PC Desktop Consulting and Support Services
Microsoft Windows 8.1 Upgrade and Consulting Support
Note: Windows 8.1 has arrived at end-of-support. This means that technical assistance and security patches will no longer be available from Microsoft. If you are running Windows 8.1 or earlier, you may be increasingly vulnerable to cybersecurity threats and compatibility issues. Progent can help you maintain your current Windows 8.1 environment but strongly recommends that you upgrade to a current version of Windows. Progent's Windows experts can help you plan and carry out an efficient migration from Windows 8.1.
Windows 8,
Microsoft's first universal client operating system, is designed to power devices ranging from smartphones and tablets to engineering workstations. An abundance of new and improved features, including its touchscreen support and signature "live tiles" user interface, offer a broad range of benefits for companies who understand how to put them to work. Progent's Microsoft-certified consultants can help bring your organization up to speed with Windows 8 and its successor Windows 8.1 and show you how to derive significant business value from the operating system's many technical enhancements. In addition, Progent's Windows 10 migration consultants can help you evaluate Windows 10 or migrate to Windows 10 from your Windows 8.1 environment.
Three basic desktop editions are available for Windows 8 and Windows 8.1 . All of these versions work with popular Windows desktop software such as Microsoft Office as well as with the next generation of applications available from the Windows Store, and all three versions include built-in security via mechanisms such as secured boot and Windows Defender. Windows 8 Pro and Windows 8 Enterprise add support for BitLocker and BitLocker To Go for encrypting storage, advanced Group Policy management to increase control of Group Policies, Remote Desktop for anywhere access to your work PC, Offline File Access for the ability to stay productive when disconnected from the Internet, and Client Hyper-V virtualization for running multiple operating systems on a single computer.
Windows 8 Enterprise includes Windows to Go for porting corporate images of Windows 8 that boot from a USB-connected drive, DirectAccess for easily establishing secure remote connections to corporate networks without requiring VPN, and BranchCache for improving productivity and conserving bandwidth in remote offices.
Top Features of Windows 8
The Pro and Enterprise versions of Windows 8 offer a powerful set of new or enhanced features for improving security, manageability, productivity, connectivity, virtualization, and performance. Important features include:
BitLocker
Windows 8 introduces several enhancements to BitLocker drive encryption including BitLocker Provisioning for deploying Windows 8 in an encrypted state, Used Disk Space Only Encryption for faster encryption, Standard User PIN and Password Change to reduce IT administration hassle, Network Unlock to unlock the system volume automatically during boot for easier administration, and support for Full Disk Encryption (FDE) for fast, hardware-based encryption. BitLocker to Go makes it possible to encrypt a Windows To Go drive
Windows To Go
Windows To Go allows enterprises to create a managed corporate image of Windows 8 on an encrypted USB drive that can be booted and run online or offline on any compatible PC powered by Windows 8 or Windows 7. This allows corporations to provide controlled, free-seating computing environments for contractors and visitors, ensures security in BYOD scenarios, and allows mobile workers to travel light by using the PCs available at their destinations.
Group Policy Management
Windows 8 simplifies Group Policy management by allowing administrators or help desk technicians to refresh Group Policy settings remotely and by making it easy to determine the status of replication of Group Policy Objects across a domain. Advanced change management capability for Group Policy supported by Microsoft Desktop Optimization Pack (MDOP) includes the ability to checkpoint policy rollouts and minimize downtime with Microsoft Advanced Group Policy Management (AGPM).
Offline Files
Support for a new Always Offline mode in Windows 8 and Windows Server 2012 makes it possible to allow users never to transition to Online mode and allows Windows to synchronize changes in the background automatically at specified intervals. This permits faster access to files in redirected folders and can dramatically reduce costs on metered connections. To reduce overage costs on 4G mobile networks, Windows 8 and Windows Server 2012 can detect when a user is roaming or is near or beyond a bandwidth limit and can be configured to switch automatically to Offline mode to postpone all synchronization. Users retain the option to initiate synchronization manually.
Remote Desktop
Remote Desktop allows you to use the Internet to connect a local PC to your physical or virtual work PC and use the applications, files, and network resources as though you were physically in front of your work PC. Enhancements in Microsoft RemoteFX and Windows Server 2012 provide a realistic desktop experience that allows users to play 3D graphics, use USB devices, and use touch screens. Remote Desktop features that require the Enterprise edition of Windows 8 include the ability to access work resources published via RemoteApp, support for RemoteFX USB Redirection and PnP device redirection, User profile disk, and RemoteFX virtual graphics processing unit (vGPU).
