Enlarging your remote workforce may have a major effect on IT architecture, cybersecurity, and corporate workflows. Progent has two decades of experience assisting small and mid-size businesses to design, deploy, administer, tune, and troubleshoot IT environments that support at-home workers. Progent can help your Montreal organization to pick the appropriate technologies and adhere to best practices in building and maintaining a safe virtual ecosystem for telecommuters that facilitates teamwork and delivers maximum value. Progent can provide support services that go from on demand guidance for getting you past occasional technical bottlenecks to full project management to help you carry out mission-critical initiatives.

Progent can help Montreal, Quebec organizations to succeed with any facet of creating a high-performing telecommuting ecosystem by providing network infrastructure configuration services, IP voice troubleshooting, voice/video conferencing support, collaboration platform customization and training, cloud connectivity, helpdesk augmentation, data security, backup/restore solutions, and streamlined management.

Network Infrastructure for a Remote Workforce
Configuring the physical and software infrastructure required for an at-home work environment can be especially challenging if you must accommodate a combination of personal equipment such as PCs and laptops, routers, and Wi-Fi APs from an assortment of manufacturers and with a variety of operating systems and firmware levels. Progent's background providing remote support for both legacy as well as modern technologies in remote office solutions enables you to make efficient use of your available network infrastructure and provides you with fast access to top-tire consultants for implement essential upgrades. Support services available from Progent to help your company to implement a productive work-at-home ecosystem include:

  • VPN technology allows you to establish a safe tunnel for authenticated remote workers to use IT resources located at your corporate datacenter or in the cloud. Progent's consultants can assist your company to deploy and maintain VPN access between your at-home workforce and your various network resources by providing remote VPN configuration support. For businesses with Cisco's ASA firewalls, Progent's Cisco ASA experts can assist your telecommuters to set up Cisco's popular AnyConnect client software for secure VPN tunneling for a wide selection of endpoint devices including Microsoft Windows, macOS, iOS, Linux, and Google Android.
  • Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI) products enable a telecommuter to view and use a remote computer's desktop. This technology gives network managers substantial control over the digital ecosystem of at-home employees and ensures them a familiar experience. Progent's VDI services include Windows Remote Desktop support and Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops VDI expertise.
  • Routers connect at-home networks to the Internet and support VPN tunnels, local Wi-Fi connectivity, and firewall services. Progent offers expert online consulting for integrating routers from a range of manufacturers. See router integration support from Cisco-certified consultants.
  • Home Wi-Fi networks, typically supporting families and guests, are commonly utilized by telecommuters to access their router for work. This can create performance and cybersecurity issues. Progent can help businesses to mitigate these issues by delivering expertise like Cisco Aironet configuration expertise, Cisco-certified Meraki wireless deployment expertise, and Ubiquiti WiFi AP integration assistance.
  • Internet access solutions impact the speed and reliability of connections between at-home workers and the company data center. Business-critical applications may require backup Internet connections in case the normal connection breaks. Progent can provide expertise for identifying Internet service providers, choosing sensible service offerings, and configuring high-availability Internet access. Refer to Internet connectivity solutions.

VoIP Solutions for Teleworkers
Extending the corporate PBX system to include remote users is critical to supporting a productive work-at-home solution. A broad range of cloud-centric VoIP platforms are used by SMBs to support remote users. Many larger organizations rely on Cisco's current or legacy platforms for VoIP management. Progent can assist organizations of all sizes to plan or tune a telecommuter VoIP service that provides the versatility, transparency and protection needed for telecommuters. Progent's Cisco-certified CCIE IP Voice consultants can provide advanced support to assist organizations tune their current Cisco VoIP systems to handle an expanding at-home workforce.

  • Cisco Unified Communications Manager (Cisco Unified CM or CUCM) delivers enterprise IP telephony features to devices like VoIP phones, media processing products, VoIP gateways, and multimedia applications used throughout the network. CUCM supports additional combined media services such as unified messaging, video conferencing, and customer collaboration networks. For details about Progent's CUCM expertise, refer to CUCM consulting services.
  • CallManager is Cisco's legacy call-processing software and has been replaced by Cisco Unified CM. Progent's consultants can help you to maintain your current CallManager deployment or migrate smoothly to Cisco's modern IP telephony products. To find out about Progent's expertise for Cisco CallManager and Cisco's other early IP voice platforms, refer to CallManager expertise.
  • Cisco IP Gateways provide integration with PSTN networks and with clients operating outside the corporate perimeter such as at-home workers. Progent can provide consulting expertise for Cisco's earlier generation IP gateways such as the UC520, UC540 and UC560 products as well as for current Cisco Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) gateways. See Cisco SIP gateway configuration consulting.
  • Additional VoIP Products supported by Progent's consultants include Vonage, Intermedia Unite and 8x8. Progent can help you to expand your wide area network infrastructure to work with these solutions and deliver online integration and debugging expertise.

