Expanding your at-home workforce may have a major effect on network architecture, security/compliance, and corporate processes. Progent has 20 years of experience helping businesses of all sizes to design, configure, administer, tune, and troubleshoot IT networks that incorporate a remote workforce. Progent can assist your Belo Horizonte organization to select the appropriate tools and follow leading practices in building and operating a secure virtual solution for teleworkers that facilitates collaboration and returns maximum business value. Progent offers services that go from as-needed guidance for getting you past occasional technical bottlenecks to full project management or co-management to help you successfully complete business-critical tasks.

Progent's consultants can assist Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais businesses to with any facet of building a high-performing remote work ecosystem by providing network infrastructure configuration services, IP voice expertise, voice/video conferencing support, collaboration platform selection and deployment, public cloud connectivity, helpdesk augmentation, data security, data protection solutions, and unified management.

Network Infrastructure for a Remote Workforce
Setting up the physical and software infrastructure needed for a remote work environment can be especially challenging if you must accommodate a mix of worker-owned hardware such as PCs and laptops, Internet routers, and Wi-Fi appliances from various manufacturers and with a variety of OS software and firmware levels. Progent's background providing remote support for both outdated and current technologies in remote office solutions allows you to make efficient use of your available network infrastructure and offers fast access to top-tire consultants for implement essential upgrades. Support services available from Progent to help you to implement a high-functioning work-at-home infrastructure include:

  • VPN technology makes it possible to create a safe connection for authorized at-home workers to use IT assets located at your corporate data center or in a public cloud. Progent's consultants can assist your company to deploy and maintain VPN access between your at-home workforce and your key network resources by providing online VPN configuration consulting. For organizations with Cisco's ASA security appliances, Progent's Cisco-certified ASA Firewall consultants can help your remote workers to utilize Cisco's popular AnyConnect client software to provide safe VPN tunneling for a broad selection of devices such as Microsoft Windows, macOS, iOS, Linux, and Android.
  • Virtual Desktop Infrastructure products allow an at-home worker to view and interact with a remote PC's desktop. This technology provides network managers significant control over the computing ecosystem of at-home employees and offers them a familiar experience. Progent's VDI services include Windows Remote Desktop integration and Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops VDI expertise.
  • Routers connect at-home networks to the Internet and support VPN tunnels, local wireless networks, and firewalls. Progent can provide top-tier remote consulting for configuring routers from a range of manufacturers. See router integration services from Cisco-certified consultants.
  • Home Wireless networks, typically shared by the whole family and guests, are frequently utilized by at-home employees to access their Internet router for work. This can cause throughput and security issues. Progent can help you to resolve these problems by providing expertise that include Cisco Aironet configuration expertise, Cisco Meraki wireless installation expertise, and Ubiquiti wireless AP setup help.
  • Internet connectivity solutions affect the performance and availability of connections between telecommuters and the corporate network. Vital processes may require backup Internet access in the event the normal connection fails. Progent offers guidance for selecting Internet service providers, picking sensible bandwidth and data volume offerings, and configuring fault-tolerant Internet connections. Refer to Internet access integration services.

IP Voice Integration for Remote Workers
Expanding the company phone environment to accommodate remote users is vital to maintaining an effective work-at-home solution. A broad range of cloud-centric VoIP platforms are used by SMBs to server telecommuters. Many larger organizations depend on Cisco's modern or older platforms for VoIP management. Progent can assist organizations of any size to plan or tune a telecommuter IP voice environment that provides the flexibility, convenience and security required for at-home workers. Progent's Cisco-certified CCIE Voice experts can provide high-level support to help organizations tune their existing Cisco IP voice systems to handle an expanding remote workforce.

  • Cisco Unified Communications Manager (Cisco Unified CM) extends high-end telephony capabilities to devices like VoIP phones, media processing platforms, Voice over IP gateways, and mixed media software used throughout the network. CUCM manages other combined media services like unified messaging, voice/video conferencing, and customer interaction networks. For more information about Progent's CUCM support, refer to Cisco Unified Communications Manager expertise.
  • CallManager is Cisco's legacy call-processing agent and has been superseded by CUCM. Progent can help you to support your current CallManager environment or upgrade efficiently to Cisco's modern IP telephony products. For details about Progent's support services for Cisco CallManager and Cisco's other legacy VoIP platforms, see Cisco CallManager consulting.
  • Cisco IP Gateways provide connectivity with public telephony networks and with clients working outside the corporate firewall such as telecommuters. Progent can provide consulting expertise for Cisco's legacy IP gateways including the UC520, UC540 and UC560 series and for modern Cisco SIP gateways. See Cisco Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) gateway integration consulting.
  • Other VoIP Products supported by Progent include Vonage, Intermedia Unite and 8x8. Progent can assist you to enhance your WAN architecture to support these solutions and deliver online deployment and debugging expertise.

