The Datamax Thinking Blog

Windows Protected Print (WPP) is Microsoft’s new, more secure printing system. Why the change? According to Microsoft , 9% of Windows security issues reported to the Microsoft Security Response Center (MSRC) were caused by print stack-related issues.

Microsoft is set to revolutionize the way organizations print. With the upcoming launch of Windows Protected Print (WPP), businesses everywhere should begin preparing for one of the most significant changes to enterprise printing (and the printing experience) in years. If you're managing print infrastructure—or relying on it—you'll want to understand what WPP is, why it matters, and how to prepare for the transition. Let’s explore what this means for your print environment and your customers.

uniFLOW is a powerful print and document management solution that helps businesses secure their printing, control costs, and streamline workflows—all while reducing IT burdens. 

If your small or medium-sized business (SMB) is struggling with unsecured printing, high print costs (and printing volumes), or inefficient workflows, you're not alone. Many companies overlook how much time, money, and security risk is tied to unmanaged printing. Unmanaged print devices can become a lot like herding cats.

Are you barely scratching the surface of what your copier device can do for you?

As an example, the Canon imageRUNNER ADVANCE series is packed with powerful features, but many businesses don’t fully leverage its capabilities because, simply, they don't know they exist or are not sure how to proceed. Here are five key functions that often go underutilized:

Incorporating Zero Trust principles into every aspect of IT infrastructure, including print management, is essential for organizations looking to protect sensitive data and maintain compliance.

Have you had serious conversations with IT administrators about implementing a Zero Trust Security Framework in your business environment? Have you zeroed in on how print plays a role in such?

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.