Video Conferencing for Remote Workers
A wide range of voice/video conferencing products from leading vendors enable online discussions, video and voice conferencing, chat, and screen/content sharing for both local users and at-home workers. Many companies use multiple conferencing products to meet the needs of their various partners and clients. Progent can help you to maintain your current conferencing ecosystem and enhance the engagement of your remote workforce.

  • Skype for Business is Microsoft's popular unified communications platform that enables real-time presence, instant messaging, audio and video conferencing plus the transparent integration of these functions within Office desktop and Microsoft 365 productivity software such as PowerPoint, Word, and Excel. Progent offers the skills of Microsoft-certified specialists who can assist you to configure and maintain Skype for Business clients to accommodate your at-home workforce. For details about Progent's consulting expertise for Skype for Business, refer to Skype for Business integration services.
  • FaceTime is Apple's multiuser video calling app for compatible iOS, iPadOS, iPod and Mac computers and smartphones. FaceTime works on Wi-Fi or cellular Internet connections. Newer editions of FaceTime support as many as 32 concurrent users for video sessions. To learn more about Progent's support expertise for FaceTime, visit Progent's FaceTime configuration expertise.
  • Webex Meeting Center provides online conferencing for virtually all computing devices. Delivered through Cisco's Webex Cloud, Webex services include sharing granular content or computer screens, presentations that incorporate rich media such as Microsoft PowerPoint, session capture, plus revision and playback for future reference and training. For details about Progent's consulting services for Cisco Webex and for other IP video products from Cisco, refer to Progent's Webex Meeting Center support services.
  • Teams is Microsoft's follow-up for Skype for Business. Teams acts as a hub for conferencing, contacts, and content with capabilities such as video calling, threaded chat, plus file sharing. To learn more about Progent's support expertise for Microsoft Teams as well as for other Microsoft 365 apps, see Progent's Microsoft Teams consulting services.
  • Other Voice/Video Conferencing Platforms supported by Progent include Google Meet, Amazon Chime, Zoom, and Slack. Progent can provide configuration and debugging services for these conferencing platforms and help you to tune your WAN architecture to run them.

Microsoft Collaboration Software for an At-Home Workforce
Microsoft's collaboration platforms are tightly integrated with Microsoft's popular Office and Microsoft 365 suites, offering a rich ecosystem of productivity apps that create a cohesive user interface for exchanging information throughout multiple sites and on a wide range of endpoint devices. Progent has delivered online consulting support for SharePoint and Exchange Server since their first publication and can assist businesses to deploy these flagship collaboration products to optimize the effectiveness of your remote workers.

SharePoint Configuration Experts for Remote WorkersSharePoint uses web entities to allow collaboration and information sharing by offering policy-driven access to content, workflow, and tools for searching through enterprise-wide business data. SharePoint enables you to build secure portals that enables remote workers to view and update aggregated business intelligence by means of Wikis, Blogs, social networking web sites, and Web Parts. To learn about Progent's SharePoint consulting expertise, go to SharePoint configuration and application development consulting.

Exchange Deployment Experts 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. To learn about Progent's Exchange consulting expertise, refer to deployment consulting for Exchange Server.

Microsoft Onedrive Configuration Experts for At-Home WorkersOneDrive is Microsoft's shared cloud storage service, similar to GoogleDrive. At-home workers can store files to OneDrive, and colleagues anywhere can share them securely through a browser. Provided with Office and Microsoft 365, OneDrive allows remote workers to jointly author files. Edits created offline are automatically uploaded when you go back online. To learn about Progent's consulting services for OneDrive, see Onedrive configuration experts.

Public Cloud Integration Services for Telecommuters
Progent offers fast and affordable remote support for enabling organizations to create, manage and repair integrated network architectures that combine physical data centers, at-home workers, branches, and cloud services. Progent offers top-tier consultant for all modes of public cloud service including Infrastructure as a Service, Platform as a Service (PaaS), and Software as a Service (SaaS). Progent can help teleworkers fix problems with public cloud access, identity, and security.