Client Hyper-V
Client Hyper-V is a basic version of Microsoft's familiar Hyper-V server virtualization technology adapted for Windows 8 desktops with SLAT-capable CPUs. (SLAT stands for Second Level Address Translation and is called EPT by Intel and RVI by AMD). A comparable functionality, called XP Mode with Virtual PC, is available as a free download on Windows 7 desktops. Client Hyper-V allows you to run multiple virtual machines (VMs) with various operating systems on a single desktop and have full isolation. Client Hyper-V does not support some advanced Hyper-V features such as Live Migration, Hyper-V Replica, SR-IOV Networking, and Synthetic fibre channel.
Storage Spaces
Storage Spaces, a new core feature of Windows 8 and Windows Server 2012, provides disk virtualization through Microsoft's storage pool technology. Pools make it possible to combine a collection of various types of hard disks as well as solid state drives (SSDs) to create a single logical pool or multiple pools that can be expanded on the fly as needs require. For improved resiliency, Storage Spaces support mirroring and parity.
DirectAccess
DirectAccess provides remote users with easy and secure access to data behind the corporate firewall and features a one-time password plus automatic health checking, patch management and security updates. DirectAccess eliminates the delays and hassles associated with establishing a VPN connection or the need to re-establish the VPN connection after every Internet dropout. Introduced with Windows 7, DirectAccess has been made simpler to implement by allowing IT managers to use Windows Server 2012 to perform address translation rather than requiring the deployment of IPV6.
BracnchCache
BranchCache uses client-based or server-based caching to minimize Internet traffic between a remote site and a corporate data center, thereby improving branch office performance and lowering connectivity costs. BranchCache originally required the combination of Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2. With Windows 8 and Windows Server 2012, BranchCache has been enhanced with data encryption without requiring PKI, automatic service discovery via Active Directory, unlimited expandability through clustering, and streamlined printing.
Improved Features in Windows 8.1
Windows 8.1 is a free upgrade to Windows 8 and includes hundreds of new or enhanced features and fixes. The most prominent enhancement is the return of the familiar Start button that was absent from Windows 8. Windows 8.1 also incorporates a number of major enhancements in the areas of usability, mobility, security, and mobile device management. Some of the most significant new features introduced with Windows 8.1 include:
Workplace Join
Network managers can now offer more detailed control to company resources. Once a user's device has been registered, IT administration can allow various levels of access but still enforce specified governance rules on the registered device.
Work Folders
Work Folders make it possible for files that users create locally on devices that are not domain joined to synchronize back automatically to the file server in the corporate data center. Work Folder syncing is integrated into the Windows 8.1 file system and does not require third-party folder replication software. Administrators still have the option to enforce Dynamic Access Control policies on the Work Folder Sync Share and can utilize Workplace Join.
Mobile Device Management (MDM)
Once a user registers a mobile device, the device joins the Windows Intune management service. This permits the use of a Company Portal that provides a consistent user interface for remotely accessing corporate applications, data, and resources from almost any device. Network managers have more advanced policy management capability for Windows RT devices and have the convenience of managing Windows 8.1 computers as mobile devices without the need for installing a full-blown management client.
Auto-triggered VPN
When a user selects an application or network resource that requires access via the inbox VPN, Windows 8.1 automatically displays a one-click sign-on prompt, eliminating the hassle of launching the inbox VPN client.
Device Encryption for All Clients
Before now, device encryption was restricted to Windows RT and Windows Phone 8 operating systems. All versions of Windows 8.1 make device encryption available, and the Pro and Enterprise editions allow you to configure it with additional BitLocker protection and management features. Consumer devices using a Microsoft account are automatically protected with device encryption.
Boot to Desktop
Windows 8.1 allows you configure to Windows to boot directly to the familiar desktop environment after you have logged on.
OneDrive Cloud-based Storage
OneDrive is an online storage option incorporated into Windows 8.1 that allows you to access, share, and sync files from any device you happen to be using. Once you have signed into your Microsoft account you can browse your OneDrive using either the OneDrive application or the familiar Windows File Explorer utility in the desktop. OneDrive includes 15 GB of free online storage (1 TB for Office 365 subscribers) and users can purchase additional storage capacity from Microsoft.
Miracast Wireless Display Sharing
Developed according to the Wi-Fi Alliance (WFA) wireless display specification, Miracast allows you to use Wi-Fi to project a full Windows 8.1 screen from a laptop, tablet, or all-in-one to a large wireless display-enabled screen of up to 1080p.
Broadband Tethering
You can use a Windows 8.1 mobile broadband-enabled PC or tablet into a Wi-Fi hotspot to allow other devices to connect and access the Internet.
