Desktop Support Services
Windows 8.1 Upgrade and Consulting Support
Note: Windows 8.1 End-of-Support
Microsoft has declared end-of-support for Windows 8.1. Technical help and security updates will no longer be available from Microsoft. If you are using Windows 8.1 or earlier, you may be increasingly exposed to cyber attacks and compatibility problems. Progent can help you maintain your existing Windows 8.1 environment but advises you to move to a modern release of Windows as soon as possible. Progent's Windows experts can help you plan and implement out an efficient migration from Windows 8.1.
Windows 8.1 includes headline features such as touch-screen support and a new tile-based Start interface, but Microsoft's powerful client operating system also introduces less conspicuous yet significant improvements such as additional built-in security, faster boot speed, expanded connectivity, enhanced cloud support, fault-tolerant storage, better application synchronization, advanced backup/recovery, more powerful search, lower power consumption, and client virtualization. Predictably, some of these enhancements come with a cost. Incorporating Windows 8.1 into your business network may require you to reconfigure your remote access environment, modify your security scheme, update or replace various applications and utilities, and retrain users.
Progent's Microsoft-certified consultants can help you evaluate the business benefits and engineering challenges associated with upgrading existing PCs to Windows 8.1 or adding new Windows 8.1-based clients to your network. Progent can help you resolve technical issues encountered during a Windows 8.1 upgrade, adjust your remote connectivity environment and network infrastructure as necessary, redesign your IT security strategy to take full advantage of the security enhancements built into Windows 8.1, recommend new desktop management procedures to simplify administration of all your Windows 8.1 clients, and provide customized webinar training sessions to bring your IT managers and end users up to speed quickly on Windows 8.1. For larger organizations, Progent's senior project managers can help set up test labs to evaluate Windows 8.1 and design and execute Windows 8.1 migration projects based on leading practices. If you already have Windows 8.1 running in a production environment, Progent's certified Windows 11 planning and migration consultants and Windows 10 upgrade experts can help you assess the business value of upgrading to Windows 11 or Windows 10 and can help you design and carry out an efficient migration to a modern release of Microsoft's client OS.
Important New Features of Windows 8.1
Windows 8.1 includes a wealth of new features that address a broad variety of customers ranging from gamers to workstation power users. Many of these features are designed primarily to improve the usefulness and manageability of Windows-based smartphones, tablets, and laptops. Professional and Enterprise versions of Windows 8.1 include important features designed to enhance the productivity of users working with mainstream business applications. These new capabilities, when used with the latest computer hardware, offer clear advantages over previous releases of Windows and should be factored into any ROI calculation. These high-value innovations include:
- Integrated Windows Defender with the same level of protection as Microsoft Security Essentials to protect against viruses and malware
- UEFI (Unified Extensible Firmware Interface) firmware which can replace BIOS for faster startup, immediate wake-up from hibernation, protection against bootkit attacks, and support for drives larger than 2.2 terabytes
- Client Hyper-V with the same Hyper-V virtualization technology as Windows Server 2012 R2
- Storage Spaces for grouping drives of different types and sizes into expandable virtual storage pools that can have fault-tolerant features such as three-way mirroring
- Windows To Go for creating copies of Windows 8.1 with your apps and files that can be booted from external USB Flash drives on different Windows 8.1 and Windows 7 computers
- Native support for USB 3.0 devices offering 5 Gbit/s Super Speed (SS) and other enhancements over USB 2.0
- Improved support for multiple monitors including the ability for each monitor to have a taskbar to make switching between apps and files on the desktop more efficient and to allow more windows to be open at once
- File Explorer, which replaces Windows Explorer, with features that include customizable indexing for fast search results, additional sorting options, pinning key files, and pause/resume during file transfers
- File History, a continuous incremental backup utility similar to Apple's Time Machine
- Support for Near Field Communications (NFC) for proximity-based app launching and data sharing
Windows 8.1 Migration Services
Progent's Microsoft-certified consultants can help you follow leading practices in deploying Windows 8.1 in a production environment. For large-scale Windows 8.1 desktop rollouts, Progent's follows a methodology that has proven effective in Windows 7 migrations. This is process is centered on automating the capture and replication of standardized images of operating systems, drivers, and core applications to be deployed in various business groups and work environments.