Azure Integration for TelecommutersAzure is a popular platform for cloud services that allows you to use IT infrastructure, servers, and critical applications running on Microsoft's extensive cloud. Azure offers over 100 cloud-based services such as the ability to host Windows and Linux-powered VMs, on-demand cloud storage, email and messaging, app development with Visual Studio, and backup/restore. Progent can help your organization to deploy virtual machines on Azure Virtual Machines, configure storage on Azure Storage services, streamline identity control with Azure AD, and plan data backup and recovery systems with Azure Backup. Progent can also show you how to establish secure connections to Azure for remote workers by setting up and troubleshooting firewalls and VPN tunnels. To learn about Progent's consulting services for Microsoft Azure, visit Azure expertise.

Microsoft 365 Integration for TeleworkersMicrosoft 365, previously called Office 365, is Microsoft's growing family of business productivity applications and cloud services available by subscription. Office apps and cloud services are provided in a variety of bundles designed for users ranging from students and small offices to large enterprises. Progent offers quick and affordable online contact with experts familiar with Microsoft 365-compatible endpoint devices based on Windows, Mac, iOS, and Google Android technology. Progent can help your business to evaluate the numerous subscription bundles offered with Microsoft 365 and configure 365 apps for your teleworkers to achieve top business value. For details about Progent's expertise for Microsoft 365, refer to Microsoft 365 consulting services.

Exchange Online Integration for At-Home WorkersExchange Online is one of the most popular cloud-based applications in Azure-hosted Microsoft 365 product suite. Microsoft 365 Exchange Online provides the advantages of reduced spending for data center infrastructure, easier management, dynamic scaling, high availability, and additional advantages associated with cloud computing. Microsoft has designed Exchange Online to operate transparently with local deployments of Exchange, allowing you to build hybrid information systems. Progent's certified Exchange consultants can provide as-needed help to guide you through challenging technical roadblocks and also offer comprehensive project management services to ensure your remote workers have convenient and secure access to your Exchange Online deployment. For information Progent's expertise for Microsoft 365 Exchange Online, see Exchange Online integration and troubleshooting expertise.

Amazon AWS Integration for TeleworkersAmazon Web Services (AWS) is a pioneer in the public cloud computing arena and is the industry's biggest provider of cloud-based services. Progent can provide quick and affordable online contact with cloud integration consultants who can assist your organization to plan, implement, maintain, and debug hybrid IT networks that integrate Amazon AWS cloud services with local resources and with other public clouds such as Microsoft Azure. Progent also can provide the skills of Cisco-certified CCIE networking consultants to help you to build a high-uptime network model to make sure your users have a consistent computing experience regardless of whether they are working from your main office, a branch office, at home, or on the move. To find out about Progent's consulting services for Amazon AWS, refer to Amazon AWS integration services.

Google Cloud Integration for At-Home WorkersGoogle Cloud (GCP) is a leading collection of public cloud services that offers Infrastructure-as-a-Service (IaaS) and Platform-as-a-Service products. Progent's certified Microsoft, Linux, and Cisco experts can assist your organization to extend your current IT assets with the Google Cloud Platform, and Progent's DBA consultants can show you how to make your key apps cloud ready so your at-home workers can benefit fully from Google Cloud services. Progent can assist you to deploy virtual machines on GCP Compute Engine, design a cost-effective storage system with Google Cloud Storage, and streamline access management for teleworkers with GCP Cloud Identity. Progent can also assist your organization to utilize GCP's management tools to administer and track your Google Cloud ecosystem. To learn, refer to Google Cloud Platform (GCP) consulting support.

Help Desk Services for Remote Workers
An emergency, enterprise-wide changeover to a from-home business model, which might be the result of a pandemic or as part of a disaster recovery/business continuity plan, can overwhelm even a well-staffed in-house Call Desk. Progent's Help Desk services make it possible for businesses to outsource or augment their Help Desk Call Center with Progent's online Technical Response Center (TRC) team.