How Progent Can Help You Integrate Windows 8.1
The innovations incorporated in Windows 8.1 and the variety of devices supported by the operating system represent a serious challenge to IT managers responsible for making sure that increasingly heterogeneous networks can function as cohesive information systems. Progent's consultants have experience integrating and maintaining environments that include Windows XP, Windows 7, Windows 8.1, Mac OS, and Linux-based desktops as well as tablets and smartphones powered by Android, Apple iOS, and Windows operating systems. Progent can help you evaluate Windows 8.1 in a proof-of-concept test lab or provide project management services for planning and executing an efficient migration to Windows 8.1 following leading practices. Progent can help you identify and resolve software compatibility issues, revamp your security strategy, update your remote access connections, configure virtual machines, manage mobile devices, and perform other tasks to make sure you benefit fully from the enhanced features of Windows 8.1.
For more details about the enhanced capabilities of Windows 8.1 and for a description of Progent's support services for migrating to Windows 8.1, see Progent's Windows 8.1 migration support.
To control costs, save time, and minimize engineering risk for large-scale migrations, Progent can use Microsoft's deployment automation tools provided with the Windows Assessment and Deployment Kit (ADK). These tools include Windows System Image Manager (Windows SIM) to create custom baseline images, Deployment Imaging Servicing and Management Tool (DISM) for editing existing images, Application Compatibility Toolkit (ACT) for uncovering compatibility issues, User State Migration Tool (USMT) for migrating the personal data of individual users, and Volume Activation Management Toolkit (VAMT) for centralized management of Windows 8.1 activations.
Many of the advanced features offered by Windows 8.1 are accessible only in conjunction with Windows Server 2012 R2. Progent is a Microsoft Certified Partner with a Server Platform competency and can provide expert consulting support for all aspects of Windows Server 2012 R2 integration. Progent can help you evaluate the business case for adopting Windows Server 2012 R2, design a migration plan, set up proof-of-concept pilot systems, provide comprehensive project management services, configure Windows Server 2012 R2 servers and Windows 8.1 computers to work together so as to maximize their business value, develop a sound strategy for security and compliance, and deliver ongoing technical assistance. For details about Progent's support for Windows Server 2012 R2, see Windows Server 2012 R2 consulting services.
Additional Consulting and Support Services for Windows 8 and Windows 8.1
Progent offers a broad range of online and onsite outsourcing and co-sourcing support services to assist organizations of all sizes to deploy, manage, and maintain information systems that include Windows 8.1 desktops, notebooks, tablets, and smartphones. Progent's Technical Response Center can provide cost-effective online access to a Microsoft-certified consultant to resolve issues associated with Windows 8.1 in areas that include compatibility, remote or mobile connectivity, or security and compliance. Progent's desktop management consultants can assist you to cut costs by automating desktop administration tasks like change management, license tracking, performance and security monitoring, and group policy control. Progent's smartphone and wireless tablet consultants can help you deploy and manage a secure BYOD ecosystem that includes Windows 8.1 client computers as well as various smartphones and tablets by offering services like iPhone and Windows 8.1 integration, Android phone setup and management consulting, and BlackBerry and Windows 8.1 integration expertise.
Progent's certified IT security engineers can assist you to refine your security strategy and meet compliance requirements by implementing new security features incorporated into Windows 8.1. Progent also offers a selection of affordable security vulnerability scanning packages that can assess the security profile of Windows PCs, notebooks, smartphones, and tablets. For round-the-clock protection, Progent offers the ProSight suite of network management outsourcing services, a collection of remote network monitoring and reporting services that include Progent's ProSight LAN Watch Windows server and desktop management services and ProSight WAN Watch infrastructure monitoring and management service based on advanced RMM technology. Progent's Cisco-certified CCIE network engineers can show you how to optimize your network infrastructure to support the enhanced remote connectivity technology built into Windows 8, including DirectAccess, BrancheCache, Remote Desktop, and Work Folders.
To improve security and compliance, uptime, throughput, manageability, and disaster recovery for Windows 8.1 computers, Progent's virtualization experts can show you how to deploy the Client Hyper-V technology included with Windows 8.1 Pro and Windows 8.1 Enterprise.
Contact Progent to Find Out More Consulting and Support Services for Windows 8.1
To find out more about ways Progent can help your organization evaluate, test, install, and manage Windows 8.1, phone
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Microsoft Operations Manager Case Study
Urgent MOM Example Application
Before Progent's MOM-based solution, system issues were approached reactively, after users complained about them. With the benefit of proactive, automated alerts and trend reports created by MOM, Progent can now anticipate network problems before they becomes serious enough to impact network uptime. Thanks to MOM, Progent can deal with potential problems before clients know that the problems exist. Progent has expertise with Microsoft Operations Manager 2005 and MOM 2000 to deliver small company networks enterprise-class availability, safety and productivity.
