Expanding your at-home workforce can have a major impact on network infrastructure, cybersecurity, and company processes. Progent has two decades of background assisting small and mid-size businesses to design, deploy, manage, tune, and debug IT networks that incorporate work-from-home employees. Progent can assist your Lynnwood organization to pick the appropriate tools and adhere to leading practices in building and maintaining a secure virtual office ecosystem for telecommuters that promotes teamwork and returns maximum value. Progent offers support services that go from on demand expertise for getting you over occasional technical bottlenecks to comprehensive project management to help you successfully complete mission-critical initiatives.

Progent's consultants can help Lynnwood, Washington businesses to succeed with any facet of creating a high-performing remote work ecosystem by providing network infrastructure configuration services, VoIP PBX expertise, video conferencing support, collaboration platform customization and training, public cloud connectivity, Help Desk services, data security, backup/restore solutions, and unified management.

Network Infrastructure for Telecommuters
Setting up the network infrastructure required to support an at-home workforce can be particularly challenging if you must accommodate a combination of personal hardware like PCs and notebooks, Internet routers, and wireless appliances from an assortment of vendors and with a mix of operating systems and firmware releases. Progent's experience providing remote support for both outdated and current IT products in remote office solutions enables you to make cost-effective use of your existing network infrastructure and provides you with ready access to top-tire consultants for implement necessary upgrades. Support services available from Progent to help your company to implement a productive work-at-home infrastructure include:

  • Virtual Private Network (VPN) connectivity allows you to create a secure tunnel for authorized at-home workers to access IT assets situated at your corporate data center or in a public cloud. Progent can assist your company to deploy and maintain VPN access between your teleworkers and your key IT resources by providing remote VPN configuration support. For businesses using Cisco's ASA firewalls, Progent's Cisco ASA Firewall consultants can help your at-home workers to utilize Cisco's AnyConnect client software to provide safe VPN tunneling for a broad range of devices such as Windows, macOS, iOS, Linux, and Google Android.
  • Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI) products enable an at-home worker to view and use a remote computer's desktop. This technology provides IT managers significant control over the digital environment of telecommuters and offers remote users a consistent and more productive experience. Progent's virtual desktop consulting services include Windows Remote Desktop support and Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops VDI solutions.
  • Routers attach home computer networks to the Internet and support VPN tunnels, local wireless connectivity, and firewall services. Progent offers top-tier online support for deploying routers from a range of manufacturers. See router integration services from Cisco-certified consultants.
  • Home Wi-Fi networks, often shared by the whole family and visitors, are frequently utilized by telecommuters to connect to their router for work. This can cause performance as well as cybersecurity issues. Progent can help you to resolve these issues by providing services that include Cisco Aironet integration consulting, Cisco Meraki wireless deployment expertise, and Ubiquiti Unifi WiFi AP setup assistance.
  • Internet access methods impact the speed and reliability of connections between telecommuters and the company data center. Line-of-business processes might demand backup Internet access in case the normal connection breaks. Progent offers expertise for selecting ISPs, selecting sensible bandwidth and data volume offerings, and integrating redundant Internet connections. See Internet access solutions.

VoIP Solutions for Telecommuters
Extending the corporate PBX system to accommodate remote users is vital to maintaining an effective work-at-home solution. A variety of cloud-based digital PBX platforms are popular with small and mid-size businesses to server telecommuters. Many enterprises rely on Cisco's modern or older products for VoIP management. Progent can help businesses of all sizes to plan or tune a telecommuter IP voice service that provides the versatility, transparency and protection needed for at-home workers. Progent's Cisco-certified CCIE IP Voice experts can provide high-level support to assist organizations tune their current Cisco IP voice systems to handle a growing at-home workforce.

  • Cisco Unified Communications Manager (CUCM) delivers advanced IP telephony capabilities to devices such as IP phones, media processing platforms, Voice over IP gateways, and multimedia software used throughout the network. CUCM manages additional mixed media services such as unified messaging, video conferencing, and customer collaboration networks. For more information about Progent's Unified Communications Manager expertise, visit Cisco Unified CM expertise.
  • Cisco CallManager is Cisco's earlier call-processing software and has been replaced by Cisco Unified CM or CUCM. Progent can help your company to support your current CallManager deployment or upgrade efficiently to Cisco's modern IP telephony products. To learn about Progent's expertise for Cisco CallManager and Cisco's other early VoIP platforms, visit CallManager expertise.
  • Cisco IP Gateways provide connectivity with public telephony networks and with clients working beyond the corporate perimeter such as telecommuters. Progent offers expert support for Cisco's earlier generation IP gateways including the UC520, UC540 and UC560 product lines as well as for current Cisco Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) gateways. See Cisco SIP gateway configuration consulting.
  • Additional VoIP Products supported by Progent include Vonage, Intermedia Unite and 8x8. Progent can assist you to enhance your WAN architecture to work with these solutions and provide online deployment and debugging services.