Voice/Video Conferencing for Telecommuters
A wide range of voice/video conferencing products from leading vendors enable virtual discussions, video conferencing, chat, and screen sharing for both local workers and telecommuters. Many organizations use multiple conferencing products to accommodate their different partners and clients. Progent's communications experts can help you to manage your current voice/video conferencing ecosystem and enhance the productivity of your remote workforce.

  • Skype for Business is Microsoft's popular unified communications platform that supports real-time presence, IM, voice and video conferencing as well as the seamless integration of these functions within Office desktop and Microsoft 365 applications including PowerPoint, Word, and Excel. Progent offers the skills of Microsoft-certified specialists who can assist your company to set up and maintain Skype for Business client software to accommodate your remote employees. To learn more about Progent's consulting expertise for Skype for Business, refer to Skype for Business consulting experts.
  • FaceTime is Apple's group video calling platform for compatible iOS and macOS computers and smartphones. FaceTime works over Wi-Fi or cellular Internet connections. Current versions of FaceTime allow up to 32 simultaneous users for voice/video sessions. To learn more about Progent's support expertise for Apple FaceTime, visit Progent's FaceTime configuration expertise.
  • Webex Meeting Center provides online conferencing for virtually all computing devices. Offered through Cisco's Webex Cloud, Webex capabilities include sharing discrete content or computer screens, presentations that embed rich media including Microsoft PowerPoint, session capture, plus editing and playback for future reference and training. To learn more about Progent's support services for Webex as well as for other video conferencing products from Cisco, see Progent's Webex Meeting Center support services.
  • Teams is Microsoft's next-generation replacement for Skype for Business. Teams provides a hub for conversations, contacts, and content with capabilities such as video calling, persistent chat, plus data sharing. To learn more about Progent's consulting services for Microsoft Teams and for additional Microsoft 365 products, visit Progent's Microsoft Teams consulting services.
  • Additional Voice/Video Conferencing Platforms supported by Progent's conferencing experts include Google Meet, Amazon Chime, Zoom, and Slack. Progent can provide integration and troubleshooting expertise for these products and help you to tune your WAN infrastructure to host them.

Microsoft Collaboration Software for Teleworkers
Microsoft's collaboration platforms are tightly integrated with Microsoft's familiar Office and Microsoft 365 suites, providing a powerful ecosystem of productivity apps that deliver a cohesive user interface for sharing information throughout a corporate network and on a wide selection of endpoint devices. Progent has delivered remote consulting services for SharePoint and Exchange since their initial publication and can help your company to tune these critical collaboration products to maximize the productivity of your at-home workforce.

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 TelecommutersMicrosoft Teams works with Microsoft 365 and supports third-party cloud services to provide real-time collaboration and communication. Designed as a substitute for Skype for Business Online, Microsoft Teams can support chat, video meetings with screen sharing, calling, cloud voicemail, group email, as well as file and application sharing. Teams is tightly integrated with Microsoft 365 and relies on Exchange Online, SharePoint Online, OneDrive for Business, and Azure Entra (formerly branded Azure Active Directory) for supporting its full range of capabilities. For additional information about Progent's consulting services for Microsoft Teams, see planning and deployment consulting for Microsoft Teams and Teams Premium.

SharePoint Integration Consultants for At-Home WorkersSharePoint uses web entities to allow collaboration and information delivery by providing policy-driven access to content, business processes, and utilities for looking through company-wide business data. SharePoint allows you to build secure web portals that enables remote workforce to view and edit aggregated business intelligence via Intranets (Wikis), Blogs, social web sites, and Web Parts. For information about Progent's SharePoint support services, see SharePoint configuration and application development consulting.

Exchange Deployment Consultants for Remote 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 details about Progent's Exchange consulting expertise, visit planning and configuration expertise for Exchange Server.