Microsoft 365 migration PowerShell Technology Consulting
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Microsoft supports transparent hybrid environments that combine Microsoft 365 and on-premises Exchange systems. This allows you to have certain Exchange mailboxes located at your on-premises datacenter and other mailboxes resident on Microsoft 365. Progent's certified Exchange consultants can assist your organization with any facet of designing, integrating and troubleshooting your hybrid Exchange Online deployment. Progent's Exchange specialists can provide as-needed support to help you resolve challenging technical bottlenecks and also offer comprehensive project management outsourcing to make sure your hybrid Exchange solution is completed on schedule and on budget.
24-Hour North Carolina Small Office Computer Consulting Services
Alabama Server Support
If your organization does not need emergency online help but you think you will need assistance with your network in the near future, you can conserve time and money and guarantee that the appropriate expertise will be available when you want it by contacting a Progent sales specialist and registering as a client. For details, phone 800-993-9400 or send email to information@progent.com.
Backup Professional
Linux Backup Consulting Services
Progent can provide affordable remote access to engineers skilled in a wide range of products and technologies that provide solutions for protecting Microsoft Windows, Apple Mac, and Linux physical and virtual servers and workstations as well as notebooks and handhelds. Progent can provide help for all major backup products including Acronis, Barracuda Backup, Altaro VM Backup, Symantec Backup Exec, BackupAssist, HP Data Protector, Double-Take, MozyPro, Retrospect, Time Machine, VMware vSphere Data Protection (VDP), and FLARs. Progent can help your company to deploy, enhance, or maintain data backup solutions for a range of environments such as local, edge to datacenter, cloud-based, or a mix.
System Center 2016 and SQL Server On-site Technical Support
System Center 2016 Amazon AWS Integration Support
System Center 2016 delivers important improvements for managing hybrid cloud environments by offering advanced support for Windows Server 2016, Windows 10; seamless integration of mixed-OS environments that include Linux, Hyper-V and VMware; and expanded cloud support including closer integration with Intune for Apple iPhone and Android smartphone administration plus native integration with Operations Management Suite (OSM) for cloud-based analytics and reporting. Progent's Microsoft-certified consulting staff can provide advanced online and onsite support for all components of System Center 2016 including Operations Manager (SCOM), Configuration Manager (SCCM), Virtual Machine Manager, Data Protection Manager (SCDPM), Orchestrator, and Service Manager. Progent can assist organizations of any size to plan and install a new implementation of Microsoft System Center 2016, expand or tune an existing one, upgrade smoothly from a previous version of System Center, or debug your System Center solution.
24x7x365 Wi-Fi RF Coverage Maps Setup and Support
Top Quality Wireless Site Survey Professionals
Progent's Wi-Fi site survey services assist you to plan, deploy and troubleshoot a Wi-Fi LAN customized for your facilities, offering you a WLAN that delivers the reception, performance, capacity, security, and roaming capability your company requires.
Office Word debugging Engineers
Consultancy Office Word 2019
Progent's Microsoft Office Word and Microsoft 365 Word consultants offer a broad selection of affordable online consulting services to assist your organization to manage and troubleshoot your legacy Microsoft Office Word environment or assist you to move to a newer version of Microsoft Office Word. Services offered by Progent's Word experts include VBA software development, isolating and fixing compatibility issues between different releases of Office Word, integrating Word with different Office apps such as Excel and Outlook or with 3rd-party platforms and plug-ins,network optimization for dependable. reliable cloud access, security consulting, smart phone synchronization, and remote training sessions customized for your special requirements.
24-Hour High-Availability Interoffice Connections Consultancy
Fully Redundant Network Engineer
Progent's high availability interoffice connectivity and 24x7 network infrastructure consultants can help small organizations achieve non-stop Interoffice connectivity via redundant networks featuring automatic failover. Progent's CCIE engineers can design and deploy ultra-reliable Inter-office networks based on fault tolerant EIGRP network routers or zero-downtime OSPF deployment of Cisco routers. Progent can demonstrate how redundant connections and automatic fail-over offers economical non-stop interoffice connectivity.
