Cisco Network Consulting

Network management tools help companies to implement network infrastructure effectively, access user details rapidly, track system health, troubleshoot problems, defend against and react to threats, and maximize responsiveness. Network management tools can spot inefficient or improper uses of network resources such as streaming multimedia or peer-to-peer file sharing that can waste bandwidth, reduce worker productivity or enable data leaks. A well planned network management solution can also assist companies to make smart capacity planning moves by exposing tendencies in network usage for different periods or jos.

Cisco has developed a diverse and expanding portfolio of network management platforms that support centralized management for local, cloud-based, or hybrid network models. With Cisco's later security, switching, and Wi-Fi networking devices, you can run Meraki, Cisco DNA Center, or CLI management platforms for network management. For example, you can connect newer Catalyst or Meraki switches and Catalyst or Meraki Wi-Fi APs to the Meraki dashboard to monitor and manage critical layers of your IT infrastructure from the cloud. Progent's Cisco Catalyst WiFi access point consultants, Meraki WiFi AP consulting experts, Catalyst switches consulting experts, and Cisco Meraki switches consulting experts can help your organization to design, deploy and optimize a modern solution for network monitoring and management.

Traditional Network Management Tools from Cisco and Others
A wealth of network management products from Cisco and other vendors underscores the value and difficulty of network management. Progent's Cisco-certified network management engineers are experienced at helping companies design network management strategies utilizing on SNMP, Syslog, and Cisco Netflow protocols to create effective mechanisms for network utilization and network latency, viewing key router and switch operational characteristics, and identifying traffic profiles, applications, and appliances that use network services.

Progent can assist customers to utilize a broad range of free and license-based monitoring and management utilities to maintain a Cisco-powered environment. Utilities used by Progent's engineers include Cacti, Nagios, Paessler Router Traffic Grapher, Cisco Cisco ASDM, Cisco Monitor Manager, Cisco Network Assistant, CiscoWorks, Cisco Security Manager, OpenView, Concord E-Health, Adventnet Netflow and Firewall Analyzer, Big Brother, and NetMRI.

Network management tools can enable organizations to understand existing system usage and intelligently prepare for future traffic expansion. Network management tools can also be deployed to detect inefficient or inappropriate utilization of network services, for example streaming video, peer-to-peer sharing, etc. that can use up expensive or scarce network resources. A well crafted network management solution can also enable companies to arrive at informed choices on WAN and LAN improvements once they appreciate how much network bandwidth historically needed at any one time.

Having an effective network management solution in place beforehand is vital to avoid severe disruptions that can result from Denial Of Service attacks and dangerous viruses/Trojans. Such events can leave the network unusable and in the absence of appropriate utilities it can be time consuming, and in some cases virtually impossible, to identify the source of the trouble.

Network Management Solutions from Cisco
Cisco has developed a variety of powerful tools that should form the foundation for any management strategy. Utilized in conjunction with appropriate third-party applications, Cisco's network management offerings can improve the competitive value of network infrastructures for companies of all sizes by helping with key areas such as resource utilization, performance, availability, security, troubleshooting, and capacity planning. Cisco's top network management products include:

Adaptive Security Device Manager (ASDM) is a browser-based Java applet that allows you to set up and monitor the software built into network appliances. ASDM is loaded by the network device, and allows you to configure, monitor, and control the unit.

Monitor Manager is a management and monitoring solution designed for the needs of small and midsize organizations. Monitor Manager actively monitors important device parameters on voice and data environments used by five to 250 workers and equipped with as many as 250 Cisco Unified IP phones. The application offers:

• Up-to-date monitoring of important device parameters on small and midsize business-class routers and switches, Cisco Unified Communications Manager Express, Cisco Unity Express, security devices, WAPs, and Cisco Unified IP Phones
• Ability to manage the Cisco Unified Communications 500 Series appliance for companies with up to 50 users

• Voice and data network discovery and physical topology
• Device and service level looks at Unified Communications deployment
• System wide device identification logging and documentation
• Highly secure and dependable communication
• Device performance monitoring
• VoIP Telephony monitoring
• Connection status and traffic tracking
• Immediate alerts and notices
• Documentation
• Configuration log

Network Assistant is a PC-based network management tool designed for for LANs and WLANS for expanding organizations with as many as 40 switches and routers. By running Smartports technology, Network Assistant streamlines configuration, deployment, and continuing management and support of Cisco networks. The application offers a centralized system view and permits network administrators to deploy its features among Cisco switches, routers, and wireless access points.

