The Datamax Thinking Blog

From hybrid and remote work environments to various cloud printing risks, insufficient monitoring, and simple lack of device-level security, there are many reasons why print environments fail to keep up with today’s fast-paced secure protocols.

In your observations of Cybersecurity Awareness Month, how often (if at all) have you considered your print devices? 

It’s no surprise that secure printing remains a big deal for organizations to consider in 2024. Dubbed time and again as “just another endpoint device on your network” by those preaching the security protocols message, it's important to remember:  Your copier or Multi-Function Printer (MFP) processes any number of sensitive documents every single day (all potentially vulnerable to attack. Among them:

A proficient IT administrator derives satisfaction from automating tasks to enhance productivity, responsiveness ... and positivity.

In today's hypersonic-paced IT world, it's no surprise that the typical IT department is juggling a ridiculous number of tasks. From managing help ticket requests to tackling long-term projects to addressing ever-present security risks, it seems never-ending.

Accommodating a modern learning environment means adapting to the use of Chromebooks, iPads, smartphones, and supporting the ever-evolving world of print and scan. It takes time to evaluate, let alone figure out for your school environment.

As anyone who works on campus or has a child in K-12 education knows, the classroom is changing.

According to Hurix Digital, adoption of VR and AR in the online education market is expected to see an 18.2% CAGR between now and and 2027. The global K-12 e-learning market is expected to grow exponentially. Meanwhile, security continues to be a necessary priority: Eighty percent of school IT professionals reported that their schools were hit by ransomware in the last year, according to a global survey of 3,000 IT/cybersecurity leaders conducted by cybersecurity company Sophos.

In the end, uniFLOW Online provides a flexible and secure print and scan infrastructure for the future of work.

The COVID-era predictions are coming to fruition: Work from Home is here to stay.

According to Forbes, as of 2023, 12.7% of full-time employees work from home, while 28.2% work a hybrid model. As administrators know, the ever-shifting "workplace" can make managing print even trickier.  uniFLOW Online simplifies printing and scanning for employees, whether they're at the office or at home. The user experience is similar no matter where they're printing to, making it easy to switch between work environments.

The following provides a closer look at the security capabilities of Canon's imageRUNNER ADVANCE DX devices and how incorporating your print environment into a Zero Trust strategy can foster trust between the end user students/faculty, the device, and the associated data.

If and when someone approaches a multi-function printer on your campus, have you considered an ideology of "Never trust, always verify"? 

The adoption of zero-trust security frameworks is increasing as a recommended approach to addressing cybersecurity risks, and with good reason. The Pandemic brought many changes, but among them, the sudden shift to remote work (and virtual learning environments)  in 2020 brought to light the need for more comprehensive security.

Under the right circumstances, with a relevant solution, and with the right partner, you can set your own turnaround times, control volume to meet current demand, and potentially save on costs along the way.

Your mission is what really matters.

Membership retention, fundraising, volunteerism, and ongoing outreach: These are all elements of delivering on your vision for your congregation and the community at large. The materials produced to help support that mission – flyers, banners, graphics, etc. – go a long way in communicating the heart and soul of it.

How can you guarantee a Return on Investment without overarching control and full visibility of your print environment and end-user activities?

Leaders are routinely tasked with taking the “10,000 foot-view” perspective.

After all, it’s from this vantage point far above that reveals the entire landscape. Without a global view, it’s hard to make decisions and strategic moves that benefit the entire organization. It’s not uncommon in most technology engagements to host strategic, pre-rollout assessments and then actively monitor and control the relevant landscape.

Superintendents, campus IT, and administrative teams must work together to maximize budgets while managing printing proactively to deliver a secure, accessible print environment for everyone on campus. This is where a Print Management solution becomes a valuable asset.

Mark Twain has this funny quote about a teacher’s first day back in the classroom.

“Describing her first day back in grade school after a long absence, a teacher said, ‘It was like trying to hold 35 corks underwater at the same time.’” IT administrators on campus might often feel the same.

What happens when Zero Trust encounters your print environment?  How do you avoid compromising an otherwise locked-down IT environment? How do you retain the ability to print as needed? 

For a rising number of organizations today, when it comes to security, trust simply cannot be earned without proper approval. No exceptions. Seventy-two percent of organizations are either in the process of adopting Zero Trust Security or have already adopted it, according to Statista.

Let's face it. Applying the right security settings and ensuring best practices can get complicated fast, but Canon’s Unified Firmware Platform (UFP) simplifies that for you.

Firewalls, VPNs, anti-virus protection... these are all commonplace in today's tumultuous cyber security landscape. It goes without saying that cybersecurity is a top initiative for organizations aiming to protect sensitive information and their reputation.  What about your copiers and printers, and their inherent need for protection? Perhaps less commonplace.