Expanding your telecommuter workforce may have a significant impact on IT architecture, security/compliance, and company processes. Progent has two decades of background helping small and mid-size businesses to plan, configure, manage, optimize, and debug IT environments that incorporate at-home workers. Progent can assist your Detroit organization to select the right technologies and adhere to leading practices in creating and operating a safe virtual office ecosystem for telecommuters that promotes collaboration and returns maximum value. Progent can provide support services ranging from as-needed guidance for helping you over challenging technical bottlenecks to comprehensive project management or co-management to help you carry out business-critical initiatives.

Progent can help Detroit, Michigan businesses to with any facet of creating a high-functioning telecommuting environment by providing network infrastructure configuration services, VoIP PBX troubleshooting, voice/video conferencing support, collaboration platform selection and deployment, public cloud connectivity, Call Desk services, data security, data protection solutions, and unified management.

Infrastructure for a Remote Workforce
Integrating the physical and software infrastructure required for an at-home work environment can be particularly complex if you have to accommodate a combination of worker-owned equipment such as PCs and laptops, routers, and wireless appliances from different manufacturers and with a mix of operating systems and firmware releases. Progent's background providing online support for both legacy and modern technologies in virtual office solutions allows you to make cost-effective use of your available infrastructure and offers ready access to expertise for implement essential upgrades. Services offered by Progent to help you to implement a high-functioning telecommuting infrastructure include:

  • Virtual Private Network connectivity allows you to create a secure tunnel for authorized at-home employees to use IT resources located at your corporate data center or in the cloud. Progent's consultants can assist you to configure and manage VPN access between your at-home workforce and your key IT resources by providing remote VPN configuration consulting. For organizations with Cisco's ASA security appliances, Progent's Cisco-certified ASA Firewall consultants can assist your remote workers to set up Cisco's AnyConnect software to provide safe VPN tunneling for a broad range of devices including Microsoft Windows, macOS, iOS, Linux, and Google Android.
  • Virtual Desktop Infrastructure products allow a telecommuter to view and interact with a remote computer's desktop. This technology provides IT managers significant control over the digital ecosystem of at-home employees and offers remote users a consistent and more productive experience. Progent's virtual desktop consulting services include Windows Remote Desktop integration and Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops VDI solutions.
  • Routers attach home networks to the Internet and typically support VPN connections, home Wi-Fi connectivity, and firewalls. Progent offers top-tier remote consulting for integrating routers from a range of manufacturers. See router integration support from Cisco-certified experts.
  • Home Wi-Fi networks, typically supporting an entire household and visitors, are commonly utilized by telecommuters to access their router for work. This can create performance as well as cybersecurity issues. Progent can help businesses to mitigate these problems by delivering expertise like Aironet integration consulting, Cisco Meraki wireless installation expertise, and Ubiquiti wireless AP setup assistance.
  • Internet access solutions affect the performance and reliability of connections between telecommuters and the corporate data center. Vital applications may require redundant Internet connections in the event the normal connection fails. Progent offers guidance for identifying Internet service providers, choosing sensible service packages, and configuring high-availability Internet access. See Internet connectivity integration services.

IP Voice Integration for an At-Home Workforce
Extending the corporate PBX environment to accommodate telecommuters is critical to supporting a productive work-at-home solution. A variety of cloud-based digital PBX products are used by SMBs to support teleworkers. Many enterprises rely on Cisco's modern or legacy platforms for VoIP management. Progent can assist businesses of all sizes to plan or tune a remote VoIP service that provides the versatility, transparency and protection needed for at-home workers. Progent's Cisco-certified CCIE Voice experts can provide advanced support to assist businesses optimize their current Cisco IP voice environments to support a growing at-home workforce.