Onedrive Integration Consultants for At-Home WorkersOneDrive is Microsoft�s shared cloud-based storage service, similar to GoogleDrive. At-home users can store files to the OneDrive service, and co-workers can access them securely via a browser. Included with Microsoft 365, OneDrive allows remote employees to co-edit files. Edits created offline are automatically uploaded when you go back online. To find out about Progent's support services for Microsoft OneDrive, see Microsoft Onedrive integration experts.

Public Cloud Integration Services for Remote Workers
Progent offers affordable online assistance for helping organizations to build, manage and repair cohesive network architectures that incorporate internal data centers, telecommuters, branch offices, and public cloud services. Progent can provide expertise for all types of public cloud service delivery such as Infrastructure as a Service, Platform as a Service, and Software as a Service (SaaS). Progent can help remote workers fix issues with cloud access, identity, and security.

Azure Integration Services for At-Home WorkersAzure is a leading family of public cloud software and services that enables you to utilize IT infrastructure, virtual servers, and key apps running on Microsoft's extensive cloud. Microsoft Azure offers over one hundred services services including the ability to host Windows and Linux-based VMs, on-demand cloud storage, messaging, app development with Visual Studio, and data backup. Progent can help you to deploy VMs on Azure Virtual Machines, integrate cloud-based storage on Azure Storage services, unify identity management with Azure Active Directory, and design backup and recovery solutions with Azure Backup. Progent can also show you how to establish protected connections to Azure services for at-home workers by configuring and troubleshooting firewall appliances and VPN tunnels. To learn about Progent's consulting services for Azure, visit Microsoft Azure consulting.

Microsoft 365 Integration for TeleworkersMicrosoft 365, previously called Office 365, is Microsoft's popular suite of business productivity applications and cloud-based services available by subscription. Microsoft applications and services are marketed in a variety of plans designed for users ranging from individuals and small offices to major enterprises. Progent can provide fast and easy online contact with consultants knowledgeable about Microsoft 365-compatible devices based on Windows, Mac, iOS, and Google Android technology. Progent's experts can help you to evaluate the various subscription plans offered with Microsoft 365 and configure 365 apps for your telecommuters in a way that delivers maximum business value. For information about Progent's consulting expertise for Microsoft 365, see Microsoft 365 integration expertise.

Microsoft 365 Exchange Online Integration Services for TelecommutersMicrosoft 365 Exchange Online is one of the most widely used cloud-based applications in Azure-hosted Microsoft 365 product line. Exchange Online offers the advantages of lower spending for physical infrastructure, simplified management, on-demand scaling, high reliability, and other benefits associated with cloud computing. Microsoft has engineered Exchange Online to operate seamlessly with local deployments of Exchange, enabling customers to create hybrid networks. Progent's certified Exchange consultants can provide as-needed assistance to guide you through challenging IT roadblocks and also offer end-to-end project management outsourcing to make sure your remote workers have easy and secure access to your Exchange Online environment. For details Progent's support services for Microsoft 365 Exchange Online, see Exchange Online configuration and support expertise.

Amazon AWS Integration Services for TeleworkersAmazon AWS is a trailblazer in the public cloud computing arena and is the industry's top provider of cloud-based services. Progent offers quick and affordable online contact with cloud connectivity experts who can assist your business to design, deploy, manage, and troubleshoot hybrid information networks that integrate Amazon AWS cloud-based services with on-premises data centers and with other popular cloud platforms like Microsoft Azure. Progent also offers access to Cisco-certified CCIE networking experts to assist your company to build a high-uptime network model to make sure your users have a productive computing experience whether they are working from your main office, a remote branch, at home, or on the road. To learn about Progent's consulting expertise for Amazon AWS, visit Amazon AWS consulting expertise.

Google Cloud Integration for TeleworkersGoogle Cloud Platform (GCP) is a popular suite of cloud computing services that offers Infrastructure-as-a-Service and Platform-as-a-Service (PaaS) products. Progent's certified Microsoft, Linux, and Cisco experts can assist your business to scale your current IT resources with the Google Cloud, and Progent's database consultants can show you how to make your mission-critical apps cloud friendly so your at-home workers can take full advantage of Google Cloud Platform services. Progent can assist you to set up virtual machines on GCP Compute Engine, plan an efficient storage system with Google Cloud Storage, and streamline access management for teleworkers with GCP Cloud Identity. Progent's experts can also help you to utilize GCP's management tools to control and track your Google Cloud ecosystem. To find out, visit Google Cloud Platform (GCP) consulting support.