By using Microsoft's advanced deployment tools for Windows 8.1, Progent can help you achieve a high degree of automation during the rollout process, thereby avoiding the inevitable delays and mistakes that accompany a manual deployment. Progent can help companies with any phase of a Windows 8.1 rollout and can also provide project management services to make sure your Windows 8.1 migration is completed on time and within budget. Major phases of a Windows 8.1 rollout include:
- Inventory your environment including 64-bit apps, ActiveX issues, and browser add-ons
- Develop a plan for managing license activation
- Identify and mitigate compatibility issues including applications and drivers
- Define the tools and procedures for capturing desktop images and automatically deploying them
- Install servers for image capture and deployment
- Define the baseline image sets including OS, apps, group policies, and security settings
- Define the procedures for adding extra applications and personal files
- Create a minimal, bootable Windows Preinstallation Environment (Windows PE) to prep computers for Windows 8.1
- Set up a pilot environment to test and validate the operation of imaging and deployment servers
- create a pilot Windows 8.1 environment to test the functionality and performance of critical applications
- Use automated deployment tools to install Windows 8.1 desktop images/
Additional Consulting and Support Services for Windows 8.1
Progent can provide a variety of IT outsourcing and co-sourcing services to help organizations of any size to install, manage, and support networks that incorporate desktops, laptops, tablets, or smartphones powered by Windows 8.1. Progent's Technical Response Center can provide fast and affordable online access to a Microsoft-certified consultant to troubleshoot problems you may encounter with Windows 8.1 in areas such as application or driver compatibility, remote connectivity, or security. Progent's desktop administration experts can help you save money by automating desktop management processes such as keeping current with updates, complying with license requirements, monitoring usage, and enforcing policies. Progent's wireless mobility consultants can show you how to design and implement a secure BYOD environment that incorporates Windows 8.1 clients along with a variety of smartphones and tablets by providing services such as Apple iPhone and iPad integration with Windows 8.1, Android phone and tablet configuration and management consulting, and RIM BlackBerry expertise.
Progent's network security consultants can help you create a data protection strategy that takes advantage of the security enhancements built into Windows 8.1 and offer a range of low-cost security assessment packages to test the vulnerability of desktops, tablets, and smartphones powered by Windows. To ensure ongoing security and network integrity, Progent offers the ProSight suite of network management outsourcing services, a selection of remote monitoring and management (RMM) packages such as Progent's ProSight LAN Watch server and desktop management outsourcing services and ProSight WAN Watch infrastructure performance monitoring based on state-of-the-art RMM technology. Progent's Cisco-certified CCIE network engineers can help you accommodate the new remote connectivity technology included with Windows 8.1 and can help you design a networking and communications infrastructure that offers high levels of security as well as performance.
To enhance security, availability, performance, and recoverability for Windows 8.1 devices, Progent's Hyper-V virtualization consultants can show efficient ways to configure and use the new Client Hyper-V technology included with high-end versions of Windows 8.1.
Contact Progent to Find Out More Consulting and Support Services for Windows 8.1
To learn more about how Progent can help you with Microsoft Windows 8.1, phone
An index of content::
24-Hour Offsite Workforce VoIP Online Troubleshooting
24-Hour Remote Support Services At Home Workers VoIP
Progent can help small and medium-size organizations to set up VoIP technology to give their telecommuters the benefit of seamless access to the corporate phone system.
Small Business Managed IT services Consultant Services
Small Business Managed Services Specialists
Progent's ProSight portfolio of managed services are geared to provide organizations who have small internal IT administration and support staffs with affordable access to world-class management tools and consulting experts. Benefits of the ProSight line of managed services include fixed IT maintenance costs, automation of routine administrative processes, continual absorption of the latest technology, smooth migration from legacy technology to current solutions, improved alignment of information technology with business goals, guidance from veteran network consultants, and allowing management to concentrate on business issues rather than ever-changing information technology.
Windows Server 2019 Hybrid Integration Network Consultants
Largest Windows Server 2019 System Insights Remote Support Services
Progent's certified Windows Server 2019 experts can help your company to plan and implement a cost-effective migration to Windows Server 2019 using existing system architecture or a new cloud-based or hybrid model. Microsoft Windows Server 2019 delivers major improvements in scale, performance, manageability, Hyper-V virtualization, security and compliance, hybrid on-prem plus cloud integration, resilience, and Linux support.
CRISC Certified Risk and Information Systems Control Consultants
CRISC Certified Risk and Information Systems Control Auditor Services
Progent offers the services of a CRISC-certified risk management expert to assist your company to design and deploy an enterprise risk management solution based on best practices identified by CRISC and crafted to align with your organization's risk appetite, business objectives, and budgetary guidelines.
Engineer ransomware removal and data restore
ransomware cleanup and recovery Consult
Progent's Ransomware Hot Line provides 24x7 access to a proven ransomware recovery expert who can assist you to halt the spread of an ongoing ransomware breach. Call 800-462-8800
Microsoft Teams PBX integration Consulting
Microsoft Teams and AAD Sync Specialist
Progent can help your business to design a migration to Microsoft Teams from Skype for Business and configure, administer, and debug a cloud or mixed implementation of Microsoft Teams. Progent can help you to connect Teams with Office and Microsoft 365 apps, Exchange Online, SharePoint, and your PSTN gateway.