  • Cisco Unified Communications Manager (Cisco Unified CM) delivers high-end telephony features to devices such as VoIP phones, media processing products, Voice over IP gateways, and mixed media apps deployed throughout the network. CUCM manages additional combined media services such as unified messaging, voice/video conferencing, and team interaction networks. For more information about Progent's Unified Communications Manager expertise, visit Cisco Unified Communications Manager consultants.
  • CallManager is Cisco's legacy call-processing software and has been superseded by Cisco Unified CM or CUCM. Progent's consultants can assist you to maintain your existing CallManager environment or upgrade efficiently to Cisco's modern IP telephony solutions. For details about Progent's expertise for CallManager and Cisco's other older VoIP products, refer to Cisco CallManager consulting services.
  • Cisco IP Gateways provide integration with PSTN networks and with clients working beyond the corporate perimeter such as telecommuters. Progent can provide expert support for Cisco's earlier generation IP gateways like the UC520, UC540 and UC560 series as well as for modern Cisco SIP gateways. See Cisco Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) gateway integration expertise.
  • Additional VoIP Platforms supported by Progent's consultants include Vonage, Intermedia Unite and 8x8. Progent can help you to update your WAN infrastructure to support these solutions and deliver online configuration and troubleshooting expertise.

Voice/Video Conferencing for Remote Workers
A broad selection of video conferencing products from leading technology companies enable online meetings, video and voice conferencing, chat, and screen/content sharing for both onsite workers and telecommuters. Many organizations use multiple conferencing products to accommodate their different partners and clients. Progent's communications experts can assist your organization to manage your current conferencing environment and enhance the engagement of your remote workforce.

  • Skype for Business is Microsoft's leading unified communications product that supports real-time presence, instant messaging, voice and video conferencing plus the seamless integration of these functions within Office desktop and Microsoft 365 productivity software such as PowerPoint, Word, and Excel. Progent offers the expertise of Microsoft-certified consultants who can assist your company to deploy and maintain Skype for Business clients to support your at-home employees. For details about Progent's consulting services for Skype for Business, visit Skype for Business integration services.
  • FaceTime is Apple's group video phone app for iOS and macOS computers and smartphones. FaceTime runs over Wi-Fi or cellular Internet connections. Current versions of FaceTime support as many as 32 concurrent users for video calls. For details about Progent's consulting services for Apple FaceTime, see Progent's FaceTime configuration expertise.
  • Webex Meeting Center provides remote conferencing for most desktop or mobile devices. Delivered through Cisco's Webex Cloud platform, Webex services include sharing discrete content or screens, presentations that incorporate rich media such as Microsoft PowerPoint and Flash videos, network-based recording, plus revision and playback for training. To learn more about Progent's consulting services for Webex and for additional IP video products from Cisco, see Progent's Webex Meeting Center support services.
  • Teams is Microsoft's next-generation replacement for Skype for Business. Teams provides a hub for conferencing, contacts, and information with capabilities that include IP voice and video calling, persistent chat, plus data sharing. For details about Progent's consulting services for Microsoft Teams and for additional Microsoft 365 products, refer to Progent's Microsoft Teams consulting services.
  • Additional Voice/Video Conferencing Apps supported by Progent's conferencing experts include Google Meet, Amazon Chime, Zoom, and Slack. Progent can provide integration and debugging expertise for these conferencing platforms and assist you to optimize your network infrastructure to host them.

Microsoft Integrated Collaboration Platforms for Remote Workers
Microsoft's collaboration products are closely integrated with Microsoft's familiar Microsoft Office and Microsoft 365 families, providing a rich environment of applications that create a cohesive user experience for sharing information across a corporate network and on a broad selection of endpoint devices. Progent has delivered remote consulting services for Microsoft SharePoint and Exchange since their initial publication and can help businesses to deploy these critical collaboration products to optimize the productivity of your at-home workforce.

SharePoint Server Integration Experts for At-Home WorkersSharePoint utilizes web sites to facilitate collaboration and information delivery by offering policy-driven access to data, workflow, and tools for searching through company-wide information silos. SharePoint allows you to create secure portals that enables at-home workers to view and update consolidated business intelligence by means of Wikis, Blogs, social sites, and Web Parts (Widgets). To find out about Progent's SharePoint expertise, see SharePoint configuration and development consulting.

Exchange Deployment 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. To find out about Progent's Exchange support services, see planning and configuration consulting for Exchange Server.

Microsoft Onedrive Deployment Experts for At-Home WorkersOneDrive is Microsoft's shared cloud file hosting and synchronization service, similar to GoogleDrive. Remote users can save files to the OneDrive service, and colleagues anywhere can retrieve them safely through a browser. Provided with Microsoft Office and Microsoft 365, OneDrive allows home employees to co-author documents. Edits made offline are uploaded when you go back online. To find out about Progent's consulting services for OneDrive, visit Onedrive integration experts.