Help Desk Support for Remote Workers
A rapid, enterprise-wide switchover to a teleworker workforce, which might be activated by a pandemic or as part of a disaster recovery process, can overwhelm even a well-staffed internal Support Desk. Progent's Help Desk Call Center services make it possible for organizations of any size to outsource or expand their Call Desk with Progent's online Technical Response Center (TRC) team.

  • Progent's Standard Call Desk support services leverage Progent's extensive team of online IT support specialists along with world-class trouble ticketing and follow-up software to offer an economical, modern Support Desk. Progent's Standard Help Desk Services offer a comprehensive solution that handles all aspects of remote Level 1 PC technical support from help requests through trouble ticket creation, desktop sharing, problem resolution, and incident reporting. A web-based User's Service Portal enables from-home workers to track or revise the status of their active tickets, enter details, and upload screen captures and relevant files. Technical support services are delivered at a significant price reduction off Progent's normal Level 1 technical service rates, and Progent offers optional fast hand-off to Level 2 and Level 3 IT experts to deal with complex issues. To learn more, visit Progent's Standard Helpdesk Services for small and mid-size companies.
  • Progent's Call Desk Augmentation Service enables your business to supplement your existing Call Desk organization by sharing responsibilities for Help Desk support services transparently between your regular IT support staff and Progent's nationwide team of PC support engineers and subject matter specialists. Progent's co-managed Help Desk Call Center service uses a collaborative support model utilizing the leading professional services automation (PSA) tool for managing service requests and trouble tickets, establishing responsibility, monitoring progress, and generating management reports. To learn how Progent's Call Desk Augmentation Services can help your business to deliver world-class desktop support to your telecommuters, visit Progent's Help Desk Call Center supplementation Services.

Cybersecurity for Teleworkers
At-home staff members typically utilize their own computing devices and usually operate in a poorly secured physical space. This situation multiplies their susceptibility to cyber attacks and requires judicious configuration of corporate firewalls, AV tools, MFA-based identity verification, remote monitoring, intensive end-user training, and the development of security policies based on leading practices. Progent's veteran team of IT security support consultants can assist your business to design, deploy and maintain an effective cybersecurity solution that guards vital IT resources in networks that incorporate an at-home workforce.

Firewall Integration Services for At-Home WorkersFirewalls allow you to create a network that can be securely utilized by on-premises users and by telecommuters, mobile employees, vendors, clients, and other stakeholders. Next-generation firewall appliances allow you to configure and manage appropriate permissions to various classes of users and to expand your IT network and adjust your security profile as your company evolves and as network attacks grow more complex. Progent supports both current and older firewall appliances from all leading vendors like Cisco, Palo Alto Networks, WatchGuard, Juniper, and Fortinet. For details about Progent's firewall configuration services, refer to firewall integration and support services.

Remote Security Monitoring and Management Services for TelecommutersRemote Endpoint Monitoring makes it easy to watch over the disparate computers utilized by at-home workers and either block or identify and respond to the latest cyber attacks like ransomware. With ProSight Active Security Monitoring (ASM) services, a small-footprint software agent is installed on every secured endpoint, monitoring all activity and utilizing state-of-the-art machine learning from SentinelOne to identify new threats before they can spread. When an attack is discovered, ProSight ASM instantly disconnects the targeted endpoint from the network to quarantine the malware. Because the ProSight ASM agent is autonomous, endpoints stay secure even if they are offline. Progent is a SentinelOne Partner, dealer, and integrator. To learn more about ProSight ASM, go to remote endpoint monitoring for remote workers.

Two-factor Authentication Services for TeleworkersProgent's Duo MFA Services incorporate Cisco's Duo cloud technology to protect against compromised passwords by using two-factor authentication. Duo enables single-tap identity verification on iOS, Google Android, and other out-of-band devices. With 2FA, when you sign into a protected online account and give your password you are requested to confirm your identity via a device that only you have and that uses a different ("out-of-band") network channel. A broad selection of devices can be utilized for this second form of authentication including a smartphone or wearable, a hardware/software token, a landline phone, etc. You may designate several validation devices. To find out more about ProSight Duo identity authentication services, visit Cisco Duo MFA two-factor authentication services for at-home workers.

Security Audit Services for At-Home WorkersSecurity Audits can evaluate the exposure of your information system to all classes of outside and internal security attacks for an environment that includes an at-home workforce. Progent can deploy remote, automated cybersecurity inventory software for quickly and economically detecting a wide variety of security gaps that can be surfaced over the Internet. Progent's endpoint security audit consulting services, which can be provided by data security professionals with advanced certifications such as CISA, ISSAP, and GIAC, can help you to evaluate your operations and governance policies and review your WAN infrastructure to enable you to design top-level security for your an at-home workforce.