Cisco Security Manager is a highly functional but easy-to-use application for centrally provisioning all aspects of appliance configuration and policies for Cisco PIX and ASA security appliances, virtual private networks (VPNs), and Intrusion Prevention Systems. The solution effectively manages even small networks with no more than than ten devices, but also scales to manage large-scale networks with thousands of devices. Expansion is achieved via intelligent policy-driven management techniques that can simplify administration. Key features of Security Manager include:

• Allows provisioning for Cisco routers running a Cisco IOS security image, ASA 5500 family adaptive security appliances, Cisco PIX security appliances, Cisco IPS 4200 Series sensors, and Catalyst 6500 security modules
• Reacts faster. more rapidly to threats: specify and apply new security policies to thousands of appliances in a few easy steps
• Rich GUI provides superior ease-of-use
• Multiple views that offer versatile methods to manage devices and policies including the option to administer the security network graphically on a topology image
• Extensive video help for the new user to speed up learning time
• Globally call out which policies are common and inherited by new appliances to ensure company-wide policies are implemented consistently, at the same time providing sufficient versatility to modify policies at the local appliance level
• Capability to create a single rule table for all Cisco firewalls with smart evaluation of firewall policies to determine conflicts in the rule base
• Quickly configure site-to-site, hub-and-spoke, full mesh, or extranet VPN links with a few mouse clicks
• Integration with Cisco ACS for granular role based connection management to devices and administration functions
• Integration with Cisco security MARS to associate events against related firewall rules to help with faster decision making and enhanced network up time
• Capability to allocate particular tasks to each manager during the implementation of a policy, with formal change control and logging; permits the security and network operations staff to work together as a single group with effective teamwork

Progent can also assist you to use network management applications to monitor and categorize system data to enable traffic shaping, which allows you to set up routers to enforce a variety of bandwidth constraints on designated types of activity based on the priorities you assign. By buffering and sorting data packets above your committed rates, and by giving preference to critical applications, traffic shaping can prevent service provider overage charges from spinning out of reach and/or avoid lost worker productivity resulting from indiscriminate enforcement of your network traffic volume limits during peak use.

Progent's CISM, CISSP, and ISSAP security consultants can assist you to create an end-to-end security strategy that encompasses your network management solution, and Progent's remote and on-premises support specialists and Cisco CCIE-certified consultants can utilize advanced network management tools to isolate and remediate problems quickly to keep your IT system productive.

To see more details about Progent's consulting help for Cisco technology, pick a subject:

• Overview of Cisco Engineering Services
• Timely Remote Support from a CCIE Engineer
• Cisco Firepower NGFW Series Firewalls: Configuration and Troubleshooting Services
• Cisco ASA 5500-X Firewall with Cisco Firepower: Setup and Management Expertise
• ASA 5500 Series Firewall Management Services
• PIX 500 Firewall Maintenance Support
• Cisco Routers Engineering Support
• Cisco Wireless Engineering Expertise
• Cisco Aironet Access Points Deployment Services
• Cisco Small Business 100, 300 and 500 WiFi Access Points Engineering Help
• Catalyst 802.11ax Wi-Fi 6/6E Wireless Access Points Planning, Deployment and Debugging Services
• Cisco WiFi Controllers Support Services
• Cisco Meraki Access Points Engineering Support
• Cisco Unified Communications Manager (CUCM or Unified CM) and Cisco CallManager Configuration and Technical Support
• Cisco Voice over IP (VoIP) Phones and IP Video Phones Expertise and Wireless IP Phone Configuration
• Cisco Jabber Integration Services
• Cisco Catalyst Switches Engineering Expertise
• Nexus Switches Configuration and Maintenance Expertise
• Meraki MS Switches Consulting and Support Services
• Cisco Security and VPN Engineering Assistance
• SIP and CUBE Infrastructure Solutions: SIP Trunks and CUBE Integration Consulting
• Cisco Duo MFA Two-factor Authentication (2FA) Services for At-Home Workers
• Infrastructure Design for Cisco-powered Datacenters and Colocation Centers
• Data Center Optimization Services for Service Providers