Video Conferencing for an At-Home Workforce
A wide range of video conferencing products from major technology companies support virtual discussions, video conferencing, chat, and screen sharing for both onsite workers and at-home workers. Many organizations use multiple conferencing products to accommodate their various partners and customers. Progent can help your organization to maintain your existing voice/video conferencing environment and enhance the engagement of your at-home employees.

  • Skype for Business is Microsoft's leading communications product that enables real-time presence, IM, voice and video conferencing plus the transparent integration of these functions within Office desktop and Microsoft 365 applications including PowerPoint, Word, and Excel. Progent offers the skills of Microsoft-certified consultants who can assist you to set up and manage Skype for Business client software to support your at-home workforce. To learn more about Progent's support expertise for Skype for Business, see Skype for Business consulting services.
  • FaceTime is Apple's multiuser video calling platform for iOS and macOS computers and smartphones. FaceTime runs over Wi-Fi or cellular Internet connections. Later versions of FaceTime allow up to 32 simultaneous users for video calls. To learn more about Progent's support services for Apple FaceTime, see Progent's FaceTime configuration expertise.
  • Webex Meeting Center supports remote conferencing for most computing devices. Offered through Cisco's Webex Cloud, Webex services include sharing specific content or computer screens, presentations that embed rich media such as Microsoft PowerPoint, network-based recording, plus revision and playback for future reference and training. To learn more about Progent's support services for Webex as well as for additional video conferencing solutions from Cisco, visit Progent's Webex Meeting Center support services.
  • Teams is Microsoft's next-generation replacement for Skype for Business. Teams acts as a portal for conversations, contacts, and information with features such as voice/video calling, persistent threaded chat, plus data sharing. For details about Progent's support services for Teams as well as for other Microsoft 365 products, visit Progent's Microsoft Teams consulting services.
  • Other Conferencing Platforms supported by Progent's conferencing experts include Google Meet, Amazon Chime, Zoom, and Slack. Progent can deliver integration and debugging services for these conferencing platforms and assist you to tune your WAN architecture to run them.

Microsoft Collaboration Platforms for At-Home Workers
Microsoft's collaboration platforms are tightly integrated with Microsoft's popular Office and Microsoft 365 suites, offering a powerful ecosystem of productivity apps that deliver a cohesive user interface for sharing data and ideas throughout multiple sites and on a wide range of endpoint computers. Progent has provided online consulting support for SharePoint and Exchange Server since their first releases and can assist businesses to deploy these critical collaboration platforms to optimize the productivity of your remote workers.

Microsoft's collaboration platforms are tightly integrated with Microsoft's popular Office suite, providing a rich ecosystem of applications that deliver a consistent user experience for sharing information across multiple sites and on a wide variety of endpoint devices. Progent has provided remote consulting services for SharePoint and Exchange since their initial releases and can help at-home workers set up and use these flagship collaboration platforms to maximize productivity.

Microsoft Teams and Teams Premium Solutions Experts for At-Home WorkersMicrosoft Teams works with Microsoft 365 and integrates with third-party cloud services to provide real-time collaboration and communication. Developed as a replacement for Skype for Business Online, Microsoft Teams can support chat, video meetings with screen sharing, phone calls, cloud voicemail, group email, plus file and app sharing. Teams is closely integrated with Microsoft 365 and depends on Exchange Online, SharePoint Online, OneDrive for Business, and Microsoft Entra (formerly called Azure Active Directory) for supporting its complete range of capabilities. For additional information about Progent's consulting services for Microsoft Teams, visit solution design and configuration consulting for Microsoft Teams.

SharePoint Server Integration Experts for At-Home WorkersSharePoint uses web entities to facilitate collaboration and knowledge sharing by providing policy-based access to content, workflow, and tools for looking through company-wide information silos. SharePoint enables you to create protected web portals that allows at-home workforce to view and update consolidated corporate intelligence via Wikis, Blogs, social networking web sites, and Web Parts. For details about Progent's SharePoint consulting services, refer to SharePoint integration and development consulting.

