Cisco Expert Network Consulting

Exchanging live voice and video over IP (VoIP and Video over IP) has evolved from simply being being a shrewd way to cut phone bills to being a strategic technology for collaboration and worker productivity. Converged IP communications, at one time limited to managing Internet-based voice calls and faxing on one network platform in order to take the place of expensive PBX equipment, now encompasses rich media, mobile communications, IM, real-time presence, services, and more within a centralized framework that is manageable, scalable, highly secure, fault-tolerant, cost-effective, and user friendly.

Cisco is the global leader in supplying the hardware and software infrastructure for supporting the modern model of unified communications (UC). Cisco's UC solution adds to the efficiency of information networks by cutting operating expenses; combining rich media features with familiar software applications to improve user output; facilitating collaboration among workers, partners, and vendors to save time and enhance business results; and streamlining the administration of your converged voice and data ecosystem.

Cisco's UC solutions include these primary product areas:,

• Call Control Agents for managing calls and sessions
• Collaboration Endpoints to optimize end-user engagement
• UC Software Applications for simplified access to presence, chat, voice and video, voice messages, white boarding, and voice/video conferencing
• Communications Gateways for connecting to outside networks and teleworkers

Call Processing Software - Unified Communications Manager/CallManager
Cisco's call-processing agent is the heart of the Cisco IP collaboration infrastructure and provides the flexibility to implement a central call-processing model, a decentralized design, or a mix of the two. In a centralized deployment, Unified Communications Manager (UC Manager or CUCM) expands enterprise telephony capabilities to packet products such as VoIP handsets, media management appliances, VoIP gateways, and mixed media programs across the IT environment. Cisco Unified Communications Manager enables additional multimedia functions including unified messaging, video conferencing, and collaborative client communication networks.

The most recent release of Cisco Unified Communications Manager, formerly known as Cisco CallManager, offers a wealth of enhancements that expedite your return on investment by cutting administrative and support costs, improving user productivity, facilitating collaboration, accommodating the bring-your-own-device style of working, elevating data protection, and making optimal utilization of IT resources. Top new features include automatic dial-plan replication, simplified certificate management, expanded support for single sign-on (SSO) for managers and end users, hardware-independent call recording, mobile connectivity without the need for VPN tunneling, a revamped self-care utility that makes it simple for end users to set their options and preferences for all endpoints, and support for Transport Layer Security for mobile clients.

In cases where you implement a centralized Cisco Unified Communications Manager cluster to manage call processing for customers at remote locations, IT managers can help ensure non-stop call operation through Cisco SRST, a Cisco IOS Software image for Cisco routers. If a WAN link fails, Cisco SRST incorporated in the router offers core UC Manager services until the connection is returned. For information about Progent's consulting support services for Cisco routers, refer to consulting and troubleshooting services for Cisco routers.

For small businesses, branch locations, and retail environments that do not require the complete feature set offered by Unified CM, Unified Communications Manager Express, formerly named CallManager Express provides a cost-effective solution that meets the requirements of sites with as many as 450 users. Because Cisco Unified Communications Manager Express Unified Communications Manager Express (Unified CCX) is embedded in the IOS Software running on a Cisco router, smaller organizations can quickly set up a unified voice and data solution.

Cisco's BE6000 is a line of complete solutions that provide fundamental collaboration capabilities such as routing, gateway, high definition voice and video, messaging, IM and real-time presence, voice and video conferencing, and paging support, enabling any user to connect on any endpoint from any site. All BE6000 solutions are shipped preconfigured with a virtualization hypervisor and collaboration applications, making deployment quick and simple and cutting operating expenses for companies with up to 1000 workers. All BE6000 versions come preinstalled with a virtualization hypervisor and UC applications. Organizations can simply enable collaboration applications whenever their requirements grow.

The small-scale BE6000S supports five standard UC applications preloaded on a single combination 2921V router/IP gateway/virtualized blade server platform and can handle as many as 150 workers and 300 endpoint devices. The mid-market Business Edition 6000M supports four UC application options enabled on a virtualized Cisco C220 M4 server and can handle a maximum capacity of 1000 workers, 1200 devices, and 100 contact center agents. The top-of-the-line Business Edition 6000H Supports eight UC software application options enabled on a virtualized C220 M4 server platform and has the capacity for up to 1000 workers, 2500 endpoint devices, and 100 contact center agents.

For more information about Progent's expertise with Unified Communications Manager, visit Cisco Unified Communications Manager and CallManager planning, configuration, upgrades and troubleshooting.

IP Phones: VoIP and IP Video Phones
A communications endpoint is a user device, either a hardware phone or a soft phone application that runs on a PC or mobile computer. In the IP environment, each IP phone is Ethernet connected. IP phones have all of the features that an ordinary phone handset provides, but IP phones often provide extra features such as being able to access websites or run business software.

Unlike traditional PBX technology, in a Cisco IP telephony environment you can perform virtually instant moves, additions, and modifications. You simply take the VoIP handset to its new location, plug it into the Ethernet jack, and the phone announces itself with Cisco Unified Communications Manager. All client rights and settings are automatically re-established, doing away with the expense and hassle of dispatching technicians to wiring closets. Another helpful feature is extension mobility, which enables you to log into any Cisco VoIP phone and receive your personal phone number and privileges.

Cisco offers a wide range of collaboration phones. The entry-level Small Business SPA 300 family are basic IP and Digital Enhanced Cordless Telecommunications devices offering wide-band voice, support for hosted Internet Protocol telephony environments or an IP private branch exchange (PBX), simple deployment and safe remote installation, in-service software updates, and browser-based set up. The value-priced SPA301 is a one-line VoIP phone with no display or speakerphone function, a base dialer that has one Ethernet connector, and a corded handset without a keypad. The SPA302D, intended solely for operation with Cisco's SPA232D DECT ATA (Analog Telephone Adapter), is a multiline wireless Digital Enhanced Cordless Telecommunications handset that supports 10-lines, a 176 x 220 color screen, and a keypad with speakerphone capability. The SPA303 is an entry-level three-line SIP-based phone with two switched ports, a 128x64 monochrome screen and a speakerphone.

Cisco's SPA500 line VoIP phones are affordable devices with support for SIP and SPCP call control protocols, two integral Ethernet switch ports, speakerphones, Power over Ethernet, and voice conferencing support. Most models have a 128 x 64 pixel mono screen display, The SPA501G has eight lines and has eight soft keys but no LCD display. The SPA502G IP Phone supports a single line and has no soft buttons. The SPA504G IP Phone supports four lines and has four programmable keys. The SPA508G IP Phone supports eight lines and eight programmable buttons. The SPA509G VoIP phone supports 12 lines and has 12 programmable keys. The SPA512G has four lines, no soft keys and supports 10/100/1000 Ethernet. The SPA514G supports four lines, has programmable keys, and supports 10/100/1000 Ethernet. The top-of-the-line SPA525G2 IP Phone has a 320 x 240 color screen, supports five lines, and features five soft buttons.

Cisco's Unified IP Phones 3900 Series and IP Phones 6900 Series are specialty VoIP endpoints designed for occasional-use environments such as cafeterias, hallways, and conference facilities. The Unified SIP Phone 3905 IP Phone features a 128 x 32 pixel monochrome screen, a Ethernet switch, a speakerphone, and Power over Ethernet. The simple Cisco Unified IP Phone 6901 is a one-line endpoint without a screen and uses a hook switch for call transfer or joining a conference.

Cisco's 7800 family of economical IP phones are VoIP devices featuring backlit mono screens, four programmable buttons, 11 fixed-feature keys, an Ethernet switch with Power over Ethernet (PoE), and a speakerphone. Cisco's 7800 Series IP Phones support only the SIP call control protocol. All devices in the 7800 family feature the same high-fidelity speakers and microphones as Cisco's 8800 Series IP phones to provide a best-in-class audio experience. Cisco's EnergyWise power-save technology, offered on the higher end 7800 units, cuts off-hours energy consumption by as much as 60 percent. The Cisco IP Phone 7811 is a one-line VoIP phone intended for common areas as well as for workers with infrequent voice communications requirements. The IP 7811 comes with a 3.28-inch 384 x 106 screen and a narrow-band speakerphone. Wideband audio is offered through an extra-cost wideband handset. Cisco's IP Phone 7821 is a dual-line VoIP phone with a 396 x 162 screen. The IP Phone 7841 is a four-line VoIP phone with a 396 x 162 display and is the only device in the 7800 family that provides 1xGb Ethernet. The top-of-the-line IP Phone 7861 VoIP phone is a 16-line endpoint intended for administrative staff, contact center personnel, and managers who have heavy call needs.

Cisco Unified IP Phone 7900 Series are SIP and SCCP media devices with a 320 x 240 color screen, a 10/100/1000 Ethernet switch, Class 3 PoE, 10 dedicated buttons and a speakerphone. The Cisco Unified IP Phone 7945G is a dual-line device and the Cisco Unified IP Phone 7965G includes four lines. Both VoIP phones include a 5-inch display and four programmable keys. The Cisco Unified IP Phone 7975G device is an eight-line media phone featuring a 5.6-inch touch screen and five soft buttons.

Cisco's IP Phone 8800 Series is a portfolio of SIP-based IP phones that includes desktop devices, a conference phone, and mobile wireless IP Phones. The desktop models are five-line IP phones with a 5-inch 800 x 480 display, a Gigabit Ethernet switch, a speakerphone, four soft buttons and 12 dedicated buttons. The Cisco IP Phone 8811 features a backlit monochrome screen and supports Class 2 Power over Ethernet. Cisco's IP Phone 8841 features a WVGA color display and supports Class 2 Power over Ethernet. Cisco's IP Phone 8845 features a WVGA color display, 720p HD video, a tiltable camera, Bluetooth, Cisco Intelligent Proximity for Mobile Voice, and supports Class 2 PoE. The Cisco IP Phone 8851 features a WVGA color screen and one USB port with charging capability, supports Intelligent Proximity for Mobile Voice and Class 3 PoE, and is available in Bluetooth and non-Bluetooth versions. The Cisco IP Phone 8861 has a WVGA color display, Bluetooth, dual USB ports with charging capability, and supports Cisco Intelligent Proximity for Mobile Voice, Wi-Fi, and Class 4 Power over Ethernet. The Cisco IP Phone 8865 has a WVGA color display, 720p HD video, an adjustable camera, Bluetooth, dual USB connections with charging capability, and supports Cisco Intelligent Proximity for Mobile Voice, 802.11ac Wi-Fi, and Class 4 Power over Ethernet.

Cisco's wireless IP phones are hardened Wi-Fi handsets intended for workers who are mobile within campus, warehouse, health-care or other venues where management requires portable phones that offer more control, data security and ruggedness than is achievable with the BYOD style of mobile collaboration. Cisco's 8821 and 8812-EX wireless IP phones provide on-the-move onsite users the advantages of voice over wireless LAN (VoWLAN) technology in workplaces with 802.11a/b/g/n/ac Wi-Fi. The 8821 Wireless IP Phone features a hi-res color screen, a rugged case designed to withstand dropping and IP67 for particulate and splash resistance, long-life batteries, a built-in full-duplex speakerphone, and a Bluetooth transceiver for hands-free operation with wireless headsets. Cisco's 8821-EX Wireless VoIP Phone adds anti-sparking protection for hazardous work sites. Cisco's 8821-EX also features a shell composed of yellow plastics, which makes the device easy to find during a crisis. Learn about Progent's Wireless IP Phone integration consulting.

Cisco's discontinued 9900 family of high-performance IP phones combine high-definition voice with high-resolution color screens to provide a productive collaborative UC experience for knowledge professionals and executives. Both models in the 9900 line feature an SD VGA color display, a Bluetooth radio to support a broad range of headsets, and a built-in Gigabit Ethernet port. The Cisco EnergyWise function is optional and can lower off-work power draw by up to 90 percent. The Cisco IP Phone 9951 features a 5-inch display and supports up to 2 IP Expansion Modules for adding scalability to customizable line and feature keys. The IP Phone 9971 features a 5.6-inch display, an integrated 802.11a/b/g Wi-Fi transceiver for deployment with Voice-over-wireless LAN (VoWLAN) environments, and four programmable touchscreen keys to access Cisco UC functions. The 9971 supports up to 3 IP Color Key Expansion Modules for adding programmable line and function keys.

Unified Communications Applications
Under Cisco's Unified Communications architecture, IP voice, video, and other converged applications are physically independent from the call- and voice-processing mechanism, and they may be anywhere within the system. A cohesive connectivity framework provides an open environment for powerful business applications and serves as a firm basis for future convergence-based software. Cisco cooperates with leading technology partners to provide a wide range of IP telephony and IP video software applications and products. Cisco also enables the ability to create and manage specialized in-house programs.

Collaborative application software offered by Cisco and supported by Progent include:

Jabber
Jabber is a unified communications application that supports presence, IM, business-quality voice, video, voicemail, desktop sharing, and online conferencing features for Windows PCs, Apple Macs, iPads and Android tablets and smartphones. Jabber is a rebranding and combination of the Unified Personal Communicator soft phone application, Cisco Mobile, and Cisco WebEx Connect, with major enhancements in the areas of video features and desktop sharing, and expanding the team environment to additional platforms and endpoint hardware. Jabber operates with Cisco Unified CM for call and session management, Cisco Unified Presence for IM and presence, Unity Connection for voicemail and programmable attendant, and Cisco WebEx Meeting for online meetings.

Since Cisco Jabber is built around popular communication protocols, it can communicate with a broad range of third-party products. For instance, XMPP enables Cisco Jabber users to exchange instant messaging and presence information with other XMPP clients such as Adium for Mac, IBM Sametime, and Microsoft Lync and Office Communications Server. Cisco Jabber capabilities can be accessed from Microsoft Office programs including Microsoft Outlook and SharePoint. This broad platform support optimizes output by delivering a consistent user experience and fully enabling the BYOD paradigm of computing. Progent offers the services of Microsoft-certified Exchange and Outlook consultants and SharePoint programmers who can assist you to integrate Jabber with Microsoft's premier collaboration platforms. Progent also offers help with Apple iPhone integration and management as well as Google Android phone integration to help your organization to enhance the business value of your BYOD environment.

WebEX Meeting Center
WebEX Meeting Center enables web and video meetings for users with a web browser or almost any desktop or handheld computer. WebEx Meeting Center is offered as SaaS via the Cisco WebEx Cloud. This makes it easy to roll out and scale, reduces the cost of management, eliminates major up-front investment, features maximum uptime and world-class security, and delivers consistently high performance. Important features include the ability to share specific content or an entire screen with remote participants in real time, the ability to incorporate multimedia into your presentations including Microsoft PowerPoint and Flash animations, session recording plus editing and playback for future reference and training, single sign-on and integration with Cisco collaboration applications like Cisco Jabber and TelePresence, plus strong data privacy and encrypted connections with tight policy management.

WebEX Meeting Center runs on Windows, Mac, and Linux PCs and permits mobile workers to start, schedule, and participate in meetings on Android devices, Apple iPhones and iPads, BlackBerry handhelds, and Microsoft Windows Phone. Users can also initiate online conferences with a few clicks from Microsoft Office, Microsoft Outlook, Notes, and a variety of instant messaging applications.

Cisco TelePresence Portfolio for On-premises Video Conferencing Infrastructure
For medium-size organizations and larger enterprises who wish to build an on-premises or hybrid on-premises/cloud environment for video conferencing, Cisco provides a selection of Cisco TelePresence platforms that deliver high-quality teleconferencing for attendees with almost any endpoint device at any location. Cisco TelePresence Server is a scalable video conferencing bridge that runs with Cisco Unified Communications Manager to deliver multiparty video, audio and content sharing to converged deployments and can extend conferences to incorporate cloud-connected Cisco WebEx Meeting Center users. Cisco TelePresence Conductor software simplifies the control of how conferencing bandwidth and features should be allotted for each participant, allowing managers to define the precise service level and experience needed for every user. Cisco TelePresence Content Server records video and presentations for real-time streaming and video on demand (VOD) playback.

Cisco's Unity Connection Platform and Unity Express for Unified Voice Messaging
The Cisco Unity Connection, an extension of Cisco Unified Communications Manager, is a converged voicemail solution that promotes collaboration by offering flexible set of alternatives for retrieving calls and messages within a framework that is easy to implement and manage. Unity Connection lets you access and manage your voicemail from your Exchange inbox, browser, Cisco Jabber, a Cisco Unified IP Phone, a smartphone, or a tablet. Unity Connection also offers sophisticated speech-recognition capabilities for hands and eyes free operation and extensive Automated Attendant features that include smart routing for incoming phone calls and custom call-filtering and message-alert settings. The Unity Connection system operates as a fully virtualized system that can be hosted on a Business Edition 6000 server or a Cisco Services Ready Engine 910 router service module and can support as many as 20,000 mailboxes per server.

Unity Express (CUE), offered in certain Cisco Integrated Services routers, provides cost-effective voicemail, integrated messaging, interactive voice response (IVR), and automated-attendant services for small to medium businesses and enterprise satellite offices with up to 500 users. Cisco Unity Express allows you to access and manage voicemail using a Cisco Unified IP Phone screen, a browser, or your email client. Cisco routers for which Cisco Unity Express is available as a network module include Cisco's 1861, 2800, 2900, and 3900 Series. Progent can provide certified configuration and troubleshooting services for Cisco routers.

Cisco Unified Contact Center
Unified Contact Center Enterprise (Unified CCE) integrates with Cisco Unified Communications Manager and agent desktop applications like Cisco Finesse to offer automatic call distribution features that allow an organization to match customers with the appropriate sales or support person. UCCE features smart call routing, computer telephony integration, multiple channel customer contact management, network-wide call queuing, IVR and advanced enterprise-wide reporting to streamline the creation and management of a modern contact center. Cisco platforms incorporated in Unified CCE's client interaction management solution include Cisco Unified IP Phones, Cisco Voice Gateways, and Cisco network infrastructure.

Unified Contact Center Express (Unified CCX or CCX) provides an out-of-the-box bundle for creating a customer contact center for mid-scale systems that handle up to 400 agents. Multiple packages are available, plus a selection of optional advanced features. Unified Contact Center Express integrates with Cisco CUCM and offers intelligent call distribution, contact management, reporting, IVR, and management of voice, email, chat, and social media requests. Cisco Unified CCX comes with Finesse, a web-based desktop agent that needs no client-side software setup. Advanced options include call-in-queue, expected-wait-time announcements, and productivity optimization with workforce and quality management.

Cisco Mobile Connect and Single Number Reach (SNR)
Mobile Connect, popularly referred to as Single Number Reach, makes it possible for users to be called via a single number that rings at the same time on their Cisco VoIP Phone and their smartphone. Users can transfer active calls between their Cisco VoIP phone and their mobile phone seamlessly. Unanswered calls can be transferred to a Cisco Unity or Cisco Unity Connection voicemail account. Users can create their own access lists that determine which calls are extended to different phones.

Cisco Prime Collaboration
Prime Collaboration provides an automated platform for initial installs as well as for follow-on moves, adds, changes, and deletions. A user-friendly console provides a unified look at a subscriber and the user's services. Cisco Prime Collaboration substantially accelerates site rollouts and minimizes the time needed to implement ongoing updates. Prime Collaboration in addition offers advanced analytics including technology adoption and consumption rates, enabling administrators to make more efficient use of resources and further lower total cost of ownership.

Cisco Communications Gateways
Cisco's collaboration gateways permit Cisco converged communications deployments to connect with other systems and with users working beyond the firewall. Cisco's portfolio of communication gateways deliver UC support for a broad range of gateway as well as session-border-control deployments.

Communications gateways offered by Cisco and supported by Progent's certified consultants include:

Cisco Expressway Communication Gateway
Cisco's Expressway is a powerful collaboration gateway that allows organizations to provide workers, suppliers, consumers, or business partners who are working on different networks, workgroup applications, or endpoint equipment to access to Cisco Unified Communication features. The Expressway integrates with an enterprise Cisco CM system or Cisco Business Edition, or can be run through the cloud with Cisco Hosted Collaboration Solution to make collaboration more pervasive. Key features of Cisco Expressway are:

• Mobile and Remote Connectivity: Remote users who have any Jabber-compatible client or telecommuters with Cisco TelePresence endpoints have the convenience of single-sign-on and of Transport Layer Security (TLS) and can connect to all their Jabber applications (high-definition video, voice, rich content instant messaging, and presence) without the inconvenience establishing a VPN. In addition, telecommuters can use their Cisco TelePresence endpoints without the need for a VPN tunnel, providing a user experience at home that is the same as the corporate office.
• Cisco Jabber Guest Support: Expressway is required for enabling Jabber Guest, which makes it possible for “guests” to interact with your business easily and securely via lightweight browser and mobile multimedia calls.
• Cisco Cloud Connectivity: Expressway can act as a gateway that connects between on-premises Cisco or third-party systems and Cisco's WebEx cloud. By supporting Cisco Collaboration Meeting Rooms (CMRs), Expressway deliver an advanced, scalable meeting environment that transparently integrates high-quality voice, HD video, and content sharing to anyone, anywhere, on any endpoint.
• Interoperability: If your company currently has non-Cisco video products, Cisco Expressway can assist you to migrate easily to a Cisco solution when it makes business sense. Cisco Expressway provides video compatibility with standards-based H.323, H.264 Scalable Video Coding (SVC), or Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) systems. Internetworking capabilities allowed by Cisco Expressway include IPv4 to IPv6, H.323 to Session Initiation Protocol, and Microsoft Lync 2013 H.264 Scalable Video Coding to H.264/AVC.

• WebEx Cloud Connected Audio (CCA) for high-capacity SIP-based conferencing
• Voice/Video recording
• Enterprise Call-center and IVR applications
• Policy-led evaluation of voice calls
• B2B immersive telepresence over SIP

Cisco's Legacy UC520, UC540 and UC560 VoIP Phone Systems
The legacy Cisco Unified Communications 500 Series is an all-in-one VoIP gateway solution for small businesses. UC500 models provide voice, data, voicemail, automated attendant, video, firewall, and WiFi capabilities, run with older generation Cisco IP Voice phones, and support various public switched telephone network connections.

All of UC500 series bundles include a desktop switch with 8 Power-over-Ethernet (PoE) interfaces plus additional foreign exchange stations (FXS) and foreign exchange office (FXO) ports, a firewall, and VPN support. Built-in WiFi is an option. VoIP user capacity can be expanded by connecting with Cisco Catalyst Express switches. Every UC500 offering also includes licenses for Cisco Unified Communications Manager for VoIP call processing as well as Cisco Unity Express software for voice messaging and automated attendant. The Cisco UC520 package supports 8 to 16 VoIP users and incorporate 4 FXS and 4 FXO interfaces. The Cisco UC540 system allows 24 to 32 clients and has 8 FXO ports. The Cisco UC560 system allows 48 VoIP clients and 12 FXO ports.

Progent's seasoned VoIP consultants can help you to support your legacy UC500 VoIP system or plan and implement a smooth upgrade to a current VoIP solution like Cisco's cloud-managed Business Edition 4000.

How Progent Can Help You with Cisco IP Voice and IP Media Phones, CUCM, and Video Conferencing
Progent can provide remote or onsite help from a Cisco Certified Internetwork Expert (CCIE) Collaboration consultant to help you to plan, deploy, administer and repair unified communications environments built on Cisco Unified Communication products in an in-house, distributed, or hybrid environment. Progent's Cisco engineers have extensive experience supporting Cisco Unified Communications Manager and CallManager, VoIP phones and other endpoints, UC applications such as Jabber and Unity Connection, Cisco's teleconferencing technologies, collaboration gatekeepers, tools built into Cisco Catalyst switches and routers. Progent can also provide expertise with related technologies such as Cisco Survivable Remote Site Telephony, CUBE, SIP gateways, CAC, IP voice trunks, various signaling protocols, and AVVID. Progent's SIP integration experts can also help you to create SIP infrastructure environments that incorporate SIP-based VoIP phones and video phones, SIP trunks, and SIP administration tools with CUCM.

Progent's custom application programmers can create specialized IP telephony software that will enable your company to incorporate the features of Cisco Unified Communications Manager into your business processes for increased efficiency. Progent can revue your existing network and Internet access infrastructure to determine whether your system is optimized to accommodate business-quality IP voice and high-definition video, assist you to select and integrate Cisco hardware and software appropriate for your present needs and downstream expansion strategy, and integrate your Cisco collaborative communications products with products from other vendors. Progent's CISSP-ISSAP certified network security consultants can assist you to develop, carry out, and test a comprehensive security strategy for your converged communications solution. In addition, Progent can help your organization to configure Cisco fault-tolerant mechanisms like Cisco Unified Survivable Remote Site Telephony to provide cost-effective call control redundancy in branch office and home-office environments, and Progent's disaster recovery and business continuity preparedness experts can help you develop a sensible DR/BC strategy to ensure the availability of your vital communications system.

Cisco Unified Communications Manager/CallManager Migration Consulting
Versions of Cisco Unified CM lower than 8.6 and every release of CallManager have reached end-of-life. This means Cisco Engineering will cease to enhance, fix, or test this older software. Security updates for this business-critical application will end, which in some situations may create regulatory compliance or potential liability problems.

Progent will continue to offer premier consulting and troubleshooting support for outdated releases of Unified CM and CallManager, but if your business is still using a legacy version of this essential software you should start immediately to plan your migration. Progent's Cisco-certified consultants can help you to migrate smoothly to the latest release of Unified CM and can often save customers up to 50% off consulting service costs versus competing computer service firms because of Progent's documented procedures and hands-on experience in this area. By following leading practices, Progent can make sure your organization gets a fast return on your investment by showing you how to benefit fully from the enhanced features, reduced administrative and support costs, more productive collaboration, and tighter security offered by the newest release of Cisco Unified CM.

Progent's migration consulting services include return-on-investment analysis, project management, system testing and validation, Cloud integration, configuring endpoint devices from Cisco and other providers, smartphone and tablet connectivity, data protection consulting, management automation, business continuity planning, network infrastructure design, staff and user training, and continuing consulting services and technical support. Progent also offers ultra-affordable upgrade packages to make sure your costs are predictable and under control.

To see more information about Progent's professional support for Cisco networking products, pick a topic:

• Introduction to Cisco Consulting Services
• Timely Online Help from a CCIE Engineer
• Cisco Firepower Firewalls: Integration and Management Support
• Cisco ASA 5500-X Firewalls with Firepower: Consulting and Management Services
• ASA 5500 Firewalls Consulting Expertise
• Cisco PIX 500 Firewall Management Assistance
• Cisco Routers Engineering Expertise
• Cisco Wireless Deployment Services
• Cisco Aironet Wireless APs Deployment Services
• Cisco Small Business 100, 300 and 500 WiFi Access Points Consulting Services
• Cisco Catalyst Wi-Fi 6/6E Wireless Access Points Planning, Configuration and Debugging Support
• Cisco WiFi Controllers Experts
• Cisco Meraki Wireless Access Points Design Support
• Cisco Unified Communications Manager (CUCM or Unified CM) and CallManager Configuration and Technical Support
• Cisco Jabber and Management Services
• Catalyst Switches Configuration and Maintenance Services
• Cisco Nexus Switches Configuration and Maintenance Expertise
• Meraki MS Switches Consulting and Support Services
• Cisco VPN and Network Security Engineering Expertise
• SIP and CUBE Integration Solutions: SIP PSTN Trunks and Cisco CUBE Integration Consulting
• Cisco Duo MFA Two-factor Authentication (2FA) Services for At-Home Workers
• Design and Support for Cisco-powered Data Centers
• Network Optimization Expertise for Service Providers
• Unified Cloud-based and Hybrid Management Strategies for Cisco Infrastructure