What is Microsoft Universal Print?

Managing your print infrastructure can be time-consuming; if a printer stops working, it can halt all of your work. Additionally, keeping up with printer drivers is challenging, as outdated firmware can lead to security vulnerabilities and malware infections on your network.

To simplify print management, Microsoft has developed a solution called Microsoft Universal Print, which offers a modern way to address traditional printing issues. If you want to improve how you handle document printing and avoid printer problems, Microsoft Universal Print can be beneficial. Here, we’ll discuss its advantages and features, helping you understand how it can improve your printing environment.

What Can Microsoft Universal Print Do for You?

Microsoft Universal Print is a powerful tool that can improve your document handling in several ways. Here’s how it can benefit your organization:

Simplifying Print Management

Microsoft Universal Print eliminates the need for complicated on-premises print servers. It offers a centralized and cloud-based solution for managing all your printing needs.

This means you can easily manage your printers without the hassle of configuring print servers, installing drivers, or managing print queues. It saves you valuable time and reduces costs.

Integration with Microsoft 365

Universal Print integrates with Microsoft 365 and works with Azure Active Directory for secure and authenticated printing.

You can print from any device, including Windows PCs, Macs, and mobile devices, without the need for complex setups or driver installations. It really simplifies printing for employees using different platforms.

Flexibility and Scalability

With Universal Print, you gain flexibility and scalability in your printing. It supports both modern and legacy printers, allowing you to utilize your existing printer fleet. Whether it’s a local or network printer, you can easily connect and manage them through the cloud.

Universal Print offers centralized control and monitoring of printers, making it effortless to scale up or down according to your business needs.

Streamlined Printer Deployment

UP provides a centralized portal for printer management, where 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, ensuring a consistent printing experience throughout the organization.

Enhanced Security and Compliance

Universal Print prioritizes security by leveraging Azure Active Directory for authentication and access control. It supports secure print release, ensuring that sensitive documents are only printed when the authorized user is physically present at the printer. Universal Print also integrates with Microsoft Endpoint Manager, making it possible to enforce security policies and manage print-related settings centrally.

Insights and Analytics

Universal Print provides insights and analytics to help you understand print usage and optimize your print infrastructure. Thanks to detailed reporting, you can get info on print usage patterns, track printing costs, and identify opportunities for optimization. This enables informed decision-making, better allocation of print resources, and the implementation of strategies to reduce printing costs.

What is the cost of Microsoft Universal Print?

Universal Print comes with certain Microsoft 365 and Windows 10 Enterprise subscriptions, like Microsoft 365 Enterprise F3, E3, E5, A3, A5, and Windows 10 Enterprise E3, E5, A3, A5, or Microsoft 365 Business Premium licenses.

If you have one of these subscriptions, you already have Universal Print at no extra cost! However, if you don’t have a subscription that includes Universal Print, you can purchase it separately. The standalone subscription costs $4 per user per month (as of 2023). Additionally, you can also buy extra print volume in quantities of 500 and 10,000 print jobs. To see more up-to-date pricing info, see the Microsoft Universal Print Pricing page.

Is Microsoft Universal Print the Right Choice for Your Business?

Making software decisions can be overwhelming, but you don’t have to navigate it alone. Our team at Protek-IT provides affordable technology solutions tailored to your business. We’ll take the time to understand your current infrastructure and work with you to evaluate options like Microsoft Universal Print.

We have the expertise and knowledge to help you get set up with the right solution for your printing needs. Contact us today to discuss how we can assist you in optimizing your print management with Microsoft Universal Print.

Article used with permission from The Technology Press.