection. Progent can help you to deploy virtual machines on Azure Virtual Machines, integrate cloud-based storage on Azure Storage services, streamline identity control with Azure Active Directory, and plan backup and restore systems with Azure Backup. Progent can also show you how to create secure access to Azure services for at-home workers by setting up and troubleshooting firewall appliances and VPN tunnels. For details about Progent's support services for Azure, refer to Azure consulting services.

Microsoft 365 Integration for TelecommutersMicrosoft 365, formerly branded Office 365, is Microsoft's popular family of business productivity applications and cloud-based services offered by subscription. Office apps and cloud services are marketed in a selection of plans intended for users ranging from students and households to large enterprises. Progent offers quick and affordable online contact with experts knowledgeable about Microsoft 365-compatible clients running Windows, Mac, iOS, and Google Android operating systems. Progent's experts can help you to assess the various subscription plans offered with Microsoft 365 and configure 365 apps for your telecommuters in a way that delivers maximum business value. For information about Progent's consulting services for Microsoft 365, visit Microsoft 365 integration expertise.

Exchange Online Integration Services for Remote WorkersMicrosoft 365 Exchange Online is among the most widely used cloud-based applications in the Microsoft 365 product suite. Microsoft 365 Exchange Online offers the benefits of reduced spending for data center infrastructure, easier management, on-demand scaling, high availability, and other benefits associated with cloud computing. Microsoft has engineered Exchange Online to run transparently with on-premises deployments of Exchange, allowing you to build hybrid cloud/onsite information systems. Progent's Exchange consultants are available for occasional assistance to guide you through tough technical bottlenecks and can also provide end-to-end project management services to ensure your telecommuters have convenient and safe access to your Microsoft 365 Exchange Online deployment. For details Progent's consulting services for Exchange Online, see Exchange Online configuration and support expertise.

Amazon AWS Integration Services for TeleworkersAmazon AWS is a pioneer in the public cloud computing market and is the industry's leading provider of cloud-based services. Progent can provide fast and affordable online contact with cloud integration experts who can assist your organization to plan, deploy, maintain, and troubleshoot hybrid information networks that integrate Amazon AWS cloud-based services with local resources and with other public clouds like Azure. Progent also can provide the skills of Cisco-certified CCIE networking consultants to assist your company to create a high-uptime network model to make sure your employees have a consistent computing experience whether they are working from your headquarters, a branch office, from home, or on the road. For details about Progent's support services for Amazon AWS, visit Amazon AWS integration services.

Google Cloud Integration Services for TelecommutersGoogle Cloud (GCP) is a leading set of public cloud services that offers Infrastructure-as-a-Service and Platform-as-a-Service (PaaS) products. Progent's certified Microsoft, Linux, and Cisco consulting experts can assist you to expand your current IT assets with the Google Cloud Platform, and Progent's DBA experts can help you make your critical apps cloud ready so your teleworkers can benefit fully from Google Cloud Platform services. Progent's consultants can help your organization to set up virtual machines on Google Cloud Compute Engine, plan a cost-effective storage solution with Google Cloud Storage, and simplify access control for at-home workers with Google Cloud Identity services. Progent's consultants can also help your business to use GCP's management tools to control and track your Google Cloud ecosystem. For information, see Google Cloud Platform integration expertise.

Help Desk Support for Teleworkers
A fast, organization-wide switchover to a telecommuter business model, which might be motivated by an epidemic or as a component of a disaster recovery plan, can overwhelm even a high-performing in-house Call Desk. Progent's Call Center services allow organizations of any size to outsource or supplement their Call Desk with Progent's online Technical Response Center (TRC) services.

