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Enlarging your remote workforce may have a significant impact on IT architecture, security, and corporate processes. Progent has 20 years of background helping small and mid-size businesses to plan, configure, administer, optimize, and troubleshoot IT environments that incorporate a remote workforce. Progent can assist you to select the appropriate tools and adhere to leading practices in creating and operating a safe virtual ecosystem for telecommuters that promotes collaboration and delivers maximum business value. Progent offers support services that go from as-needed expertise for getting you over challenging IT roadblocks to full project management to help you carry out mission-critical tasks.

Progent can assist you to with any aspect of creating a high-performing work-at-home environment by providing network infrastructure design and configuration services, VoIP PBX troubleshooting, voice/video conferencing integration, collaboration platform selection and deployment, public cloud integration, Call Desk services, security monitoring, backup/restore solutions, and streamlined management.

Network Infrastructure for a Remote Workforce
Configuring the network infrastructure needed for a remote workforce can be particularly complicated if you have to accommodate a mix of personal hardware like desktop computers and notebooks, routers, and Wi-Fi appliances from an assortment of vendors and with a mix of operating systems and firmware levels. Progent's experience providing remote support for both outdated and current IT products in remote office solutions allows you to make cost-effective use of your available network infrastructure and provides you with ready access to top-tire consultants for implement necessary upgrades. Support services offered by Progent to assist you to implement a high-functioning telecommuting ecosystem include:

• VPN technology allows you to create a safe tunnel for authenticated at-home employees to access IT resources located at your corporate datacenter or in the cloud. Progent can assist your company to deploy and maintain VPN access between your teleworkers and your various network resources by providing remote VPN integration consulting. For businesses using Cisco's ASA security appliances, Progent's Cisco-certified ASA consultants can assist your remote workers to set up Cisco's popular AnyConnect client software for secure VPN tunneling for a wide selection of endpoint devices such as Windows, macOS, Apple iOS, Linux, and Google Android.
• Virtual Desktop Infrastructure products enable a telecommuter to see and interact with a data center PC's desktop. This technology provides network managers more control over the digital ecosystem of at-home employees and ensures remote users a familiar work experience. Progent's VDI consulting services include Windows Remote Desktop integration and Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops expertise.
• Routers connect home computer networks to the Internet and typically support VPN tunnels, local Wi-Fi connectivity, and firewalls. Progent can provide expert online consulting for setting up routers from a variety of manufacturers. See router configuration support from Cisco-certified experts.
• Home Wi-Fi networks, typically supporting families and guests, are frequently utilized by telecommuters to connect to their router for work. This can cause performance and security problems. Progent can assist you to mitigate these issues by providing services that include Cisco Aironet integration consulting, Cisco-certified Meraki wireless deployment expertise, and Ubiquiti Unifi wireless AP integration help.
• Internet connectivity methods impact the performance and availability of connections between telecommuters and the company network. Line-of-business applications may require redundant Internet access in the event the normal connection fails. Progent can provide guidance for selecting Internet service providers, selecting appropriate bandwidth and data volume bundles, and setting up high-availability Internet connections. See Internet connectivity solutions.

VoIP Integration for At-Home Workers
Extending the company PBX system to include telecommuters is vital to maintaining an effective at-home workforce. A variety of cloud-based VoIP products are popular with small and mid-size businesses to server remote users. Many enterprises depend on Cisco's current or legacy platforms for VoIP management. Progent can assist organizations of any size to design or tune a remote VoIP service that provides the versatility, convenience and protection required for at-home workers. Progent's Cisco-certified CCIE IP Voice consultants offer advanced support to assist organizations tune their existing Cisco IP voice environments to support an expanding at-home workforce.