  • Progent's Standard Support Desk services leverage Progent's nationwide team of online IT support specialists along with enterprise-class trouble ticketing and follow-up technology to offer an affordable, modern Help Desk 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 creation, screen sharing, issue resolution, and incident reporting. A browser-based User's Service Portal enables at-home employees to track or edit their current trouble tickets, enter details, and upload screenshots or attachments. Technical support services are delivered at a significant discount off Progent's normal Level 1 desktop support charges, and Progent offers optional fast escalation to Level 2 and Level 3 support experts to resolve advanced issues. To learn more, go to Progent's Standard Helpdesk Services for small businesses.
  • Progent's Help Desk Augmentation Service enables you to supplement your existing Call Desk organization by splitting responsibilities for Support Desk support seamlessly between your in-house IT support staff and Progent's extensive roster of PC support engineers and subject matter experts. Progent's co-managed Help Desk service uses a collaborative support solution based on the number one PSA platform for handling service requests and trouble tickets, assigning ownership, monitoring progress, and producing management reports. For details about how Progent's Help Desk Call Center Augmentation Services can help your business to provide best-in-class IT support to your at-home workforce, go to Progent's Help Desk Call Center augmentation Services.

Cybersecurity for At-Home Workers
At-home workers commonly use their own computers and usually work in an unsecured physical environment. This increases their vulnerability to malware attacks and requires careful deployment of corporate firewalls, AV tools, multi-factor authentication, remote endpoint monitoring, thorough end-user education, and the development of security policies based on leading practices. Progent's veteran group of data security solutions consultants can assist your business to design, configure and manage a compliant security solution that guards vital information assets in networks that incorporate remote workers.

Firewall Integration Services for At-Home WorkersFirewalls enable companies to build a network that can be securely accessed by on-premises users and by at-home workers, mobile workers, suppliers, customers, and the public. Modern firewall appliances allow you to configure and manage appropriate permissions to different classes of users and to expand your network and modify your security profile as your company evolves and as network attacks become increasingly complex. Progent supports both new and older firewall appliances from all major manufacturers like Cisco, Palo Alto Networks, WatchGuard, Juniper, SonicWall and Fortinet. To learn more about Progent's firewall integration expertise, go to firewall configuration and support expertise.

Remote Security Monitoring and Management for TeleworkersRemote Endpoint Security Monitoring makes it easy to watch over the disparate computers used by remote workers and either reject or identify and mitigate modern threats such as ransomware. With ProSight Active Security Monitoring services, a lightweight software agent is installed on every protected endpoint, monitoring all activity and utilizing state-of-the-art behavioral threat analysis from SentinelOne to identify zero-day threats before they can spread. When an attack is discovered, ProSight Active Security Monitoring immediately disconnects the impacted device from the corporate network to quarantine the threat. Since the ProSight Active Security Monitoring agent is self-contained, endpoint devices remain protected even if they are disconnected from the Internet. Progent is a SentinelOne Partner, dealer, and integrator. For details about ProSight Active Security Monitoring, visit remote endpoint security monitoring for remote workers.

Two-factor Authentication Services for TelecommutersProgent's Duo MFA Services incorporate Cisco's Duo technology to defend against stolen passwords through the use of two-factor authentication (2FA). Duo supports single-tap identity confirmation on iOS, Android, and other personal devices. Using Duo 2FA, when you log into a secured online account and give your password you are asked to confirm who you are via a unit that only you have and that is accessed using a different ("out-of-band") network channel. A wide range of devices can be used as this second means of authentication including an iPhone or Android or watch, a hardware/software token, a landline phone, etc. You may register multiple validation devices. For details about ProSight Duo identity validation services, refer to Duo MFA two-factor authentication services for at-home workers.

Security Audit Services for At-Home WorkersSecurity Audits can assess the exposure of your information system to all types of outside and local security threats for a network that incorporates at-home workers. Progent can deploy online, automated security analysis scanning for rapidly and affordably uncovering a broad range of security weaknesses that can be found over the Internet. Progent's security assessment consulting services, which can be managed by network security experts with advanced credentials including CISM, CISSP, and GIAC, can help your business to evaluate your procedures and governance policies and assess your network infrastructure to allow you to design top-level protection for your remote workers.