  • Progent's Standard Call Desk support services leverage Progent's nationwide network of online technical support specialists along with enterprise-class ticketing and tracking technology to provide an economical, modern Call Center. Progent's Standard Help Desk Services offer a comprehensive solution that handles all facets of remote Level 1 PC support from service requests through trouble ticket generation, desktop sharing, problem resolution, and reporting. A browser-based User's Service Portal enables at-home employees to monitor or update the status of their active tickets, enter details, and upload screenshots or relevant files. Technical support services are delivered at a significant discount off Progent's normal Level 1 technical service rates, and Progent makes available optional rapid hand-off to Level 2 and Level 3 IT specialists to deal with advanced issues. For details, go to Progent's Standard Helpdesk Services for small businesses.
  • Progent's Help Desk Call Center Augmentation Service allows your company to supplement your current Help Desk staff by splitting responsibilities for Help Desk support services transparently between your regular IT support staff and Progent's nationwide pool of PC support engineers and subject matter specialists. Progent's co-managed Help Desk Call Center service uses a co-sourcing support solution utilizing the number one professional services automation (PSA) platform for managing help requests and trouble tickets, establishing responsibility, monitoring progress, and generating management reports. For details about how Progent's Call Desk Augmentation Services can enable your company to deliver world-class desktop support to your at-home workforce, refer to Progent's Help Desk Call Center supplementation Services.

Security for At-Home Workers
Work-from-Home (WFH) workers commonly utilize their personal computers and often operate in a poorly secured physical space. This multiplies their susceptibility to cyber threats and calls for judicious deployment of firewalls, anti-malware tools, multi-factor authentication, remote monitoring, thorough user training, and the development of policies built on best practices. Progent's seasoned group of IT security solutions experts can assist you to plan, deploy and manage a compliant cybersecurity solution that guards vital IT resources in networks that include remote workers.

Firewall Integration Services for At-Home WorkersFirewalls allow you to build a network that can be safely utilized by on-premises users as well as by at-home workers, mobile workers, suppliers, clients, and the public. Next-generation firewall appliances allow you to assign and manage different permissions to different classes of users and to expand your IT network and adjust your security profile as your business evolves and as network attacks grow more sophisticated. Progent supports both current and legacy security appliances from all leading vendors like Cisco, Palo Alto Networks, WatchGuard, Juniper, SonicWall and Fortinet. For more information about Progent's firewall support expertise, visit firewall support expertise.

Remote Endpoint Monitoring for At-Home WorkersRemote Endpoint Security Monitoring makes it possible to track the various devices used by at-home workers and either reject or identify and mitigate modern cyber attacks such as ransomware. With ProSight Active Security Monitoring (ASM) services, a lightweight agent is put on every protected endpoint device, monitoring all activity and utilizing state-of-the-art machine learning from SentinelOne to detect new threats before they can spread. When a cyberattack is discovered, ProSight ASM immediately disconnects the infected device from the corporate network to contain the threat. Because the ProSight Active Security Monitoring software agent is autonomous, endpoint devices stay secure even when they are offline. Progent is a SentinelOne Partner, dealer, and integrator. For details about ProSight Active Security Monitoring, visit remote endpoint monitoring for telecommuters.

Two-factor Authentication Services for Remote WorkersProgent's Duo authentication service plans incorporate Cisco's Duo cloud technology to defend against stolen passwords by using two-factor authentication. Duo supports single-tap identity verification with iOS, Android, and other out-of-band devices. With Duo 2FA, when you sign into a secured application and enter your password you are requested to verify your identity on a device that only you have and that uses a separate network channel. A broad range of devices can be utilized as this added form of authentication including a smartphone or wearable, a hardware/software token, a landline telephone, etc. You can designate several validation devices. To find out more about Duo identity authentication services, refer to Duo MFA two-factor authentication (2FA) services for telecommuters.

Security Audit Services for At-Home WorkersSecurity Audits can evaluate the exposure of your information system to all types of outside and internal security threats for an environment that includes at-home workers. Progent can run online, automated security inventory scanning for rapidly and economically detecting a wide variety of security weaknesses that can be surfaced via the Internet. Progent's security audit consulting services, which can be provided by security professionals with top credentials such as CISM, ISSAP, and GIAC, can assist your company to audit your workflows and policies and review your WAN infrastructure to allow you to implement the highest level of protection for your an at-home workforce.