• Cisco Unified Communications Manager (CUCM) extends high-end telephony capabilities to devices like IP phones, media processing platforms, Voice over IP gateways, and mixed media applications used across the network. Unified Communications Manager manages additional mixed media services such as messaging, video conferencing, and team interaction networks. For details about Progent's CUCM expertise, see Cisco Unified CM consultants.
• Cisco CallManager is Cisco's legacy call-processing software and has been superseded by CUCM. Progent can assist you to support your existing CallManager deployment or upgrade smoothly to Cisco's modern IP telephony products. To learn about Progent's support services for CallManager and Cisco's other early VoIP products, see CallManager consulting services.
• Cisco IP Gateways enable connectivity with public telephony networks and with clients working beyond the corporate perimeter such as at-home workers. Progent offers consulting expertise for Cisco's earlier generation IP gateways including the UC520, UC540 and UC560 series and for modern Cisco SIP gateways. See Cisco SIP gateway integration expertise.
• Other VoIP Platforms supported by Progent include Vonage, RingCentral and 8x8. Progent can help you to update your WAN infrastructure to support these solutions and deliver as-needed integration and debugging services.

Voice/Video Conferencing for Teleworkers
A broad range of voice/video conferencing platforms from leading technology companies support online discussions, video conferencing, chat sessions, and screen sharing for both local workers and teleworkers. Many organizations utilize multiple conferencing products to meet the needs of their various partners and clients. Progent can help your organization to manage your current voice/video conferencing environment and optimize the engagement of your remote workforce.

• Skype for Business is Microsoft's popular communications platform that enables real-time presence, instant messaging, voice and video conferencing plus the transparent integration of these capabilities within Office desktop and Microsoft 365 applications including PowerPoint, Word, Excel and Outlook. Progent offers the skills of Microsoft-certified consultants who can assist your company to configure and manage Skype for Business client software to accommodate your remote workforce. To learn more about Progent's support services for Skype for Business, visit Skype for Business integration services.
• FaceTime is Apple's group video calling platform for iOS and macOS computers and smartphones. FaceTime works on Wi-Fi or cellular Internet connections. Current versions of FaceTime support up to 32 simultaneous users for voice/video calls. To learn more about Progent's support expertise for FaceTime, refer to Progent's FaceTime configuration expertise.
• Webex Meeting Center provides remote conferencing for virtually all desktop or mobile devices. Delivered through Cisco's Webex Cloud, Webex capabilities include sharing discrete content or screens, presentations that incorporate rich media including Microsoft PowerPoint, network-based recording, plus revision and playback for future reference. To learn more about Progent's support services for Cisco Webex as well as for other video conferencing products from Cisco, visit Progent's Webex Meeting Center support services.
• Teams is Microsoft's follow-up for Skype for Business. Teams acts as a portal for conferencing, contacts, and information with features such as IP voice and video calling, persistent threaded chat, plus file sharing. For details about Progent's support services for Microsoft Teams and for additional Microsoft 365 products, see Progent's Microsoft Teams consulting services.
• Additional Voice/Video Conferencing Apps supported by Progent include Google Meet, Amazon Chime, Zoom, and Slack. Progent can provide configuration and troubleshooting services for these products and assist you to tune your network architecture to run them.

Microsoft Collaboration Platforms for At-Home Workers
Microsoft's collaboration platforms are closely integrated with Microsoft's familiar Microsoft Office and Microsoft 365 families, providing a rich environment of productivity apps that deliver a cohesive user interface for sharing information across a corporate network and on a wide range of endpoint devices. Progent has provided remote consulting services for SharePoint and Exchange Server since their original publication and can assist your company to deploy these critical collaboration platforms to optimize the productivity of your remote workforce.

SharePoint utilizes web entities to facilitate collaboration and information delivery by offering policy-based delivery of data, workflow, and utilities for searching through enterprise-wide business data. SharePoint allows you to create protected web portals that enables at-home workers to view and update aggregated business intelligence via Intranets (Wikis), Blogs, social web sites, and Web Parts. To learn about Progent's SharePoint consulting services, refer to SharePoint integration and application development expertise.

Exchange 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 expertise, see deployment consulting for Exchange Server.