Exchange Integration 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. For information about Progent's Exchange support services, visit planning and configuration consulting services for Microsoft Exchange Server.

Onedrive Configuration Experts for Remote WorkersOneDrive is Microsoft�s shared cloud-based file hosting and synchronization service, similar to GoogleDrive. At-home users can save files to OneDrive, and colleagues anywhere can retrieve them safely through a browser. Included with Microsoft 365, OneDrive enables remote workers to co-edit documents. Revisions made offline are uploaded when you reconnect to the Internet. To find out about Progent's expertise for OneDrive, refer to Microsoft Onedrive configuration consulting.

Cloud Integration for Telecommuters
Progent offers fast and affordable remote support for enabling businesses to build, maintain and optimize cohesive network models that incorporate physical data centers, teleworkers, branches, and public cloud services. Progent offers expertise for all modes of public cloud service such as Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS), Platform as a Service, and Software as a Service. Progent can help remote workers resolve issues with public cloud access, identity, and cybersecurity.

Azure Integration Services for TeleworkersMicrosoft Azure is a leading family of cloud services that allows you to use infrastructure, servers, and key apps running on Microsoft's massive cloud. Microsoft Azure offers over 100 services services such as the ability to host Windows and Linux-based virtual machines, scalable cloud storage, messaging, app development with Visual Studio, and data protection. Progent can assist your organization to deploy VMs on Azure Virtual Machines, integrate storage on Azure Storage services, unify identity control with Azure AD, and design data backup and restore systems with Azure Backup. Progent can also help you establish secure connections to Azure for telecommuters by setting up and debugging firewalls and VPN IPsec tunnels. To learn about Progent's support services for Azure, refer to Microsoft Azure consulting services.

Microsoft 365 Integration for Remote WorkersMicrosoft 365, previously branded Office 365, is Microsoft's popular family of client productivity applications and cloud services available by subscription. Office apps and services are marketed in a variety of bundles designed for users ranging from students and households to large enterprises. Progent can provide quick and affordable online access to experts knowledgeable about Microsoft 365-compatible client devices running Windows, Mac, iOS, and Google Android technology. Progent's experts can assist you to evaluate the numerous subscription plans offered with Microsoft 365 and deploy 365 applications for your teleworkers to achieve top business value. For details about Progent's consulting expertise for Microsoft 365, visit Microsoft 365 integration expertise.

Exchange Online Integration for TeleworkersExchange Online is among the most widely used cloud-based applications in the Microsoft 365 product suite. Exchange Online provides the benefits of lower costs for data center infrastructure, simplified management, on-demand scaling, high availability, and additional benefits associated with public clouds. Microsoft has engineered Exchange Online to run smoothly with local deployments of Exchange, allowing customers to build hybrid cloud/onsite networks. Progent's Exchange consultants can provide occasional help to get you through challenging technical bottlenecks and also offer comprehensive project management outsourcing to ensure your remote workers have easy and safe access to your Microsoft 365 Exchange Online environment. To find out Progent's consulting expertise for Exchange Online, refer to Microsoft 365 Exchange Online configuration and troubleshooting expertise.

Amazon AWS Integration for Remote WorkersAmazon AWS is a pioneer in the public cloud computing market and is the industry's leading provider of cloud-based services. Progent can provide rapid and affordable online access to cloud integration consultants who can help your business to plan, implement, manage, and debug hybrid information networks that incorporate Amazon AWS cloud services with on-premises resources and with other public clouds like Azure. Progent also can provide access to Cisco-certified CCIE networking consultants to help you to create a high-availability network architecture so your employees have a productive computing experience whether they are working from your main office, a remote branch, at home, or on the move. To find out about Progent's consulting expertise for Amazon AWS, see Amazon AWS integration expertise.

Google Cloud Platform Integration for TelecommutersGoogle Cloud Platform is a popular suite of cloud computing services that provides Infrastructure-as-a-Service and Platform-as-a-Service products. Progent's certified Microsoft, Linux, and Cisco consulting experts can help you to scale your existing IT resources with the Google Cloud, and Progent's database consultants can show you how to make your key apps cloud friendly so your teleworkers can benefit fully from Google Cloud Platform services. Progent's consultants can help your organization to set up virtual machines on GCP Compute Engine, plan an efficient storage solution with Google Cloud Storage, and simplify access control for telecommuters with GCP Cloud Identity services. Progent's experts can also help you to use GCP's management technology to administer and monitor your Google Cloud ecosystem. For information, go to Google Cloud Platform (GCP) consulting support.