Download White Paper: Securing a Work-From-Home (WFH) Environment
To view or download a white paper describing critical things to concentrate on for protecting a network that includes telecommuters, click:
Securing a Work-From-Home Network White Paper. (PDF - 2.4 MB)

Data Protection Solutions for Remote Workers
Data Protection involves backing up and recovering critical information so as to avoid data loss and reduce restoration time and effort in the event of storage system problems due to equipment breakdowns, programming glitches, user mistakes, malware, or other causes. Dependable data protection strategies can be particularly challenging to design and maintain in hybrid environments that incorporate private data centers, public clouds, and an at-home workforce.

  • Backup/Restore strategies for telecommuters must cover multiple types of personally owned endpoints. Progent offers fast online help from experts familiar with a wide range of products for protection Windows, Apple Mac and Linux/UNIX powered servers and desktops as well as laptops, iOS and Android tablets and handhelds. Leading backup/recovery solutions maintained by Progent's data protection consultants include Barracuda Backup, Azure Backup, DoubleTake Software, Acronis Backup and Recovery, Retrospect, and Time Machine. To back up data distributed throughout a hybrid network, Progent can provide ProSight Data Protection Services, a managed backup/recovery service that uses cloud storage and includes fine-grained recovery and unified management.
  • Disaster Recovery/Business Continuity (DR/BC) strategies often anticipate circumstances that call for a quick changeover to a work-at-home environment. Progent's expert disaster recovery preparedness consultants and business continuity planning specialists can assist your company to develop, document and test a DR/BC plan that addresses the process of switching to an at-home workforce.

Unified Management for an At-Home Workforce
Microsoft has renamed and rebundled its endpoint management platforms under the name Microsoft Endpoint Manager, which encompasses Intune for cloud management of mobile and remote devices and Configuration Manager for managing local endpoints. Endpoint Manager provides a unified environment for protecting critical information by managing local, mobile, and at-home endpoints.

Intune
Intune is part of Microsoft's Endpoint Management family that also includes Configuration Manager. Intune is a cloud-based service for managing and protecting off-premises devices and software. Remote endpoint devices can be personally owned or business owned. Network admins managing the enrolled endpoint computers of telecommuters can use Intune to deploy and authenticate applications on devices, push updates and certificates, set up rules for accessing information and resources, manage passwords, establish VPN connections, determine how telecommuters share information, set up threat defense, ensure security compliance, and delete sensitive data from lost, stolen or decommissioned devices. Intune can be used with Apple iOS, Google Android, Windows, and macOS/OS X endpoints. To learn about Intune and to find out how Progent can help your company to use Microsoft's Endpoint Management to administer the endpoint computers of your at-home workforce, refer to Intune telecommuter endpoint management experts.

VMware Workspace ONE
VMware Workspace ONE is a feature-rich centralized Mobile Device Management (MDM) platform that allows network administrators to keep remote endpoints up to date and protected. Workspace ONE uses VMware AirWatch for centralized endpoint management along with VMware's Horizon virtual software delivery platform for access control, app management, and configuration management of endpoint computers. Workspace ONE runs with endpoints powered by Windows 10, macOS, iOS, Android, Chrome OS, or popular distributions of Linux. VMware Workspace ONE is offered by subscription as a cloud service or as an on-premises deployment through a one-time purchase. Top features of VMware Workspace ONE include fast remote deployment of out-of-the-box laptops, quick onboarding of new employees, policy setting and enforcement for all categories of endpoints, aggregated management reporting and analytics, an email encryption gateway, and integration with Microsoft apps and cloud products. For details about Progent's support for VMware Workspace ONE, see VMware Workspace ONE mobile device management expertise.

Contact Progent for Remote Workforce Expertise
To contact Progent about creating and managing an efficient work-from-home solution for your London, United Kingdom business, phone 1-800-993-9400 or refer to Contact Progent.