OneDrive is Microsoft�s shared cloud file hosting and synchronization service, comparable to GoogleDrive. Remote workers can save files to OneDrive, and co-workers can access them securely through a browser. Included with Office and Microsoft 365, OneDrive enables remote workers to co-edit documents. Edits made offline are synced when you reconnect to the Internet. To learn about Progent's consulting services for Microsoft OneDrive, refer to Onedrive configuration consulting.

Public Cloud Integration for At-Home Workers
Progent can provide advanced remote assistance for enabling businesses to create, manage and troubleshoot cohesive hybrid network architectures that include physical data centers, teleworkers, branch offices, plus public cloud services. Progent offers expertise for all types of public cloud service delivery including Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS), Platform as a Service (PaaS), and Software as a Service (SaaS). Progent can help teleworkers fix issues with cloud connectivity, identity, and cybersecurity.

Microsoft Azure is a popular platform for cloud software and services that allows you to utilize infrastructure, servers, and key applications running on Microsoft's extensive cloud. Microsoft Azure features more than one hundred cloud-based services such as the ability to host Windows and Linux-based VMs, on-demand cloud storage, messaging, app development with Visual Studio, and data protection. Progent can help you to set up VMs on Azure Virtual Machines, integrate storage on Azure Storage services, unify identity management with Azure Active Directory, and plan backup and recovery systems with Azure Backup. Progent's cloud experts can also help you create protected connections to Azure services for teleworkers by configuring and troubleshooting firewall appliances and VPN tunnels. For information about Progent's support services for Azure, visit Microsoft Azure consulting.

Microsoft 365, formerly branded Office 365, is Microsoft's popular family of client productivity applications and cloud-based services available by subscription. Office apps and services are marketed in a variety of plans intended for customers ranging from students and small offices to major corporations. Progent can provide quick and easy remote contact with experts familiar with Microsoft 365-compatible endpoints running Windows, Mac, iOS, and Google Android technology. Progent can assist you to assess the various subscription plans available for Microsoft 365 and deploy 365 apps for your remote workers in a way that delivers top business value. To find out about Progent's consulting services for Microsoft 365, see Microsoft 365 integration support.

Exchange Online is among the most popular applications in Azure-hosted Microsoft 365 product line. Exchange Online offers the benefits of reduced spending for data center infrastructure, simplified management, dynamic scaling, high reliability, and other advantages inherent with cloud computing. Microsoft has engineered Microsoft 365 Exchange Online to operate seamlessly with local Exchange environments, allowing you to build hybrid cloud/onsite information systems. Progent's Exchange experts can provide as-needed assistance to guide you past tough technical bottlenecks and can also provide end-to-end project management outsourcing to ensure your at-home workers have easy and safe access to your Exchange Online deployment. To learn Progent's consulting expertise for Exchange Online, see Microsoft 365 Exchange Online configuration and troubleshooting expertise.

Amazon Web Services (AWS) is a pioneer in the public cloud market and is the world's top source of cloud-based services. Progent can provide rapid and economical online access to cloud integration experts who can assist your organization to design, deploy, maintain, and debug hybrid information networks that integrate Amazon AWS cloud-based services with local resources and with other popular cloud platforms like Azure. Progent also offers the skills of Cisco-certified CCIE networking experts to assist you to build a high-availability network architecture to make sure your users have a consistent computing experience regardless of whether they are working from your main office, a branch office, from home, or on the road. For information about Progent's consulting services for Amazon AWS, refer to Amazon AWS integration expertise.

Google Cloud Platform is a popular set of public cloud services that provides Infrastructure-as-a-Service and Platform-as-a-Service (PaaS) products. Progent's Microsoft, Linux, and Cisco experts can help your business to expand your existing IT resources with the Google Cloud Platform, and Progent's DBA experts 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, plan an efficient storage system with Google Cloud Storage, and simplify access control for at-home workers with GCP Cloud Identity services. Progent's experts can also assist you to utilize GCP's unified management technology to control and track your Google Cloud ecosystem. For information, refer to Google Cloud Platform consulting support.