Cloud Integration Services for Teleworkers
Progent can provide affordable online assistance for enabling businesses to build, maintain and troubleshoot cohesive network models that incorporate physical data centers, remote workers, branches, and cloud resources. Progent can provide top-tier consultant for all modes of cloud service delivery including Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS), Platform as a Service, and Software as a Service (SaaS). Progent can help remote workers resolve issues with public cloud access, identity, and security.

Microsoft Azure Integration for At-Home WorkersAzure is a leading platform for public cloud services that allows you to utilize IT infrastructure, virtual servers, and critical apps running on Microsoft's extensive cloud. Azure includes more than 100 services services including the ability to host Windows and Linux-based virtual machines, scalable cloud storage, messaging, app development with Visual Studio, and backup/restore. Progent can help your organization to set up VMs on Azure Virtual Machines, configure cloud-based storage on Azure Storage services, unify identity control with Azure Active Directory, and design data backup and restore solutions with Azure Backup. Progent can also help you establish secure access to Azure services for at-home workers by setting up and debugging firewall appliances and VPN IPsec tunnels. For details about Progent's consulting services for Azure, visit Microsoft Azure consulting.

Microsoft 365 Integration Services for Remote WorkersMicrosoft 365, formerly branded Office 365, is Microsoft's popular family of client productivity applications and cloud services available by subscription. Microsoft applications and services are marketed in a variety of bundles designed for customers ranging from students and small offices to large corporations. Progent can provide fast and easy online access to consultants knowledgeable about Microsoft 365-compatible endpoint devices based on Windows, Mac, iOS, and Google Android technology. Progent's experts can help you to assess the numerous subscription plans offered with Microsoft 365 and configure 365 apps for your remote workers to achieve maximum business value. For details about Progent's consulting services for Microsoft 365, go to Microsoft 365 consulting expertise.

Microsoft 365 Exchange Online Integration for Remote WorkersMicrosoft 365 Exchange Online is one of the most popular cloud-based applications in Azure-hosted Microsoft 365 product line. Microsoft 365 Exchange Online offers the advantages of lower costs for data center infrastructure, easier management, dynamic scaling, high reliability, and additional advantages associated with cloud computing. Microsoft has engineered Microsoft 365 Exchange Online to operate seamlessly with local deployments of Exchange, allowing you to build hybrid networks. Progent's Exchange consultants are available for as-needed assistance to guide you through tough technical bottlenecks and also offer comprehensive project management services to ensure your telecommuters have easy and secure access to your Microsoft 365 Exchange Online environment. For details Progent's consulting services for Microsoft 365 Exchange Online, refer to Microsoft 365 Exchange Online integration and support expertise.

Amazon AWS Integration Services for TeleworkersAmazon AWS is a trailblazer in the public cloud computing market and is the world's top source of cloud-based services. Progent can provide rapid and economical online contact with cloud connectivity experts who can help your organization to plan, implement, maintain, and debug hybrid IT networks that incorporate Amazon AWS cloud services with local data centers and with other popular cloud platforms such as Azure. Progent also offers access to Cisco-certified CCIE networking experts to assist you to build a high-uptime network model to make sure your employees have a consistent computing environment regardless of whether they are working from your headquarters, a remote branch, from home, or on the road. For information about Progent's expertise for Amazon AWS, see Amazon AWS consulting services.

Google Cloud Platform Integration for TelecommutersGoogle Cloud (GCP) is a leading collection of public cloud services that offers Infrastructure-as-a-Service (IaaS) and Platform-as-a-Service (PaaS) products. Progent's Microsoft, Linux, and Cisco consulting experts can assist your organization to scale your existing IT resources with the Google Cloud Platform, and Progent's database consultants can show you how to make your critical apps cloud ready so your remote workers can take full advantage of Google Cloud services. Progent can assist you to deploy VMs on Google Cloud Compute Engine, plan a cost-effective storage solution with GCP Storage services, and streamline access management for telecommuters with Google Cloud Identity services. Progent's experts can also assist you to utilize GCP's unified management technology to control and track your Google Cloud environment. For information, see Google Cloud Platform consulting support.

