Just as OneDrive revolutionized file storage by eliminating file servers, Universal Print is transforming printing by removing the need for Universal Print Servers. This innovative cloud print solution is designed to accelerate your digital transformation initiatives and democratize access to cloud computing. It leverages the same robust and secure cloud infrastructure trusted by millions of customers worldwide for critical services like Teams and SharePoint.
In today’s dynamic business landscape, agility and flexibility are paramount for employees, demanding seamless integration across tools and services. Simultaneously, organizations are facing ever-increasing pressure to fortify their defenses against evolving digital threats. To thrive in this environment, businesses require a printing solution that prioritizes security, simplifies management, and scales effortlessly. A solution that aligns with their current needs and seamlessly supports their cloud migration journey.
While server rooms packed with racks are increasingly becoming relics of the past, replaced by agile cloud platforms, print infrastructure has presented a more complex migration challenge. This complexity arises because physical printers within your office environments require a secure, reliable, and straightforward connection to the cloud.
Universal Print, a leading cloud print solution, streamlines cloud migration by replacing complex server infrastructures and intricate scripting with centralized print management, a highly available distributed infrastructure, and simplified user experiences. This enhanced efficiency not only empowers IT administrators to concentrate on strategic, high-impact projects but also significantly curtails the costs, complexities, and operational headaches associated with traditional on-premises infrastructure.
Why Universal Print is the Ideal Choice for Your Organization
Universal Print offers tangible advantages if you’ve ever:
- Felt apprehensive about the security of your print data when transitioning to the cloud.
- Invested excessive hours troubleshooting printing issues after server or driver updates.
- Struggled to consolidate data from disparate sources to generate comprehensive cost or usage reports for management.
- Been inundated with support requests from users struggling to identify the correct printer in their vicinity.
Building upon decades of Microsoft’s expertise in print technology, Universal Print delivers a streamlined and intuitive printing experience for both IT professionals and end-users. The only prerequisites are a printer with internet connectivity and a device from which to print.
Universal Print achieves cost reductions through simplified administration and minimized print server overhead. Simultaneously, it enhances security and reliability by harnessing the robust Microsoft 365 infrastructure that your organization already trusts and utilizes.
| Benefits for IT Admins | Benefits for Print Users |
|---|---|
| ✅ Centralized Management | ✅ Effortless Printing Experience |
| Manage your entire print environment from a single, unified interface within the Azure Portal, regardless of whether your organization spans multiple countries or regions! | Users benefit from a seamless printing experience from any location, with deep integrations into Windows, macOS, Intune, OneDrive, and Excel. Its intuitive design ensures a zero learning curve, allowing users to focus on their core tasks. |
| ✅ Reduced Operational Concerns | ✅ Intuitive Printer Discovery |
| Rest assured knowing your print infrastructure is built on a foundation of reliability and your users’ data is protected by the same hardened infrastructure that powers mission-critical Microsoft services like Teams, OneDrive, and more. Achieve a true zero-trust security posture by implementing our comprehensive zero-trust guide (coming soon). | When users move between locations or workspaces, setting up a new printer should be instantaneous, not a time-consuming ordeal. Universal Print simplifies printer discovery, making it easy for users to locate and connect to nearby printers. |
| ✅ Elimination of Print Servers | ✅ Universal Access: Print Anywhere, From Any Device, Any App |
| Bid farewell to the burdens of maintaining, upgrading, and troubleshooting print servers. With Universal Print-ready printers, all that’s required is the printer itself and a user to initiate printing. No more middleware complexities. | Universal Print operates seamlessly over the internet, enabling users to print from any location without the need for cumbersome and often unreliable VPN connections. Broad platform support for Windows, macOS, and web-based applications ensures users can print from their preferred apps and devices. |
| ✅ Driverless Printing | |
| Print drivers are notorious for their maintenance overhead, potential for system crashes, and vulnerability to exploits. Universal Print eliminates the need for print drivers altogether, enhancing system stability and security. | |
| ✅ Cloud-Based Identity Management | |
| Leverage Microsoft Entra ID for unified identity management across your entire organization, including print services. Eliminate the complexities of hybrid identity setups. | |
| ✅ Compatibility with Existing Infrastructure | |
| Universal Print seamlessly integrates with your existing printer fleet, and users can print from a wide range of endpoints, including macOS devices, ensuring broad compatibility and maximizing your current technology investments. | |
| ✅ Simplified Regulatory Compliance | |
| Benefit from Microsoft’s extensive portfolio of compliance certifications, which extend to Universal Print, including SOC, ISO 27001/2 and 27018, FedRAMP, and more. Streamline your compliance efforts with a solution built with robust security and privacy controls. |
Robust Partner Ecosystem and Integrations
Explore the expanding ecosystem of Universal Print partner integrations, extending its capabilities and compatibility.
