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Remote Printing

Discover the benefits of remote printing – a game changer in today’s hybrid working landscape. See how cloud and mobile printing solutions make it easy to print from anywhere at anytime. Read more to find out how to improve your business efficiency while reducing costs with the latest printing technology.

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Wondering what remote printing is and how it works?

Between 2015 and 2023, the percentage of people working remotely grew from 7 % to 28 %*. This growth was, of course, accelerated by the pandemic, but it is now pretty clear that remote – and hybrid – working is here to stay.

While this way of working has been great news for many employees, it has proved more challenging for those working in IT who have had to find ways to facilitate the transition. It’s why many have switched much of their on-premises IT infrastructure to the cloud to support remote access to files and other business tools and applications. But how does this work with something as physical as printing documents?

We’re all familiar with onsite printing, in which printer and user device are connected via a local network; remote printing, on the other hand, effectively enables users to print from anywhere, from any device, without a physical connection; connection is instead made via other means, such as the cloud.

Types of remote printing

Besides cloud printing – which enables users to send a document for print to a cloud-connected printer regardless of their location – other kinds of remote printing include:

• Mobile printing – also known as bring your own device (BYOD) printing. This is the printing of documents from a mobile device, such as tablet or smartphone

• Mobile printing apps – not to be confused with mobile printing, mobile printing apps are supplied by some printer manufacturers to facilitate remote printing from a user’s mobile device to a specific printer

• Email printing – some printers facilitate remote printing via email; users send a document as an email attachment to a specified printer email address and the document is then printed automatically

What are the benefits of remote printing?

Remote printing offers numerous benefits that support the modern, more flexible workplace, including:

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Convenience

Users can print from any location

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Cost savings

Because users don’t need to be physically close to a printer to be able to print, there’s no need to have a printer on every floor or in every department

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Efficiency

Send a job to print ahead of arriving in the office, so it is ready to release and collect

Secure remote printing

Remote printing may raise some concerns over security, but with the right set-up, you can be confident that your data is protected. For example:
• Secure Wi-Fi – ensure the printer’s network is properly protected to avoid data interception
• Access controls – prevent unauthorised access by implementing robust user controls and permissions
• Isolate sensitive information – adopt zero trust principles (e.g. user authentication, device activity monitoring) to segment the network and prevent security breaches
• Print monitoring – establish user roles and quotas to manage and control suspicious activity.

Cloud- and mobile printing

Both cloud printing and mobile printing offer flexibility and convenience over traditional network printing. Mobile printing is particularly useful for organisations in which users bring their own mobile devices to work, but for the level of flexibility remote and hybrid working requires, cloud printing offers more options.

Reference

* Statista

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