Help Desk Services for At-Home Workers
A rapid, organization-wide transition to a teleworker workforce, which might be activated by an epidemic or as a component of a business continuity process, can overwhelm even a high-performing internal Call Center. Progent's Help Desk services make it possible for organizations to outsource or supplement their Call Center by using Progent's online Technical Response Center services.

  • Progent's Standard Help Desk support services utilize Progent's nationwide network of remote technical support experts combined with enterprise-class ticketing and follow-up technology to provide an affordable, state-of-the-art Call Center. Progent's Standard Help Desk Services offer a comprehensive solution that handles all facets of remote Level 1 desktop technical support from initial help requests to ticket creation, desktop sharing, issue resolution, and incident reporting. A web-based User's Service Portal allows from-home workers to check or revise the status of their current trouble tickets, add information, and upload screenshots and attachments. Support services are delivered at a substantial price reduction off Progent's normal Level 1 desktop service rates, and Progent makes available the option of fast hand-off to Level 2 and Level 3 IT experts to deal with advanced issues. For more information, visit Progent's Standard Helpdesk Services for small and mid-size companies.
  • Progent's Call Center Augmentation Service allows you to augment your current Help Desk organization by splitting delivery of Call Center services seamlessly between your in-house IT support organization and Progent's extensive roster of desktop support technicians and subject matter specialists. Progent's co-managed Help Desk Call Center service is based on a collective support model based on the number one PSA tool for managing service requests and ticketing, establishing responsibility, monitoring progress, and generating reports. To learn how Progent's Help Desk Augmentation Services can enable your company to deliver world-class desktop support to your at-home employees, visit Progent's Help Desk Call Center augmentation Services.

Security for At-Home Workers
Work-from-Home (WFH) staff members typically utilize their own devices and usually operate in an unsecured physical space. This increases their vulnerability to cyber attacks and requires careful deployment of corporate firewalls, AV tools, multi-factor authentication, remote endpoint monitoring, intensive end-user training, and the creation of security policies built on leading practices. Progent's veteran roster of cybersecurity support experts can assist your business to plan, deploy and maintain an effective security solution that protects vital information assets in networks that include an at-home workforce.

Firewall Integration Services for At-Home WorkersFirewalls allow you to build a network that can be securely accessed by on-premises users and by telecommuters, mobile users, suppliers, clients, and the public. Modern firewall devices permit you to assign and manage appropriate permissions to different groups of users and to expand your network and adjust your security as your business evolves and as network attacks become increasingly sophisticated. Progent supports both new and legacy firewall appliances from all leading vendors including Cisco, Palo Alto Networks, WatchGuard, Juniper, SonicWall and Fortinet. For details about Progent's firewall support expertise, see firewall support services.

Remote Security Monitoring Services for At-Home WorkersRemote Endpoint Security Monitoring makes it easy to track the disparate devices used by remote workers and either reject or identify and respond to the latest cyber attacks like ransomware. With ProSight Active Security Monitoring services, a small-footprint software agent is installed on every protected endpoint device, watching all activity and utilizing advanced behavioral threat analysis from SentinelOne to detect zero-day attacks before they can spread. When a cyberattack is discovered, ProSight ASM immediately disconnects the targeted endpoint device from the corporate network to quarantine the malware. Since the ProSight ASM agent is self-contained, endpoints remain protected even when they are disconnected from the Internet. Progent is a SentinelOne Partner, reseller, and integrator. To learn more about ProSight ASM, refer to remote endpoint security monitoring for teleworkers.

Two-factor Authentication (2FA) Services for TelecommutersProgent's Duo authentication Managed Services utilize Cisco's Duo cloud technology to protect against password theft through the use of two-factor authentication. Duo enables single-tap identity confirmation with iOS, Google Android, and other personal devices. With Duo 2FA, when you sign into a protected application and give your password you are asked to confirm your identity via a device that only you have and that uses a different network channel. A broad range of devices can be utilized for this second form of ID validation including a smartphone or wearable, a hardware token, a landline phone, etc. You may register several validation devices. For more information about ProSight Duo identity authentication services, see Duo MFA two-factor authentication services for telecommuters.

Security Audit Services for At-Home WorkersSecurity Audits can assess the vulnerability of your network to all classes of external and local security attacks for an environment that incorporates an at-home workforce. Progent can run remote, automated security inventory software for rapidly and economically uncovering a broad range of security holes that can be found over the Internet. Progent's endpoint security assessment consulting services, which can be provided by data security professionals with top certifications including CISA, CISSP, and GIAC, can help you to evaluate your procedures and governance policies and review your WAN architecture to enable you to design top-level protection for your telecommuters.