NodeZero Pen Testing for Work-from-Home EnpointsHorizon3.ai's NodeZero Penetration Testing Platform is a cutting-edge penetration test (pentest) product family that supports automated testing of your work-from-home connectivity solution and your internal and perimeter networks so you can find, prioritize, fix, and confirm security vulnerabilities before malicious hackers can take advantage of them. Progent's pentest experts can assist you to deploy NodeZero to perform comprehensive pentests of your perimeter and your internal IT infrastructure in order to evaluate your present security posture. Progent can also help you to strengthen your network security and can help you to plan and implement a cohesive cybersecurity ecosystem that streamlines management and delivers maximum protection for on-premises, cloud-based, at-home, and perimeter IT resources. To find out more details about Progent's threat assessment services based on on NodeZero's PEN test platform, see Consulting Support for NodeZero's Pentest Products.

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

Data Protection for Telecommuters
Data Protection involves saving and recovering critical data in order to prevent data loss and minimize restoration time in the event of storage system problems resulting from hardware breakdowns, programming glitches, operator error, malware, or any other reason. Dependable data protection strategies can be especially challenging to architect and maintain in hybrid environments that combine local data centers, public clouds, and an at-home workforce.

  • Backup/Restore strategies for teleworkers must address diverse types of personally owned endpoint devices. Progent can provide fast online help from experts knowledgeable about a wide range of products for protection Windows, Apple Mac and Linux/UNIX servers and desktop computers as well as laptops, iOS and Android tablets 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 back up resources distributed throughout a wide area network, Progent can provide ProSight Data Protection Services, a backup/recovery subscription service that uses cloud-based storage and includes fine-grained recovery and centralized management capabilities.
  • Disaster Recovery/Business Continuity (DR/BC) strategies typically anticipate circumstances that call for a temporary switch to an at-home workforce. Progent's expert disaster recovery planning experts and business continuity consultants can help you to create, document and test a DR/BC plan that includes the process of moving to telecommuting.

Unified Management for Remote Workers
Microsoft has rebranded and reshuffled its endpoint management products under the title Microsoft Endpoint Manager, which encompasses Intune for cloud management of remote devices and Configuration Manager for managing on-premises endpoints. Microsoft Endpoint Manager features a unified solution for protecting corporate information by managing on-premises, mobile, and home-based endpoints.

Intune
Intune is part of Microsoft's Endpoint Management suite that also features Microsoft Configuration Manager. Intune is a cloud service for managing and protecting remote computers and applications. Managed endpoint devices can be user owned or company owned. Network administrators managing the enrolled endpoint devices of teleworkers can utilize Intune to deploy and validate applications on managed devices, push patches and certificates, set up rules for permission to access data and networks, set passwords, establish VPN tunnels, determine how teleworkers share data, set up threat protection, ensure security compliance, and wipe sensitive information from lost, stolen or deactivated endpoint devices. Intune works with Apple iOS, Android, Windows, and macOS devices. For information about Microsoft Intune and how Progent can assist you to use this platform to administer the endpoint devices of your at-home workforce, go to Intune teleworker endpoint management consultants.

VMware Workspace ONE
VMware Workspace ONE is a feature-rich centralized Mobile Device Management product that helps network managers to keep remote endpoint devices up to date and secure. Workspace ONE uses VMware AirWatch technology for centralized endpoint management plus VMware's Horizon virtual software delivery platform for access control, application management, and configuration management of endpoint computers. Workspace ONE operates with devices based on Windows 10, macOS, iOS, Google Android, Chrome OS, or leading distros of Linux. VMware Workspace ONE is offered by subscription as a cloud service or as an on-site product through a perpetual license. Key capabilities of Workspace ONE include fast remote deployment of new notebooks, immediate onboarding of new users, policy set up and enforcement for all categories of endpoints, aggregated management reporting and analytics, email encryption, and tight integration with Microsoft applications and cloud services. To learn about Progent's support for VMware Workspace ONE, visit VMware Workspace ONE mobile device management consultants.

Contact Progent for Telecommuter Support Services
To get in touch with Progent about building and managing a productive telecommuter environment for your Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais company, call 1-800-993-9400 or go to Contact Progent.