As technology continues to transform the way we work across the globe, it is time for the humble printer to get in on the action….
From high-speed printing capabilities to seamless wireless connectivity, the right printer set-up and requirements can transform an office into a well-oiled machine.
And high levels of productivity and efficiency within your organisation can have a huge impact on business success.
Printer infrastructure
Keeping up with your print infrastructure can be a time-consuming task which does nothing to increase productivity - one printer down can mean work comes to a standstill.
Another potential issue is keeping up with printer drivers. If firmware updates aren’t done, vulnerabilities exist, and one unprotected printer can cause an entire network malware infection.
Microsoft Universal Print
Microsoft has come up with an answer to streamline print management. This solution is called Microsoft Universal Print. It aims to offer a modern answer to age-old print problems.
The major benefit is eliminating the need for an on-premise print server in the continuing journey to cloud-based technology.
Universal Print can:
- Improve how you handle document printing
- Avoid printer problems
- Leverage the power of Microsoft 365 and Azure
- Eliminate the need for complex on-premises print infrastructure
Simplifying Print Management
By eliminating the need for on-premises print servers, print management becomes more simplified and all in one place - allowing organisations to manage their printing needs from the cloud.
This results in significant time and cost savings.Other advantages include:
Seamless integration with Microsoft 365 - A key advantage of Universal Print is the fact it works in tandem with Azure Active Directory. This ensures a secure and authenticated printing experience for users.
Simplifying the process - The Microsoft integration allows users to print from any device, whether it's a Windows PC, Mac, or mobile device. There’s no need for complex setup or driver installations. It simplifies the printing process. It also enhances productivity for employees working across different platforms.
Flexibility and Scalability - Organisations gain flexibility and scalability in print activities, and Universal Print supports both modern and legacy printers. This allows businesses to leverage their existing printer fleet.
Easy Connectivity - whether it's a local printer or a network printer, connection is easy, as well as management through the cloud. Additionally, it offers centralised control and monitoring of printers. This makes it easy to scale up or down based on business needs.
Streamlined Printer Deployment - deploying printers across an organisation can be a time-consuming task, but Microsoft Universal Print simplifies this process with a centralised portal for printer management.
Simple process for employees
When it comes to productivity, the easier you can make something for your employees to undertake, the more efficiently it will be done. With Universal Print, administrators can easily add and configure printers, assign them to specific users or groups and manage printer settings from a single interface.
This eliminates the need for manual configuration on individual devices, which can be time-consuming and fraught with issues. It also ensures a consistent printing experience across the organisation.
Enhanced Security and Compliance
One huge benefit of using Microsoft Universal Print is its security capabilities. Print security is a critical concern for businesses, especially in today's threat landscape. Microsoft Universal Print enhances security by leveraging Azure Active Directory. It’s used for authentication and access control.
It also supports secure print release. This means that sensitive documents are only printed under certain circumstances, namely, when the authorised user is physically present at the printer.
Insights and Analytics
Understanding print usage and optimising print infrastructure is essential for efficient cost management. Microsoft Universal Print provides insights and analytics that help organisations gain visibility. They’re able to see print usage patterns, as well as track printing costs and identify opportunities for optimisation.
With detailed reporting and analytics, businesses can make informed decisions. Reporting enables better print resource allocation. As well as the implementation of strategies to reduce printing costs.
We will be using it!
EPX is going to be using Microsoft Universal Print as standard for our print server solutions. We work on managed print multi-function copiers and supply them on a rental basis which means we can work with our clients on printer management and support them with their infrastructure.
Want to know more about Universal Print?
If you would like to find out more about Universal Print and whether it could be part of making your office environment more productive and efficient, then please do get in touch with the team.JTNDZGl2JTIwaWQlM0QlMjJzbGlkZUJ1dHRvbiUyMiUyMGNsYXNzJTNEJTIyc2lkZS1idXR0b24lMjIlM0VHZXQlMjBJbiUyMFRvdWNoJTNDJTJGZGl2JTNF