NodeZero Pen Testing for Work-from-Home EnpointsHorizon3.ai's NodeZero Penetration Testing Platform is a breakthrough penetration test (pentest) product family that supports automated testing of your at-home environment and your internal and perimeter networks so you can expose, rank, remediate, and verify security weaknesses before malicious hackers can take advantage of them. Progent can assist you to use NodeZero to carry out thorough penetration tests of your network perimeter and your internal network in order to evaluate your current security posture. Progent's NodeZero experts can also help you to strengthen your existing network security and can help you to design and deploy a cohesive cybersecurity strategy that streamlines management and provides optimum cyber defense for on-premises, multi-cloud, at-home, and perimeter IT resources. To find out more details about Progent's threat analysis services powered by on NodeZero's penetration test products, refer to Consulting Support for NodeZero's Pentest Products.

Download White Paper: Protecting a Work-From-Home (WFH) Environment
To read or download a white paper describing key areas to focus on for securing a network that supports work-from-home staff, click:
Protecting a Work-From-Home (WFH) Network White Paper. (PDF - 2.4 MB)

Data Protection Solutions for Telecommuters
The field of Data Protection covers backing up and recovering critical data in order to avoid data loss and minimize recovery time in the event of storage system failures due to hardware issues, programming glitches, human mistakes, malware, or any other reason. Reliable data protection solutions can be particularly challenging to architect and manage in hybrid environments that combine in-house data centers, public clouds, and an at-home workforce.

  • Backup/Restore strategies for an at-home workforce must address multiple types of personally owned endpoint devices. Progent can provide quick online help from consultants knowledgeable about a wide range of platforms for protection Windows, Apple and Linux/UNIX powered servers and desktop computers as well as laptops, tablets and handhelds. Popular backup/recovery products maintained by Progent's data protection consultants include Barracuda Backup, Microsoft Azure Backup, DoubleTake Software, CrashPlan, Retrospect, and Time Machine. To protect data spread across a hybrid network, Progent offers ProSight Data Protection Services, a managed backup/recovery service that uses cloud storage and includes granular restore and centralized management capabilities.
  • Disaster Recovery/Business Continuity plans typically anticipate circumstances that call for a quick changeover to a work-at-home environment. Progent's expert disaster recovery planning experts and business continuity planning consultants can help your business to create, document and test a DR/BC strategy that includes the process of moving to telecommuting.

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

Microsoft Intune
Intune is part of Microsoft's Endpoint Management family that also includes Microsoft Configuration Manager. Intune is a cloud-based service for managing and protecting mobile computers and applications. Managed endpoint devices can be personally owned or company owned. Network administrators managing the enrolled endpoint devices of teleworkers can utilize Intune to provision and validate applications on devices, push updates and certificates, configure policies for accessing information and networks, set passwords, establish VPN connections, control how telecommuters share data, set up threat defense, ensure security compliance, and delete sensitive data from missing, stolen or decommissioned devices. Microsoft Intune can be used with iOS, Google Android, Windows, and macOS endpoints. For information about Intune and how Progent can assist you to use Microsoft's Endpoint Management to administer the devices of your teleworkers, refer to Intune remote endpoint management expertise.

VMware Workspace ONE
VMware Workspace ONE is an advanced centralized MDM platform that allows network administrators to keep off-premises endpoint devices up to date and protected. Workspace ONE uses VMware AirWatch for unified endpoint administration combined with VMware's Horizon virtual application delivery technology for authorization control, application management, and setup management of endpoint devices. Workspace ONE runs with endpoints powered by Windows 10, macOS, iOS, Android, Chrome OS, or leading distributions of Linux. VMware Workspace ONE is available by subscription as a cloud service or as an on-premises product via a one-time purchase. Key features of Workspace ONE include fast remote provisioning of out-of-the-box notebooks, quick onboarding of new users, policy setting and enforcement for all classes of endpoints, unifies management reporting and performance analytics, an email encryption gateway, and seamless integration with Microsoft applications and cloud products. For information about Progent's support services for VMware Workspace ONE, visit VMware Workspace ONE remote device management consultants.

Contact Progent for At-Home Worker Expertise
To contact Progent about creating and managing a productive telecommuter solution for your Lynnwood, Washington organization, phone 1-800-993-9400 or visit Contact Progent.