Help Desk Services for Remote Workers
A sudden, company-wide transition to a telecommuter workforce, which might be driven by an epidemic or as an element of a disaster recovery plan, can overstretch even the most efficient internal Support Desk. Progent's Help Desk services allow organizations to outsource or supplement their Call Desk by using Progent's online Technical Response Center (TRC) team.

  • Progent's Standard Help Desk Call Center services leverage Progent's extensive network of remote technical support experts along with enterprise-class ticketing and tracking technology to offer an economical, modern Help Desk. Progent's Standard Help Desk Services provide an end-to-end solution that handles all aspects of online Level 1 PC support from initial service requests to trouble ticket generation, screen sharing, issue resolution, and incident reporting. A browser-based User's Service Portal enables from-home workers to check or edit their active tickets, enter information, and upload screen captures and relevant files. Technical support services are provided at a significant discount off Progent's normal Level 1 desktop service charges, and Progent makes available optional fast escalation to Level 2 and Level 3 support experts to resolve advanced problems. For details, go to Progent's Standard Helpdesk Services for small and mid-size businesses.
  • Progent's Help Desk Call Center Augmentation Service allows your business to expand your current Help Desk organization by splitting responsibilities for Call Desk support seamlessly between your regular support staff and Progent's nationwide team of desktop support engineers and subject matter experts. Progent's shared Help Desk Call Center service uses a co-sourcing support model utilizing the number one PSA tool for managing help requests and ticketing, assigning responsibility, tracking progress, and producing reports. To learn how Progent's Help Desk Call Center Augmentation Services can enable your company to provide world-class desktop support to your at-home workforce, go to Progent's Call Center supplementation Services.

Security and Compliance for At-Home Workers
Work-from-Home (WFH) employees commonly use their personal computing devices and usually work in an unsecured physical area. This multiplies their susceptibility to cyber attacks and requires judicious deployment of firewalls, AV tools, MFA-based identity verification, remote endpoint monitoring, thorough end-user education, and the creation of security policies built on best practices. Progent's seasoned roster of cybersecurity support experts can help you to design, configure and manage an effective security solution that guards critical information resources in networks that incorporate at-home workers.

Firewall Integration Services for At-Home WorkersFirewalls allow you to create a network that can be securely accessed by on-premises users and by at-home workers, mobile workers, suppliers, clients, and the public. Modern firewall appliances allow you to configure and manage appropriate access rights to different classes of users and to expand your network and adjust your security as your company evolves and as cyber threats grow increasingly complex. Progent works with both current and legacy security devices from all leading manufacturers including Cisco, Palo Alto Networks, Check Point, Juniper, and Fortinet. For more information about Progent's firewall configuration expertise, visit firewall integration and support services.

Remote Security Monitoring and Management for TeleworkersRemote Endpoint Security Monitoring makes it easy to track the various computers utilized by telecommuters and either block or spot and respond to modern cyber attacks such as ransomware. With ProSight Active Security Monitoring (ASM) services, a small-footprint agent is put on every protected endpoint, monitoring all activity and using state-of-the-art machine learning and full execution context from SentinelOne to identify new threats before they can spread. When an attack is spotted, ProSight ASM immediately disconnects the targeted endpoint from the network to quarantine the threat. Since the ProSight ASM software agent is autonomous, endpoint devices remain secure even if they are not connected to the Internet. Progent is a SentinelOne Partner, dealer, and integrator. To learn more about ProSight Active Security Monitoring, refer to remote endpoint monitoring for remote workers.

Two-factor Authentication (2FA) Services for At-Home WorkersProgent's Duo authentication service plans incorporate Cisco's Duo technology to defend against password theft by using two-factor authentication. Duo supports one-tap identity confirmation with Apple iOS, Google Android, and other personal devices. With 2FA, when you sign into a secured application and give your password you are requested to verify who you are via a unit that only you have and that is accessed using a different network channel. A wide selection of out-of-band devices can be used for this second form of ID validation such as a smartphone or wearable, a hardware/software token, a landline telephone, etc. You can register several verification devices. For details about Duo identity validation services, see Cisco Duo MFA two-factor authentication services for teleworkers.

