Nowadays, organizations prioritize efficiency, security, and cost savings solutions across all areas of IT infrastructure. You may ask why? Printing isn't always on the top of your mind. However, it remains an essential function that can impact operational costs, security, and IT workload.

Serverless, cloud-based printing solutions have helped many businesses streamline their operations, reduce support burdens, and enhance security. Now, let’s get into the details and discover how Cloud Printing benefits your workplace printing experience.

The Hidden Costs of Traditional Print Environments

Relying on traditional print servers can lead to a range of operational headaches that impact both productivity and IT efficiency. As business needs evolve, many organizations are finding that their legacy print environments simply can't keep up.

Key Challenges of Traditional Printing:

• High Infrastructure Costs – Maintaining print servers requires ongoing investments in hardware, software, energy, and physical space.

• Single Point of Failure – If a print server goes down, it can bring printing operations to a halt, disrupting daily workflows.

• Security Vulnerabilities – Print servers often handle sensitive documents, making them potential targets for cyberattacks.

• Heavy IT Support Burden – Managing and troubleshooting print issues consumes valuable IT time and increases helpdesk workload.

Why Traditional Printing No Longer Works

With the rise of flexible, serverless cloud printing, organizations can eliminate these pain points and modernize their print infrastructure for better performance and scalability.

The hidden inefficiencies behind outdated print environments

1. Outdated Workflows Slow Everything Down

Legacy print systems often rely on outdated, manual workflows that waste time and resources. Common inefficiencies include:

• Repetitive or unnecessary printing steps

• Miscommunication across departments

• Lack of process visibility and prioritization

By digitizing and automating these workflows through modern solutions, organizations can boost productivity and reduce operational overhead.

2. The Limits of Legacy Print Servers

Why traditional infrastructure no longer fits modern business needs

Traditional print servers come with several drawbacks that hinder scalability and flexibility:

• High Maintenance Costs – Ongoing server upkeep drains IT budgets and diverts focus from strategic initiatives.

• Scalability Issues – As your organization grows or shifts, traditional servers struggle to adapt to fluctuating print demands.

• Security Concerns – Local print servers can be an easy entry point for data breaches if not properly secured.

• Inflexibility – Traditional print infrastructure lacks the agility needed to support hybrid work environments and remote teams.

The Benefits of Serverless and Secure Printing

1. Eliminating Print Servers with Direct IP and Cloud-Based Printing

A serverless printing environment, also known as cloud print management, removes the need for dedicated print servers, offering organizations more flexibility and efficiency:

• Direct IP Printing – Establishes a direct connection between user devices and printers, reducing latency and improving performance while enhancing security by keeping print jobs within the local network.

• Cloud-Based Printing – Enables users to print securely from any device, anywhere, eliminating on-premises infrastructure and reducing IT overhead.

• Universal Driver Support – Simplifies deployment by removing driver compatibility issues across different printer brands and models.

Organizations can lower costs, increase network resilience, and reduce IT complexity by eliminating print servers.

2. Enhancing Security with Secure Print Release

Security is crucial for organizations that handle sensitive data. Modern secure print solutions ensure documents are only released after user authentication at the printer, reducing the risk of data breaches. Features like delegated printing improve productivity while maintaining control. Common authentication methods include:

• Smart Cards – Tap-to-authenticate functionality for seamless access.

• PIN Codes – Secure release through unique user-assigned codes.

• Mobile Authentication – Securely releasing print jobs via mobile apps.

This approach supports Pull Printing (ensuring documents are only printed when needed) and Follow-Me Printing (allowing users to retrieve their jobs from any authorized printer), improving document security and reducing waste.

3. Cost Savings Through Smart Print Management

• Eliminating Print Servers – Reduces infrastructure, maintenance, and energy costs. Organizations can manage network printers more efficiently by removing the need for dedicated print servers, reducing costs and enhancing security.

• Lower IT Support Costs – Minimizes troubleshooting and helpdesk intervention.

• Reducing Waste – Secure print release and enforced print policies (e.g., duplex printing, restricting colour printing) cut down unnecessary usage.

• Cloud Efficiency – Serverless printing eliminates the need for costly upgrades to physical infrastructure.

These savings allow organizations to allocate IT resources more strategically while maintaining an efficient and secure print environment.