Help Desk Call Center Services for At-Home Workers
A sudden, company-wide transition to a teleworker business model, which might be the result of a pandemic or as part of a disaster recovery preparedness plan, can overwhelm even the most efficient in-house Call Desk. Progent's Help Desk services make it possible for organizations of any size to outsource or augment their Support Desk with Progent's online Technical Response Center services.

• Progent's Standard Call Desk services utilize Progent's extensive network of online IT support specialists combined with enterprise-class ticketing and tracking technology to offer an affordable, modern Call Desk. Progent's Standard Help Desk Services offer an end-to-end solution that handles all aspects of remote Level 1 PC support from service requests through trouble ticket creation, screen sharing, issue resolution, and reporting. A browser-based User's Service Portal enables telecommuters to check or edit the status of their current trouble tickets, enter details, and upload screenshots or relevant files. Desktop support services are delivered at a significant discount off Progent's normal Level 1 technical support charges, and Progent makes available the option of fast escalation to Level 2 and Level 3 IT experts to resolve complex issues. For more information, see Progent's Standard Helpdesk Services outsourcing for small companies.
• Progent's Help Desk Call Center Supplemental Service allows you to augment your current Help Desk Call Center staff by splitting delivery of Call Center support services transparently between your in-house support organization and Progent's extensive team of desktop support technicians and subject matter experts. Progent's co-managed Call Desk service is based on a collaborative support model based on the number one PSA platform for handling service requests and ticketing, assigning responsibility, monitoring progress, and producing management reports. For information about how Progent's Support Desk Augmentation Services can help your business to deliver world-class IT support to your telecommuters, refer to Progent's Call Center supplementation Services.

Security for Remote Workers
Work-from-Home workers commonly use their own computing devices and often work in an unsecured physical environment. This situation multiplies their vulnerability to cyber threats and requires judicious deployment of firewalls, anti-malware tools, MFA-based identity verification, remote endpoint monitoring, extensive end-user training, and the development of security policies built on leading practices. Progent's seasoned group of data security solutions consultants can help your business to plan, deploy and maintain an effective security solution that guards vital IT assets in networks that include an at-home workforce.

Firewalls allow companies to create a network that can be securely utilized by on-premises users and by an at-home workforce, mobile users, suppliers, customers, and the public. Next-generation firewall appliances allow you to configure and manage different permissions to various classes of users and to expand your IT network and modify your security profile as your company evolves and as cyber threats become more complex. Progent supports both current and older security devices from all major manufacturers including Cisco, Palo Alto Networks, WatchGuard, Juniper, SonicWall and Fortinet. To find out more about Progent's firewall support services, visit firewall support services.

Remote Endpoint Security Monitoring makes it possible to watch over the disparate devices utilized by at-home workers and either reject or identify and respond to modern threats like ransomware. With Progent's ProSight Active Security Monitoring (ASM) services, a small-footprint software agent is put on each protected endpoint, monitoring all activity and using state-of-the-art machine learning and full execution context from SentinelOne to detect zero-day attacks at inception. When an attack is discovered, ProSight ASM immediately isolates the impacted device from the network to quarantine the malware. Since the ProSight ASM agent is autonomous, endpoints stay secure even if they are disconnected from the Internet. To find out more about ProSight Active Security Monitoring, go to remote endpoint monitoring for telecommuters.

Progent's Duo MFA service plans utilize Cisco's Duo technology to protect against stolen passwords through the use of two-factor authentication (2FA). Duo supports single-tap identity verification on iOS, Google Android, and other out-of-band devices. With Duo 2FA, when you log into a secured application and give your password you are asked to verify who you are on a unit that only you have and that is accessed using a different network channel. A broad selection of out-of-band devices can be utilized for this second form of ID validation including an iPhone or Android or watch, a hardware token, a landline telephone, etc. You may designate several validation devices. For details about ProSight Duo identity authentication services, visit Duo MFA two-factor authentication (2FA) services for an at-home workforce.