24-7 Specialist Solaris Remote
Immediate Solaris Remote Technology Professional
Progent provides nationwide online technical support and troubleshooting services for businesses that operate Sun Solaris environments or whose IT systems feature a combination of Sun Solaris and Microsoft technology. Online IT help provides optimum leverage for your information technology budget by protecting client productivity and shortening the hours charged for network repair services. Sophisticated online access utilities and experienced technicians and engineers combine to enable Progent to solve the majority of network issues without wasting time and money by traveling to your site. In most of cases your IT issues can be remediated by telephone or via a mix of phone help and online network analysis. Progent can offer the services of Cisco certified CCIE network engineers and CISSP and ISSAP certified security professionals to help you with the most difficult network issues.
Cisco ASA and VMware Technology Consulting Services
Cisco AnyConnect Specialists
Progent's certified Cisco network security consulting professionals offer expert PIX Firewall and ASA Firewall consulting services including architecture, configuration, and support of Cisco firewall and Cisco security technology. The PIX and ASA Security Appliance Series of Cisco firewalls delivers strong user and software policy enforcement, mutlivector attack protection, and secure access services. Ranging from compact, easy-to-install desktop devices for small and home businesses to modular enterprise-class products, Cisco PIX Firewall and ASA Firewalls offer advanced security, performance, and high reliability for IT systems of any size. PIX and ASA Firewalls are based on a hardened, specially designed operating system, minimizing possible OS-specific security gaps.
Dynamics GP Enterprise Reporting Consultants
Microsoft Certified Expert Programming Firm Dynamics GP Excel Reports
Dynamics GP software includes analytics and reporting features that allow you to monitor all operations, sales and spending, and market patterns with integrated drill-down, query, and reporting functions. Progent's Dynamics GP reporting consulting expertise can help you create reports that let you understand your business more thoroughly, turning raw data into useful management information. Progent is able to enhance your reporting and business analysis by providing Crystal Reports expertise, FRx support, and Microsoft Excel assistance. In addition to delivering reporting consulting, Progent can supply Microsoft .NET support, Microsoft SQL Server help, and programming experience with VBasic, XML and other development environments in order to deliver custom line-of-business application development and web commerce solutions that work seamlessly with Dynamics GP.
Microsoft Dynamics GP Integration Services
Microsoft Financial Software Integration
Progent can show you how to prepare and execute an efficient migration to Dynamics GP/Great Plains so that you retain your data, strengthen your security, modernize your management reporting, take full advantage of Microsoft Office integration, and reduce business disruption by designing and following a smart migration plan. Progent can also help train new Dynamics GP/Great Plains users so you don't waste productivity. Progent can improve your financial reports and business analytics by offering Crystal Reports consulting, FRx assistance, and Excel expertise. Progent's background with Microsoft .NET technology, Microsoft SQL Server solutions, and designing with VBasic, XML and other tools make it possible to produce custom business applications and eCommerce programs that work seamlessly with Microsoft Dynamics GP/Great Plains.
Offsite Workforce Video Conferencing Network Consultant
At Home Workers Conferencing Professional
Progent can help small and medium-size businesses to configure and debug teleconferencing solutions to allow their remote workforce to communicate productively with teammates and clients.
Technical Consultant Cisco wireless controller
802.11ax Management Computer Consultants
Progent's Wireless Consulting Services provide a fast, affordable option for companies of all sizes to integrate, manage and repair the latest wireless network solutions. For 802.11n and the latest 802.11ac wireless networks, Progent can help you design and deploy appliances like Cisco's Aironet and Meraki wireless access points and wireless controllers. For wireless messaging and web-based applications, Progent can help with Apple IOS iPhones, Apple iPads, Google Android smartphones, and Windows smartphones and tablets.
Services ransomware removal and file recovery
ransomware cryptoworm recovery Engineer
Progent's ransomware consultants can assist you to assess your ransomware vulnerability, monitor and guard your IT environment, assist with settlement negotiations with a hacker, and restore a network victimized by a ransomware cryptoworm like Ryuk, Maze, Sodinokibi, Netwalker, Snatch or Egregor.
Microsoft Exchange 2007 Consultant
Microsoft Exchange 2007 Consulting Services
Progent's expert consultants can show you how to design and deploy an efficient in-place Microsoft Exchange 2007 migration strategy that minimizes network downtime, simplifies ongoing support requirements, and makes your Exchange Server 2007 easy to manage. For complicated multi-server or multi-location upgrades, Progent has the knowledge and experience to complete your project quickly and economically. Progent's Microsoft Exchange 2007 support, repair, and design services include assistance with the integration of outside vendor add-ons to Microsoft Exchange 2007 Server and the creation of unified messaging implementations powered by Microsoft Exchange 2007 Server.
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