The Datamax Thinking Blog

McAfee Embedded Control blocks the execution of unauthorized applications like malware through intelligent whitelisting.

In an attempt to fully secure your home, imagine creating a list of every potential intruder that exists in your neighborhood, in your city, and beyond. Now – imagine creating a list of every APPROVED individual into your home.

Many SMBs fail to recognize the copier for what it is today — just another device on the network, as susceptible to cyber attack as an email inbox or web browser.

"If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it."

I see this old, tired adage at play frequently when I visit offices and learn more about their printing environment. Whether it’s due to low volumes, reluctance to incur new costs, or just flat-out comfort factor, many businesses run their decade-plus-old copiers into the ground, much like one would an older vehicle that’s been paid for.

With built-in hybrid technology, uniFLOW now combines on-premise facilities and cloud resources, to allow organizations to blend a solution that satisfies a particular technology landscape.

A hybrid model poses many potential advantages to an end user, with an ability to mix and match elements according to customized needs.

23 percent of all IT help desk calls are printer-related, according to the International Data Corporation.

Recovery after a marathon is a must.

The time spent stretching, eating well, but refraining from intense workouts will actually speed up your rate of recovery to ensure future training doesn’t suffer. In the short term, it can be difficult. In the long term, it saves you time and training productivity.

By developing – and deploying – enterprise-wide print strategies now, businesses can over time, through the eight methodical steps, make a positive impact on the environment and their bottom line.

Texas Politician Rick Green had this signature witticism, ‘"That’s Green, like money!" Being "green," of course, also refers to corporate programs launched to help organizations be environmentally proactive.

What Green – and many businesses today – may not know, is that both initiatives (the environment and your bottom line) can be achieved simultaneously through a series of Printing Best Practices.

Is the information on your devices open to anyone who happens to walk inside your office? If so, it can certainly backfire on your organization, and blow the door open for leaking sensitive information.

An open door policy at your organization may be a great initiative for encouraging openness and transparency in the company. But it can also backfire if misused by employees.

Do you have a similar open door policy on your copier? Is the information on your devices open to anyone who happens to walk inside your office? If so, it can certainly backfire on your organization, and blow the door open for leaking sensitive information. It might be time for a change in policy. 

Weeds in your print environment are equally destructive. Excessive printing by users; poor tracking of devices; and even inadequate security policies that can become harmful to your organization.

Pulling weeds – it’s an arduous, thankless and literally painful task.

Albeit, a completely necessary one for a healthy garden or lawn environment. Weeds block out sunlight and steal water. They crowd out your crop space and often camouflage harmful pests or disease. If left unattended, of course, weeds only get worse.

Recently-announced features from uniFLOW Online demonstrate 5 key advantages for organizations looking to improve productivity and enhance security in their print environment. 

Athletes will go to extensive (even preposterous) lengths to capture and preserve that competitive edge.

Former Giants Pitcher Steve Kline once wore the same ball cap all season without washing it. His reasoning? The dirt kept him grounded “and reminded me where I came from.” Famous big-wave surfer Laird Hamilton, whose day starts at 5 a.m., consumes three strategically-planned breakfasts every morning to optimize both energy and recovery.

Ask yourself a simple health-related question about your fleet: “Do you have the freedom to focus valuable budgets on delivering real health care – not just administering it?”

Healthcare organizations conduct health exams continuously every day. But how often do they assess the health of their print fleet?

How well, under the microscope, do they examine the specific print workflows that move administrative tasks forward and manage costs along the way? How well do they track multi-function printer activities while mitigating unauthorized access to sensitive patient heath information?

What is a picture of good print fleet health?

“Since the burden of requesting service is mine, my vendor isn’t managing much — let alone my account.” — Jene T., IT Director

The late folk country singer Guy Clark, a Monahans, TX native, once noted: “You look out over the West Texans plains, and you can see 50 miles. Stand on a tuna can, you can see for 100.”

For organizations managing a large fleet of copiers and printers, you need 100-mile visibility of your provider's service and support methodologies. Rather than being confronted with a series of storms on the road in front of you (increased downtime, communication issues, inaccurate billing) you should expect clear visibility up front from your technology partner.