Security Audits can evaluate the exposure of your network to all types of outside and local security threats for a network that incorporates telecommuters. Progent can run online, automated cybersecurity analysis scanning for quickly and economically detecting a broad range of security gaps that can be surfaced over the Internet. Progent's security audit consulting services, which can be managed by network security experts with advanced credentials including CISA, CISSP, and GIAC, can help you to audit your operations and governance policies and review your WAN architecture to enable you to design the highest level of security for your teleworkers.

Download White Paper: Securing a Work-From-Home (WFH) Network
To read or download a white paper about critical things to focus on for protecting an IT environment that supports telecommuters, click:
Protecting a Work-From-Home Network White Paper. (PDF - 2.4 MB)

Data Protection for At-Home Workers
The field of Data Protection covers backing up and restoring critical information in order to prevent data loss and minimize restoration time and effort in the event of storage system problems due to equipment breakdowns, software glitches, human error, malware, or other causes. Dependable data protection strategies can be especially difficult to design and maintain in hybrid networks that combine in-house data centers, cloud resources, and an at-home workforce.

• Backup/Recovery solutions for remote workers must address diverse kinds of personally owned endpoint devices. Progent can provide quick remote access to experts knowledgeable about a broad range of products for backing up Windows, Apple and Linux/UNIX powered servers and desktop computers as well as notebooks, iPads and handhelds. Leading backup/recovery solutions maintained by Progent's backup/recovery experts include Barracuda Backup, Azure Backup, Symantec Backup Exec, Acronis Backup and Recovery, Mozy, and Time Machine. To protect data spread across a wide area network, Progent offers ProSight Data Protection Services, a managed backup/recovery subscription service that utilizes cloud storage and features fine-grained recovery and unified management.
• Disaster Recovery/Business Continuity (DR/BC) plans commonly anticipate scenarios that require a temporary switch to telecommuting. Progent's senior disaster recovery planning consultants and business continuity planning specialists can assist you to create, document and validate a DR/BC strategy that includes the process of moving to an at-home workforce.

Unified Management for At-Home Workers
Microsoft has rebranded and reshuffled its endpoint management products under the title Endpoint Manager, which includes Intune for cloud management of remote endpoints and Configuration Manager for managing onsite computers. Endpoint Manager features a centralized environment for protecting corporate information by managing onsite, mobile, and home-based endpoint devices.

Microsoft Intune
Intune is part of Microsoft's Endpoint Management suite that also includes Microsoft Configuration Manager. Intune is a cloud-based service for managing and protecting remote computers and software. Remote endpoint computers can be personally owned or business owned. IT administrators managing the endpoint computers of teleworkers can utilize Intune to provision and authenticate apps on managed devices, push updates and certificates, configure policies for accessing data and resources, set passwords, create VPN connections, control how home-based workers share information, establish threat defense, ensure security compliance, and wipe sensitive information from lost, stolen or deactivated endpoint devices. Intune runs with iOS/iPadOS, Android, Windows, and macOS/OS X endpoints. To find out about Intune and how Progent can assist your company to use Microsoft's Endpoint Management to administer the devices of your telecommuters, go to Intune remote endpoint management consultants.

VMware Workspace ONE
VMware Workspace ONE is a feature-rich centralized MDM platform that allows network administrators to keep off-premises endpoints up to date and secure. Workspace ONE incorporates VMware AirWatch technology for unified endpoint administration plus VMware's Horizon virtual application delivery technology for identity control, app management, and configuration management of endpoint devices. Workspace ONE runs with endpoints based on Windows 10, macOS, iOS, Android, Chrome OS, or popular distros of Linux. VMware Workspace ONE is available by subscription as a cloud service or as an on-site deployment through a one-time purchase. Key features of Workspace ONE include rapid over-the-air provisioning of out-of-the-box notebooks, quick onboarding of new users, policy set up and enforcement for all classes of endpoints, unifies reporting and performance analytics, email encryption, and integration with Microsoft apps and cloud products. For details about Progent's support services for VMware Workspace ONE, refer to VMware Workspace ONE remote endpoint management expertise.

Contact Progent for Remote Workforce Support Services
To contact Progent about building and managing a productive telecommuter solution, phone 1-800-993-9400 or go to Contact Progent.