Security Audit Services for At-Home WorkersSecurity Audits can evaluate the exposure of your information system to all classes of external and local security threats for an environment that includes remote workers. Progent can deploy online, automated cybersecurity analysis software for quickly and affordably detecting a broad range of security weaknesses that can be found via the Internet. Progent's endpoint security audit consulting services, which can be provided by data security experts with advanced credentials including CISA, CISSP, and GIAC, can assist your company to evaluate your workflows and policies and assess your IT infrastructure to enable you to design the highest level of security for your at-home workers.

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

Data Protection for Telecommuters
Data Protection involves saving and recovering vital information in order to avoid data loss and reduce recovery time and effort in the event of storage system problems due to equipment breakdowns, programming glitches, human error, malware, or other causes. Dependable data protection solutions can be particularly challenging to architect and maintain in hybrid environments that combine in-house data centers, cloud resources, and an at-home workforce.

  • Backup/Restore solutions for at-home workers must cover diverse kinds of user-owned endpoint devices. Progent can provide fast remote access to consultants knowledgeable about a broad range of platforms for protection Windows, Apple Mac and Linux/UNIX servers and desktops as well as notebooks, iPads and handhelds. Leading backup/restore solutions supported by Progent's data protection experts include Barracuda Backup, Microsoft Azure Backup, Symantec Backup Exec, Acronis Backup and Recovery, Mozy, and Time Machine. To back up data spread throughout a hybrid network, Progent offers ProSight Data Protection Services, a backup/recovery service that utilizes cloud-based storage and includes granular recovery and centralized management.
  • Disaster Recovery/Business Continuity (DR/BC) strategies often envision circumstances that call for a quick switch to telecommuting. Progent's expert disaster recovery preparedness consultants and business continuity specialists can assist your business to create, document and validate a DR/BC plan that includes the process of moving to an at-home workforce.

Unified Management for Teleworkers
Microsoft has rebranded and reshuffled its endpoint management products under the title Microsoft Endpoint Manager, which encompasses Intune for cloud management of remote devices and Configuration Manager for managing onsite computers. Microsoft Endpoint Manager offers a unified solution for protecting critical data by managing local, mobile, and home-based endpoint devices.

Microsoft Intune
Intune is a component of Microsoft's Endpoint Management suite that also includes Microsoft Configuration Manager. Intune is a cloud-based service for managing and protecting mobile computers and software. Managed endpoint devices can be personally owned or business owned. Network administrators managing the enrolled endpoint devices of teleworkers can utilize Intune to provision and validate apps on managed devices, push patches and certificates, configure rules for accessing information and resources, manage passwords, create VPN connections, determine how telecommuters share information, establish threat defense, verify security compliance, and delete corporate data from missing, stolen or deactivated devices. Intune runs with iOS, Google Android, Windows, and macOS/OS X endpoints. For details about Intune and how Progent can help you to use this platform to administer the endpoint computers of your at-home workforce, go to Intune teleworker endpoint management consultants.

VMware Workspace ONE
VMware Workspace ONE is a feature-rich unified Mobile Device Management platform that helps network managers to keep remote endpoints up to date and protected. Workspace ONE uses VMware AirWatch for unified endpoint management plus VMware's Horizon virtual application delivery platform for access control, application management, and configuration management of endpoint devices. Workspace ONE runs with devices powered by Windows 10, macOS, Apple iOS, Android, Chrome OS, or leading distributions of Linux. VMware Workspace ONE is available by subscription as a cloud-based service or as an on-site deployment through a perpetual license. Key capabilities of Workspace ONE include fast remote deployment of new notebooks, immediate onboarding of new users, policy set up and enforcement for all classes of devices, unifies management reporting and performance analytics, email encryption, and tight integration with Microsoft applications and cloud-based products. For details about Progent's support services for VMware Workspace ONE, go to VMware Workspace ONE remote device management expertise.

Contact Progent for At-Home Worker Support Services
To contact Progent about creating and managing an efficient work-from-home environment for your Detroit, Michigan organization, phone 1-800-993-9400 or refer to Contact Progent.