➡️ Discover Universal Print’s Partner Integrations
Universal Print Ready Printers
Universal Print ready printers from various hardware partners ensuring seamless compatibility.
Expanding Solutions Ecosystem
Logos of Universal Print solution partners, showcasing the breadth of integration and support.
Universal Print vs. Traditional On-Premises Print Solutions
As a native cloud print solution, Universal Print operates with inherent differences compared to conventional on-premises printing setups:
- End-to-end Print Operations via the Internet: All print jobs and print management activities are conducted securely over the internet. This eliminates the constraint of users needing to be on a specific network to print and enables centralized printer management through the Azure Portal. Microsoft’s dedicated security and operations teams manage the service infrastructure, adhering to stringent security and reliability protocols, resulting in a more secure print environment compared to self-managed, firewall-protected infrastructures.
- Centralized Printer Reporting and Analytics: Every printer is registered with Universal Print in the cloud, providing a unified platform for management, status monitoring, and reporting, all accessible with a few clicks. Gain a comprehensive overview of your entire print infrastructure or delve into the details of a specific printer from a single, centralized location.
- Driverless Architecture: Universal Print is built upon industry-standard IPP and Mopria protocols, enabling printers to communicate directly with Universal Print without the complexities of deploying, managing, and troubleshooting printer drivers. This driverless approach simplifies administration and enhances system stability.
- Automatic and Continuous Updates: Universal Print follows a continuous delivery model, ensuring your organization consistently benefits from the latest security enhancements, quality improvements, reliability updates, and feature additions. These updates are applied automatically in the background, allowing your IT team to focus on strategic initiatives without disruption.
Tip
Delve deeper into Universal Print’s architecture and operational mechanics to understand its underlying technology.
Universal Print vs. Other Cloud Print Solutions
While sharing similarities with other cloud-based printing solutions, Universal Print distinguishes itself with several key advantages:
- Native Integration Across Microsoft Ecosystem: Universal Print is seamlessly integrated into the Microsoft ecosystem, including Windows, OneDrive, Excel, and macOS. This native integration translates to a truly plug-and-play experience. No complex configurations or deployments are necessary – users automatically discover and access printers directly from their devices and applications.
- Unparalleled Security, Privacy, and Scalability: Universal Print is built upon the same robust platform that powers Microsoft’s most trusted mission-critical services, such as Teams, Exchange, OneDrive, and Office. This foundational architecture ensures that your print environment benefits from the same industry-leading levels of quality, availability, and security rigor that these other essential services provide, setting a new benchmark for cloud print solutions.
- Advanced Print Functionality with Print Support Apps (PSAs): While driverless printing offers enhanced security and simplified management, it can sometimes limit access to advanced printer functionalities not yet universally standardized in protocols like Mopria. Universal Print and Windows address this through Print Support Apps (PSAs). PSAs enable printer manufacturers to deliver and support their unique, advanced, and differentiating features in a secure and performant manner, bridging the gap between driverless simplicity and feature-rich printing.
- Customizable Functionality via Microsoft Graph API: For organizations with custom applications requiring print capabilities, Universal Print offers seamless integration through the Universal Print Microsoft Graph API. This API empowers developers to easily extend print functionality to custom applications, tailoring the print experience to specific business needs.
Next Steps in Your Cloud Print Journey
Explore how Universal Print can transform your organization’s print infrastructure and contribute to your broader cloud-first strategy. Consider evaluating Universal Print to experience firsthand the benefits of simplified management, enhanced security, and a seamless user experience.