Remote Consulting Citrix Disaster Recovery
Citrix for Hyper-V Services
Progent's Citrix-certified consultants can assist your organization to evaluate the business benefits of the available editions of Citrix Essentials for Hyper-V, assist you to integrate Citrix management utilities with your Hyper-V network, and show you how you can use Citrix Essentials to improve the performance, uptime, flexibility, and recoverability of your virtualized environment while reducing the cost of equipment and support and simplifying administrative processes.
iPad Connectivity Computer Consultant
Mac Infrastructure Technology Professional
Progent's Mac networking consultants can assist you with a broad range of network foundation issues including system architecture, off-site and mobile access, internetwork communication, protection, and new technologies including VoIP and high-speed wireless connectivity. For company networks based solely on Apple Mac OS X or for environments that use a combination of Mac, Linux/UNIX and Windows based servers and workstations, Progent has the knowledge and depth to handle the challenge of designing, integrating, and maintaining a network architecture that is reliable, safe, productive and supportive of your corporate goals. Progent can show you how to configure Apple's Xserve enterprise servers, Xserve RAID non-stop storage products, and Apple's Xsan storage area network solution. Progent can also provide skilled professionals to support Cisco routers and switches.
Consult Ryuk ransomware protection and recovery
WannaCry ransomware protection and recovery Professionals
ProSight Active Security Monitoring utilizes cutting edge behavior machine learning tools by SentinelOne to guard endpoints and servers and VMs against known as well as zero-day ransomware crypto-worms such as Ryuk, Maze, Sodinokibi, DopplePaymer, Snatch or Egregor.
Duo Zero Trust Cybersecurity Integration Support
Duo Identity Verification On-site Support
Progent's Duo service plans incorporate Cisco's Duo cloud technology to protect against stolen passwords by using two-factor authentication. Duo supports single-tap identity confirmation on iOS, Android, and other out-of-band devices.
Voice Over IP Phones Remote Support
Cisco VoIP phones Single Number Reach Configuration
Progent's Cisco CCIE-certified network infrastructure experts offer high-level support services for Cisco Unified Communications Manager (previously CallManager). Progent can assist you to integrate VoIP phones, design dial plans, configure SIP trunking and PSTN connections, deploy Cisco ISR G2 routers with CUBE support, and design UCS server failover systems.
Consultancy ProSight Email Content Filtering Service
ProSight Email Guard Content Filtering Consultancy
Progent's ProSight Email Guard uses the services and infrastructure of top information security companies to deliver centralized control and world-class security for your email traffic. The hybrid structure of Progent's Email Guard managed service integrates a Cloud Protection Layer with a local security gateway device to offer complete defense against spam, viruses, Denial of Service (DoS) Attacks, DHAs, and other email-borne threats. ProSight Email Guard's Cloud Protection Layer acts as a preliminary barricade and blocks the vast majority of threats from reaching your security perimeter. This decreases your exposure to inbound threats and conserves network bandwidth and storage space. ProSight Email Guard's on-premises security gateway device provides a further level of analysis for incoming email. For outbound email, the onsite security gateway offers AV and anti-spam filtering, DLP, and email encryption. The on-premises gateway can also help Microsoft Exchange Server to monitor and protect internal email that originates and ends within your corporate firewall.
IT Outsourcing Examples Whitepaper
IT Outsourcing Examples Whitepapers
Progent's IT outsourcing services provide economical network support for medium-size organizations. Whether it includes designing system architecture, setting up an in-house Help Desk or outsourcing a one, deploying a new email system, monitoring your system, or creating an on-line eCommerce solution, outsourcing your network engineering services can smooth out costs and eliminate uncertainties, permitting network service expenses to increase in a more linear and controlled fashion than is possible by assembling a large, knowledgeable in-house network support organization. Progent's Outsourcing White Paper and datasheets tell you how Progent can help you create a secure and highly available network foundation for your vital Windows-based applications including Windows Server 2008, Exchange Server, and Microsoft SQL Server.
Cisco AnyConnect Remote Support
Cisco PIX to ASA upgrade Network Consultants
Progent's certified Cisco IT security consultants provide expert PIX Firewall and ASA Firewall consulting support covering architecture, configuration, and management of Cisco firewall and Cisco security technology. The PIX and ASA Security Appliance Series of Cisco firewalls delivers robust user and software policy enforcement, sophisticated attack defense, and secure connectivity services. Ranging from economical, plug-and-play desktop appliances for small and home businesses to scalable gigabit appliances, Cisco PIX and ASA Firewalls provide advanced security, performance, and high reliability for IT systems of all sizes. PIX and ASA Firewalls are based on a proven, purpose-built operating system, eliminating possible OS-specific security holes.
Certified Cybersecurity Management Consult
CISM Certified Cybersecurity Security Audit Services
Progent offers the support of CISM Certified security professionals. The Certified Information Security Manager (CISM) organization defines the core competencies and worldwide standards of skill that IT security professionals are required to master. CISM provides business management the confidence that consultants who have earned their CISM credential have the background and knowledge to deliver efficient security management and consulting services.
Select Topic: