Skokie At Home Workers Integration Support Partner

Expanding your telecommuter workforce can have a significant effect on IT architecture, security, and corporate processes. Progent has two decades of background helping businesses of all sizes to design, deploy, manage, tune, and debug IT environments that incorporate work-from-home employees. Progent can assist your Skokie organization to pick the appropriate tools and adhere to best practices in creating and operating a safe virtual office solution for telecommuters that facilitates teamwork and delivers top value. Progent can provide services ranging from on demand guidance for helping you over occasional IT roadblocks to comprehensive project management or co-management to help you carry out business-critical initiatives.

Progent's consultants can help Skokie, Illinois businesses to succeed with any aspect of creating a high-functioning remote work environment by providing infrastructure configuration services, IP voice expertise, voice/video conferencing integration, collaboration platform customization and training, cloud connectivity, Help Desk outsourcing, cybersecurity, backup/restore solutions, and unified management.

Infrastructure for an At-Home Workforce
Configuring the physical and software infrastructure needed to support a remote work environment can be especially complicated if you must manage a mix of worker-owned hardware like PCs and notebooks, Internet routers, and Wi-Fi appliances from different manufacturers and with a mix of OS software and firmware levels. Progent's experience delivering online help for both outdated as well as current IT products in virtual office solutions allows you to make cost-effective use of your available network infrastructure and provides you with ready access to expertise for implement necessary updates. Services offered by Progent to assist you to implement a high-functioning telecommuting infrastructure include:

• Virtual Private Network technology allows you to create a secure connection for authenticated remote employees to access IT assets situated at your company data center or in a public cloud. Progent can help your company to configure and maintain VPN connections between your teleworkers and your various network resources by providing remote VPN integration consulting. For businesses using Cisco's ASA firewalls, Progent's Cisco ASA Firewall consultants can assist your at-home workers to set up Cisco's popular AnyConnect software to provide secure VPN connections for a wide range of endpoint devices such as Windows, Mac, iOS, Linux, and Google Android.
• Virtual Desktop Infrastructure products enable a telecommuter to view and use a remote computer's desktop. This technology gives IT managers more control over the computing environment of telecommuters and ensures them a consistent and more productive experience. Progent's virtual desktop services include Windows Remote Desktop support and Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops VDI expertise.
• Routers connect home computer networks to the Internet and typically support VPN connections, local Wi-Fi connectivity, and firewall services. Progent offers top-tier online support for deploying routers from all major manufacturers. See router configuration support from Cisco-certified experts.
• Home Wi-Fi networks, typically shared by the whole family and guests, are commonly used by telecommuters to connect to their Internet router for work. This can cause throughput as well as cybersecurity issues. Progent can help you to resolve these issues by delivering services that include Cisco Aironet integration consulting, Cisco-certified Meraki wireless installation expertise, and Ubiquiti Unifi WiFi access point integration assistance.
• Internet connectivity solutions affect the performance and availability of connections between telecommuters and the company data center. Vital processes might demand redundant Internet access in case the normal connection fails. Progent can provide expertise for identifying service providers, choosing appropriate bandwidth and data volume offerings, and configuring redundant Internet connections. Refer to Internet access integration services.

VoIP Solutions for At-Home Workers
Extending the business PBX environment to accommodate teleworkers is critical to maintaining a productive work-at-home solution. A variety of cloud-based IP voice products are popular with small and mid-size businesses to server teleworkers. Many enterprises rely on Cisco's modern or older platforms for VoIP solutions. Progent can assist organizations of any size to design or maintain a telecommuter VoIP service that delivers the flexibility, convenience and security needed for telecommuters. Progent's Cisco-certified CCIE Voice consultants offer advanced support to help organizations optimize their existing Cisco IP voice environments to support an expanding remote workforce.

• Cisco Unified Communications Manager (Cisco Unified CM or CUCM) extends high-end telephony features to devices like IP phones, media processing platforms, VoIP gateways, and multimedia software used throughout the network. Unified Communications Manager supports other combined media services such as messaging, video conferencing, and team interaction networks. For more information about Progent's Unified Communications Manager expertise, refer to Cisco Unified Communications Manager consulting services.
• CallManager is Cisco's earlier call-processing software and has been replaced by Cisco Unified CM. Progent can help you to support your existing CallManager environment or upgrade smoothly to Cisco's current IP telephony solutions. For details about Progent's expertise for CallManager and Cisco's other older IP voice platforms, see Cisco CallManager expertise.
• Cisco IP Gateways enable integration with public telephony networks and with clients working outside the corporate firewall such as telecommuters. Progent offers expert support for Cisco's legacy IP gateways like the UC520, UC540 and UC560 products as well as for current Cisco Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) gateways. See Cisco SIP gateway integration consulting.
• Other VoIP Products supported by Progent include Vonage, Intermedia Unite and 8x8. Progent can help you to expand your WAN architecture to support these solutions and provide as-needed integration and debugging expertise.

Voice/Video Conferencing for an At-Home Workforce
A wide range of voice/video conferencing platforms from leading vendors support virtual meetings, video and voice conferencing, chat, and screen/content sharing for both local users and at-home workers. Many organizations use a mix of products to accommodate their various partners and customers. Progent can assist you to maintain your current voice/video conferencing environment and optimize the engagement of your remote workforce.

• Skype for Business is Microsoft's popular unified communications platform that supports real-time presence, instant messaging, audio and video calling and conferencing plus the transparent integration of these capabilities within Office desktop and Microsoft 365 applications including PowerPoint, Word, and Excel. Progent can provide the skills of Microsoft-certified consultants who can help your company to deploy and manage Skype for Business client software to accommodate your remote workforce. To learn more about Progent's support services for Skype for Business, see Skype for Business integration services.
• FaceTime is Apple's multiuser video phone platform for iOS and macOS devices. FaceTime works over Wi-Fi or cellular Internet connections. Newer versions of FaceTime allow as many as 32 concurrent users for voice/video sessions. For details about Progent's consulting services for 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 screens, presentations that incorporate rich media such as Microsoft PowerPoint and Flash videos, network-based capture, plus revision and playback for training. To learn more about Progent's consulting services for Cisco Webex and for other video conferencing solutions from Cisco, see Progent's Webex Meeting Center support services.
• Teams is Microsoft's next-generation replacement for Skype for Business. Teams acts as a hub for conferencing, contacts, and information with capabilities such as video conferencing, threaded chat, plus file sharing. For details about Progent's support services for Microsoft Teams and for additional Microsoft 365 apps, see Progent's Microsoft Teams consulting services.
• Additional Conferencing Platforms supported by Progent's conferencing experts include Google Meet, Amazon Chime, Zoom, and Slack. Progent can deliver integration and troubleshooting services for these products and assist you to tune your WAN architecture to run them.

Microsoft Integrated Collaboration Platforms for Remote and Hybrid Workers
Microsoft's collaboration products are tightly integrated with Microsoft's popular Office and Microsoft 365 families, offering a rich environment of applications that create a cohesive user interface for sharing information across a corporate network and on a wide range of endpoints. Progent has delivered online consulting support for Microsoft SharePoint and Exchange Server since their first releases and can help businesses to tune these critical collaboration products to optimize the productivity of your at-home 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 works on top of Microsoft 365 and integrates with third-party cloud services to provide real-time collaboration. Developed as a substitute for Skype for Business Online, Microsoft Teams and Teams Premium can support chat, audio/video meetings with screen sharing, calling, cloud voicemail, group email, plus file and application sharing. Teams is closely integrated with Microsoft 365 and relies on Exchange Online, SharePoint Online, OneDrive for Business, and Microsoft Entra (previously called Azure Active Directory) for supporting its complete range of capabilities. For additional information about Progent's support services for Microsoft Teams, visit planning and configuration expertise for Microsoft Teams.

SharePoint uses web sites to facilitate collaboration and knowledge delivery by offering policy-driven access to content, workflow, and utilities for searching through enterprise-wide business data. SharePoint allows you to build protected web portals that permits at-home workforce to see and update consolidated corporate intelligence by means of Intranets (Wikis), Blogs, social sites, and Web Parts (Widgets). To find out about Progent's SharePoint expertise, go to SharePoint configuration and application development consulting.

Exchange and Exchange Online offer secure collaboration features including public folders, shared mailboxes, and shared calendars and contacts. Progent's Microsoft certified Exchange experts can show you how to activate and utilize these features for your at-home workers. For details about Progent's Exchange support services, go to deployment consulting for Microsoft Exchange.

OneDrive is Microsoft�s collaborative cloud storage service, comparable to GoogleDrive. At-home users can store files to OneDrive, and colleagues anywhere can access them safely through a web browser. Included with Microsoft 365, OneDrive allows at-home employees to co-author documents. Edits created offline are synced when you reconnect to the Internet. For information about Progent's support services for OneDrive, see Microsoft Onedrive configuration experts.

Public Cloud Integration for Remote Workers
Progent offers fast and affordable remote support for helping organizations to create, manage and repair integrated hybrid network architectures that incorporate internal data centers, at-home workers, branches, and public cloud resources. Progent offers top-tier consultant for all types of public cloud service delivery including Infrastructure as a Service, Platform as a Service (PaaS), and Software as a Service. Progent can help telecommuters resolve issues with public cloud access, identity, and cybersecurity.

Azure is a popular family of public cloud services that allows you to use infrastructure, servers, and key applications running on Microsoft's massive cloud. Microsoft Azure features over 100 services services including hosting for Windows and Linux-powered virtual machines, scalable cloud storage, email and messaging, application development with Visual Studio, and data protection. Progent can assist your organization to deploy VMs on Azure Virtual Machines, configure cloud-based storage on Azure Storage services, streamline identity control with Azure Active Directory, and plan backup and recovery systems with Azure Backup. Progent's cloud experts can also show you how to establish protected connections to Azure services for telecommuters by setting up and debugging firewall appliances and VPN IPsec tunnels. For information about Progent's support services for Microsoft Azure, refer to Microsoft Azure expertise.

Microsoft 365, formerly called Office 365, is Microsoft's growing family of client productivity software and cloud-based services offered by subscription. Microsoft apps and services are marketed in a selection of plans intended for customers ranging from individuals and households to major enterprises. Progent can provide fast and easy online access to consultants familiar with Microsoft 365-compatible clients based on Windows, Mac, iOS, and Google Android technology. Progent can assist you to evaluate the numerous subscription plans available for Microsoft 365 and deploy 365 apps for your at-home workers in a way that delivers top business value. For information about Progent's support services for Microsoft 365, see Microsoft 365 consulting expertise.

Microsoft 365 Exchange Online is one of the most widely used cloud-based applications in the Microsoft 365 product suite. Exchange Online offers the advantages of reduced costs for physical infrastructure, easier management, dynamic scaling, high reliability, and other advantages inherent with cloud computing. Microsoft has designed Microsoft 365 Exchange Online to operate smoothly with on-premises deployments of Exchange, enabling you to build hybrid networks. Progent's certified Exchange consultants are available for as-needed help to guide you through tough technical roadblocks and can also provide comprehensive project management outsourcing to ensure your remote workers have easy and safe access to your Microsoft 365 Exchange Online deployment. To find out Progent's consulting expertise for Microsoft 365 Exchange Online, see Microsoft 365 Exchange Online configuration and troubleshooting expertise.

Amazon Web Services (AWS) is a pioneer in the public cloud arena and is the world's biggest provider of cloud services. Progent can provide fast and economical online access to cloud connectivity experts who can help your organization to plan, implement, manage, and debug hybrid IT networks that integrate Amazon AWS cloud-based services with on-premises resources and with other popular cloud platforms like Azure. Progent also offers the skills of Cisco-certified CCIE networking consultants to help you to build a high-availability network architecture so your employees have a productive computing environment whether they are working from your main office, a branch office, at home, or on the move. For information about Progent's support services for Amazon AWS, refer to Amazon AWS consulting expertise.

Google Cloud Platform is a leading collection of cloud services that offers Infrastructure-as-a-Service and Platform-as-a-Service products. Progent's Microsoft, Linux, and Cisco experts can assist your business to extend your existing IT assets with the Google Cloud Platform, and Progent's database consultants can help you make your critical applications cloud friendly so your remote workers can benefit fully from Google Cloud Platform services. Progent can help your organization to set up virtual machines on GCP Compute Engine, design an efficient storage solution with Google Cloud Storage, and streamline identity management for at-home workers with GCP Cloud Identity services. Progent can also assist your organization to use GCP's management technology to administer and monitor your GCP environment. To find out, refer to Google Cloud Platform integration services.

Help Desk Call Center Services for Remote Workers
A sudden, enterprise-wide changeover to a telecommuter workforce, which could be motivated by a pandemic or as an element of a disaster recovery plan, can overwhelm even a high-performing internal Support Desk. Progent's Call Center services make it possible for businesses of any size to outsource or supplement their Help Desk Call Center by using Progent's remote Technical Response Center (TRC) team.

• Progent's Standard Call Center support services utilize Progent's nationwide network of remote IT support specialists combined with enterprise-class ticketing and follow-up software to provide an affordable, modern Help Desk Call Center. Progent's Standard Help Desk Services provide a comprehensive solution that handles all aspects of online Level 1 desktop support from service requests through ticket generation, screen sharing, issue resolution, and reporting. A browser-based User's Service Portal allows teleworkers to check or update their current tickets, enter information, and append screen captures or relevant files. Support services are delivered at a substantial discount off Progent's normal Level 1 technical service rates, and Progent makes available optional fast escalation to Level 2 and Level 3 support experts to resolve advanced issues. For more information, refer to Progent's Standard Helpdesk Services for small and mid-size companies.
• Progent's Help Desk Call Center Supplemental Service allows you to supplement your current Call Center team by splitting delivery of Call Desk support services transparently between your in-house IT support organization and Progent's extensive roster of desktop support technicians and subject matter experts. Progent's co-managed Call Desk service is based on a co-sourcing support solution based on the leading professional services automation (PSA) tool for managing help requests and trouble tickets, assigning ownership, tracking progress, and producing management reports. For information about how Progent's Help Desk Call Center Augmentation Services can help your business to deliver world-class IT support to your at-home employees, visit Progent's Help Desk Call Center supplementation Services.

Security and Compliance for Telecommuters
At-home employees commonly use their own computing devices and often operate in an unsecured physical area. This situation increases their vulnerability to malware attacks and requires judicious deployment of firewalls, AV tools, MFA-based identity verification, remote endpoint monitoring, intensive end-user training, and the development of policies based on best practices. Progent's seasoned group of cybersecurity solutions consultants can help you to plan, configure and manage an effective cybersecurity solution that protects critical information resources in networks that include telecommuters.

Firewalls allow companies to build a network that can be safely utilized by on-premises users as well as by telecommuters, mobile workers, vendors, clients, and other stakeholders. Modern firewall appliances permit you to assign and manage appropriate permissions to various groups of users and to scale your IT network and adjust your security as your company evolves and as cyber threats grow more complex. Progent works with both new and legacy firewall devices from all leading manufacturers like Cisco, Palo Alto Networks, Check Point, Juniper, and Fortinet. To find out more about Progent's firewall configuration services, see firewall integration and support expertise.

Online Endpoint Security Monitoring makes it easy to track the disparate computers utilized by teleworkers and either block or identify and mitigate the latest threats such as ransomware. With ProSight Active Security Monitoring (ASM) services, a small-footprint software agent is put on every secured endpoint, watching all activity and using advanced machine learning from SentinelOne to detect new attacks at inception. When a cyberattack is discovered, ProSight Active Security Monitoring instantly disconnects the impacted endpoint from the network to quarantine the threat. Because the ProSight Active Security Monitoring agent is self-contained, endpoint devices remain protected even if they are offline. Progent is a SentinelOne Partner, dealer, and integrator. To learn more about ProSight Active Security Monitoring, visit remote endpoint security monitoring for telecommuters.

Progent's Duo authentication Services utilize Cisco's Duo cloud technology to defend against compromised passwords by using two-factor authentication. Duo supports one-tap identity confirmation on iOS, Google Android, and other out-of-band devices. Using Duo 2FA, whenever you sign into a protected application and enter your password you are asked to confirm your identity on a unit that only you possess and that is accessed using a different ("out-of-band") network channel. A wide selection of devices can be used for this second means of ID validation such as an iPhone or Android or watch, a hardware token, a landline telephone, etc. You may register multiple verification devices. For more information about Duo two-factor identity validation services, visit Duo MFA two-factor authentication services for an at-home workforce.

Security Audits can assess the vulnerability of your information system to all types of external and local security attacks for a network that includes remote workers. Progent can run online, automated cybersecurity analysis scanning for rapidly and economically uncovering a wide variety of security gaps that can be found over the Internet. Progent's security audit consulting services, which can be managed by data security experts with top credentials including CISA, ISSAP, and GIAC, can assist your business to audit your operations and policies and review your WAN architecture to allow you to design the highest level of protection for your remote workers.

Horizon3.ai's NodeZero Penetration Testing Platform is a breakthrough penetration test (pentest) product family that can deliver automated threat assessment of your at-home environment and your internal and perimeter networks so you can identify, prioritize, remediate, and confirm security vulnerabilities before malicious hackers can exploit them. Progent can help you to deploy NodeZero to perform thorough penetration tests of your perimeter and your internal IT infrastructure in order to determine your current security profile. Progent can also assist you to strengthen your existing network security and can assist you to design and implement a cohesive cybersecurity ecosystem that streamlines management and provides optimum protection for on-premises, multi-cloud, remote, and perimeter IT assets. To find out more information about Progent's threat analysis services powered by on NodeZero's PEN test products, visit Consulting Support for NodeZero's Pentest Platform.

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

Data Protection Solutions for Teleworkers
Data Protection involves backing up and recovering critical information so as to avoid data loss and reduce recovery time in the event of storage problems due to equipment issues, software glitches, operator error, malware, or other causes. Reliable data protection solutions can be especially challenging to design and maintain in hybrid networks that incorporate local data centers, public clouds, and at-home workers.

• Backup/Restore strategies for telecommuters must address diverse types of personally owned endpoints. Progent can provide quick online help from experts knowledgeable about a broad range of platforms for protection Microsoft Windows, Apple and Linux/UNIX servers and desktop computers as well as notebooks, iOS and Android tablets and smartphones. Leading backup/restore solutions maintained by Progent's backup/recovery experts include Barracuda Backup, Azure Backup, DoubleTake Software, CrashPlan, Retrospect, and Time Machine. To protect resources spread throughout a wide area network, Progent offers ProSight Data Protection Services, a backup/recovery subscription service that uses cloud storage and includes granular restore and unified management capabilities.
• Disaster Recovery/Business Continuity (DR/BC) strategies typically envision scenarios that call for a rapid changeover to a work-at-home environment. Progent's senior disaster recovery planning consultants and business continuity planning consultants can assist your business to produce, document and test a DR/BC plan that includes the logistics of switching to an at-home workforce.

Unified Management for Remote Workers
Microsoft has rebranded and rebundled its endpoint management products under the name 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 local, mobile, and home-based endpoint devices.

Intune
Intune is part of Microsoft's Endpoint Management family that also features Microsoft Configuration Manager. Intune is a cloud-based service for managing and securing remote computers and applications. Managed endpoint computers can be user owned or company owned. Network admins managing the enrolled endpoint devices of at-home workers can utilize Intune to provision and validate applications on managed devices, push updates and certificates, set up policies for permission to access information and networks, set passwords, establish VPN tunnels, determine how home-based workers share information, set up threat protection, ensure security compliance, and delete sensitive information from missing, stolen or decommissioned devices. Intune runs with Apple iOS, Google Android, Windows, and macOS/OS X computers. For details about Microsoft Intune and how Progent can help your company to use Microsoft's Endpoint Management to manage the devices of your at-home workforce, refer to Intune mobile endpoint management experts.

VMware Workspace ONE
VMware Workspace ONE is an advanced unified Mobile Device Management platform that allows network managers to keep off-premises endpoint devices up to date and secure. Workspace ONE incorporates VMware AirWatch technology for unified endpoint administration plus VMware's Horizon virtual software delivery technology for access control, application management, and configuration management of endpoint computers. Workspace ONE operates with endpoints based on Windows 10, macOS, Apple iOS, Android, Chrome OS, or leading distros of Linux. VMware Workspace ONE is available by subscription as a cloud-based service or as an on-premises product through a perpetual license. Top capabilities of VMware Workspace ONE include fast remote deployment of out-of-the-box notebooks, immediate onboarding of new users, policy setting and enforcement for all categories of devices, aggregated management reporting and performance analytics, email encryption, and tight integration with Microsoft applications and cloud-based services. For details about Progent's support services for VMware Workspace ONE, go to VMware Workspace ONE remote endpoint management expertise.

Contact Progent for Telecommuter Support Services
To get in touch with Progent about building and maintaining a productive work-from-home environment for your Skokie, Illinois company, phone 1-800-993-9400 or visit Contact Progent.