4. Reducing IT Support Burdens

Print-related support requests can consume significant IT resources. Serverless printing solutions ensure that each print job is managed securely, reducing the need for IT intervention and enhancing overall efficiency. Serverless printing solutions address these issues by:

• Universal Print Drivers – Eliminating compatibility issues across different devices.

• Self-Service Features – Allowing users to manage their print settings and troubleshoot minor issues without IT intervention.

• Automated Print Policy Enforcement – Implementing rules for duplex printing, grayscale printing, and access control to optimize print behaviour.

• Proactive Monitoring & Reporting – Providing insights into print usage, security risks, and potential issues for better management.

Organizations can redirect their teams to more critical business initiatives by reducing IT overhead.

5. Enhanced Security & Compliance (SOC 2 Type II, ISO 27001, ISO 27017, and ISO 27018) 

Security is a top concern for any organization dealing with sensitive data. Process Fusion PF 360 Print adheres to industry-leading security standards, including: 

• SOC 2 Type II Compliance: Ensures stringent security, availability, processing integrity, confidentiality, and privacy controls. Organizations handling financial, healthcare, or legal data particularly benefit from this compliance. 

• ISO 27001 Certification: A globally recognized security standard that ensures robust information security management. 

• ISO 27017 Certification: Focuses on cloud security, providing additional controls to ensure cloud services are secure and well-managed. 

• ISO 27018 Certification: Specifically addresses the protection of personal data in the cloud, ensuring compliance with privacy regulations and best practices. 

• End-to-End Encryption: Print data is encrypted both in transit and at rest, reducing the risk of data interception. 

• Zero Trust Architecture: Users and devices must be authenticated and authorized before accessing print resources, minimizing insider threats. 

By implementing these security measures, organizations can confidently protect sensitive information while meeting compliance requirements for industry regulations such as HIPAA, GDPR, and PCI DSS. 

Improving Workflow Efficiency

Improving workflow efficiency is essential for increasing productivity, reducing costs, and enhancing overall performance. Here are some strategies for improving workflow efficiency:

1. Automate Repetitive Tasks

Automating tasks like data entry, document processing, and printing reduces errors, boosts productivity, and frees up staff for higher-value work. It also cuts costs by minimizing time spent on manual processes.

2. Reduce Interruptions and Distractions

Limiting workplace distractions helps employees stay focused and accurate. Simple steps like quiet hours, noise-cancelling tools, and clear communication boundaries can make a big impact on productivity.

3. Improve Communication and Collaboration

Clear, efficient communication is key to smooth workflows. Using cloud-based tools, video conferencing, and defined protocols ensures teams stay aligned and avoid delays.

Choosing the Right Serverless Printing Solution

When selecting a secure and serverless printing solution, organizations should look for features that align with their security, efficiency, and cost-saving goals. A reliable solution should also ensure the security of physical documents, preventing unauthorized access and reducing the risk of data breaches. A reliable solution should:

• Support direct IP and cloud-based printing for flexibility.

• Offer secure print release methods to prevent unauthorized access.

• Reduce infrastructure and operational costs with a streamlined architecture.

• Minimize IT workload through automation and self-service features.

• Adhere to security and compliance standards to protect sensitive data.

Five Reasons Why Customers Choose UniPrint InfinityCloud

1. Pull Printing – Ensures documents are printed only when needed, reducing waste and improving security.

2. Security – Protects sensitive data with secure authentication methods and compliance with industry standards.

3. Get Rid of Servers – Eliminates print servers, reducing costs, complexity, and points of failure.

4. Reduce Helpdesk Calls – Minimizes IT support burden with self-service features, universal drivers, and proactive monitoring.

5. Cost Savings – Lowers infrastructure costs, decreases waste, and optimizes printing efficiency.

How Process Fusion PF 360 Print Supports These Goals

Process Fusion PF 360 Print provides a secure, serverless, cloud-enabled printing environment for organizations seeking a comprehensive solution. With advanced security features, cost-saving measures, and IT workload reduction, PF 360 Print enables businesses to transition seamlessly to modern print management while ensuring compliance with industry standards.

Organizations can optimize efficiency, enhance security, and reduce operational costs by adopting a future-proof printing approach, making serverless printing the smart choice for modern workplaces.