Making the move to the cloud – should I stay or should I go? 

There’s little doubt that the cloud is now firmly at the center of most companies’ IT strategies, with many leveraging the benefits of not physically owning technology and instead consuming IT-as-a-service. In 2021, organizations worldwide were using an average amount of 110 software-as-a-service (SaaS) applications, compared with just eight in 2015.

 However, while moving core IT services to the cloud is now firmly in the mainstream, when it comes to moving print to the cloud, concerns around complexity, legacy integration, budget constraints, and security, are stopping many firms from making the leap.

So, if you’re still debating ‘should I stay or should I go’ – here are six good reasons it’s time to get print management in the cloud.

Easy migration path

directprint.io combines the power of cloud administration and local network printing. It has been built from the ground up to ensure a smooth, slick and quick roll-out. You can have a cloud-print management solution deployed in under 45 minutes.

We provide a well-defined migration path from legacy systems, and we support even the most complex environments. Our platform offers true feature and functionality parity to legacy solutions, and importantly, provides a consistent experience across Chrome, Chromebook, Windows, and macOS.

No upgrades required

Because we’re a SaaS print-management solution, there’s absolutely no need to upgrade users’ laptops and PCs, or indeed the printers themselves. directprint.io is a vendor-neutral solution, its universal print driver’s ‘hybrid-cloud’ architecture enables basic printing across all major manufacturers’ devices, from the latest models to printers dating back 10+ years and, it delivers a consistent look and feel across users’ devices.

Reduce burden on IT

Migrating print to the cloud removes dependence on on-premise hardware which lessens the load on IT. directprint.io’s unique universal print driver simplifies roll-out and maintenance, resulting in zero-touch deployment at scale. It works across virtually all printer makes and models, and importantly, brings feature parity with OEM drivers, including secure print and native account coding. 

Additionally, directprint.io automates time-intensive tasks, enables the entire print infrastructure to be centrally managed, enables end-users to self-serve and reduces the time IT spends troubleshooting printer issues.

Easy predictable printing

Moving print to the cloud won’t change a thing for your end-users. They will simply continue as if nothing had changed. What will change however is that they won’t be so reliant on the helpdesk to fix printer-related issues!

Directory sync capabilities with Google Workspace and Microsoft Azure AD ensures simple printer deployment. Users are allocated printers based on their login, so as soon as they turn their machine on, they automatically get the correct list of available printers, as well as access to advanced finishing options across all printers, ensuring a seamless, consistent print experience, regardless of the printer brand or brands in place. 

Save money

Managing print in the cloud removes the requirement to purchase and manage on-premise print servers. Cloud services are billed and consumed as-a-service – freeing up CapEx budgets to be allocated elsewhere. Plus, a subscription-based pricing model is predictable and flexible, allowing organizations to scale up or down in line with their business needs. Our solution also includes an array of paper and toner reduction features designed to save more money along the way. 

Secure serverless printing 

directprint.io includes features that offer greater control, compliance, traceability and transparency, enabling smart and secure serverless printing. IT admins retain complete control and total visibility – inside and outside of the corporate network. Printers remain on a secure network and remote print jobs remain within an organization’s already approved Google Workspace or Microsoft Azure infrastructure, ensuring that business information remains confidential. 

With directprint.io, end-users can also mix edge and local network printing from the personal or professional device of their choice with the ease and flexibility they desire. PIN-protected printing release features put an end to unwanted data exposure, and traceable insights into print behavior enable customers to spot and deal with anomalies before they become a business-halting event.

In summary, migrating to the cloud makes printing less complex for end-users and reduces the burden on IT. There’s also an additional value-add to the bottom line. Organizations benefit from cost savings associated with allocating expensive IT resources for administration and ongoing support for the print infrastructure