NodeZero Pentetration Testing for At-Home WorkersHorizon3.ai's NodeZero Pentest Platform is a leading-edge penetration test (pentest) product family that can deliver automated testing of your at-home environment and your internal and perimeter networks to help you expose, rank, remediate, and confirm security weaknesses before threat actors can take advantage of them. Progent can help you to use NodeZero to carry out thorough penetration tests of your network perimeter and your internal network so you can evaluate your present security profile. Progent's NodeZero experts can also help you to strengthen your network security and can assist you to plan and deploy a cohesive cybersecurity ecosystem that streamlines management and provides optimum protection for on-prem, cloud-based, remote, and perimeter IT resources. To find out more information about Progent's vulnerability analysis solutions based on on NodeZero's pentest platform, visit Consulting Support for NodeZero's Pentest Platform.

Download White Paper: Protecting a Work-From-Home Network
To read or download a white paper describing key things to concentrate on for protecting an IT environment that incorporates work-from-home staff, click:
Protecting a Work-From-Home (WFH) Environment White Paper. (PDF - 2.4 MB)

Data Protection Solutions for Remote Workers
The field of Data Protection covers backing up and restoring vital information in order to avoid data loss and minimize recovery time and effort in the event of storage failures due to hardware breakdowns, programming glitches, operator mistakes, malware, or other causes. Reliable data protection solutions can be particularly challenging to architect and manage in hybrid environments that combine private data centers, public clouds, and at-home workers.

  • Backup/Restore strategies for at-home workers must cover diverse kinds of user-owned endpoints. Progent can provide fast online help from experts knowledgeable about a broad range of platforms for protection Microsoft Windows, Apple Mac and Linux/UNIX powered servers and desktops as well as notebooks, iPads and handhelds. Popular backup/restore products supported by Progent's backup/recovery consultants include Barracuda Backup, Microsoft Azure Backup, Symantec Backup Exec, CrashPlan, Mozy, and Time Machine. To back up resources distributed throughout a wide area network, Progent can provide ProSight Data Protection Services, a managed backup/recovery subscription service that uses cloud-based storage and includes fine-grained restore and unified management.
  • Disaster Recovery/Business Continuity (DR/BC) strategies typically envision circumstances that call for a temporary changeover to a work-at-home environment. Progent's senior disaster recovery planning consultants and business continuity specialists can help your business to create, document and validate a DR/BC strategy that addresses the process of moving to telecommuting.

Unified Management for Teleworkers
Microsoft has rebranded and reshuffled its endpoint management platforms under the name Endpoint Manager, which encompasses Intune for cloud management of mobile and remote endpoints and Configuration Manager for managing local endpoints. Endpoint Manager provides a unified environment for safeguarding corporate data by managing onsite, mobile, and at-home endpoints.

Intune
Intune is part of Microsoft's Endpoint Management family that also features Microsoft Configuration Manager. Intune is a cloud-based service for managing and securing mobile devices and software. Remote endpoint devices can be user owned or business owned. IT administrators managing the endpoint devices of at-home workers can use Intune to deploy and authenticate applications on managed devices, push updates and certificates, set up policies for permission to access data and networks, manage passwords, create VPN connections, control how telecommuters share data, establish threat defense, verify compliance, and erase sensitive data from lost, stolen or deactivated endpoint devices. Microsoft Intune can be used with iOS, Android, Windows, and macOS devices. For information about Microsoft Intune and how Progent can help your company to use this platform to manage the endpoint computers of your at-home workers, visit Intune teleworker device management experts.

VMware Workspace ONE
VMware Workspace ONE is an advanced centralized Mobile Device Management platform that allows network managers to keep remote endpoint devices up to date and secure. Workspace ONE incorporates VMware AirWatch technology for centralized endpoint management combined with VMware's Horizon virtual application delivery platform for identity control, application management, and setup management of endpoint devices. Workspace ONE operates with endpoints based on Windows 10, macOS, Apple iOS, Google Android, Chrome OS, or popular distros of Linux. VMware Workspace ONE is offered by subscription as a cloud-based service or as an on-premises deployment through a one-time purchase. Key capabilities of VMware Workspace ONE include rapid remote deployment of new laptops, quick onboarding of new users, policy set up and enforcement for all classes of endpoints, unifies management reporting and performance analytics, an email encryption gateway, and tight integration with Microsoft apps and cloud-based products. For details about Progent's support services for VMware Workspace ONE, see VMware Workspace ONE mobile endpoint management consultants.

Contact Progent for At-Home Worker Expertise
To get in touch with Progent about building and maintaining an efficient work-from-home environment for your Montreal, Quebec business, phone 1-800-993-9400 or visit Contact Progent.