Top tips for a cloud-first approach to print infrastructure

The cloud plays a huge role in the modern working environment. However, one important aspect of the cloud that some organisations do not consider a priority is cloud printing. Although we now live in an environmentally conscious society, where more companies are beginning to adopt paper light initiatives, printing is still considered an essential function, with many relying on printing on a day to day basis.

So, as the cloud has become such an important aspect in the working environment, James Turner, Product Marketing Manager at Y Soft has provided five tips on why you should take a cloud-first approach to print infrastructure:

1. Improve your infrastructure – become more accessible

One main problem with the conventional printer is that it simply isn’t accessible. Investing in a managed cloud print service allows customers to use a variety of devices to print, which can be anything from computers to tablets. This can be achieved without having to worry about the burden of compatibility and drivers, making it easier to access a printer from an array of locations. Doing this gives the customer the choice of permitting their employees to work where they are most comfortable, helping enhance employee wellbeing.

2. Help reduce the IT burden, not make it worse

IT departments are at the core of any business; they keep all the technology updated and running. But it can take numerous hours and a hefty bill to keep a physical print system up to date, and the manpower to achieve this is considerably large. However, the adoption of a cloud printing system means everything is connected and centralised – basic tasks that would have totalled to hours of work at the end of the year, now happen automatically, like upgrading printing systems. By choosing to print with cloud, organisations are able to heavily reduce the burden on their IT department.

3. Reduce expenditure and enhance efficiency

We all know operational costs are a huge burden for businesses and many try and find a way of reducing this expenditure without it negatively impacting the business, choosing a cloud-first print approach can help achieve this. Cloud printing allows customers to print on demand, helping document-heavy customers save massively on printing costs. Maintaining a cloud print infrastructure also allows companies to be creative when it comes to print management. Creating specific printer rules can help stop overprinting by limiting some departments to a few pages a week. Doing this can save time, money, and enhance department efficiency.

4. Security threats

As technology becomes more advanced, cyber criminals have used technological innovations for their own benefit by attacking organisations trying to access their data. Those businesses who want to make sure they can withstand a cyber-attack must ensure they adopt cloud printing. New technological innovations have now made data more secure through encryption, which means the data is protected throughout the whole printing process. Without encryption, hackers can connect to the network and read the data being transmitted between a device and the printer.

5. Fast connection and even faster speed

One issue many people face when printing is a delay with the whole process, it takes longer than expected. With cloud printing relying on a rapid connection to complete a printing task, ever increasing data speeds will make cloud printing even faster than it currently is. Allowing anyone to connect, view, and print a document through the cloud in a matter of seconds, with minimal disruption.

James concludes, “Whether you want to enhance security, reduce expenditure or make your business more accessible, a cloud-first approach to print infrastructure should be at the top of the list for all organisations.”