Traditional printing often creates headaches for IT, from managing countless drivers to securing sensitive data and wrestling with legacy infrastructure. But a new era of printing is emerging, driven by Microsoft's Modern Print Platform and complemented by innovations like Canon Print Assist. This shift is about simplifying, securing, and optimizing a fundamental business process.
The Dawn of Driverless Printing: Microsoft's Modern Print Platform
Microsoft's Modern Print Platform marks a significant move away from driver-dependent printing. By embracing Internet Printing Protocol (IPP) and Mopria certification, it offers a truly driverless experience with major benefits:
- Enhanced Security: The platform, especially with Windows Protected Print Mode (WPP), prevents third-party driver installation, creating a more secure print path. This drastically reduces attack surfaces and mitigates over half of past Windows print-related security issues.
- Simplified Management & Reduced IT Overhead: Say goodbye to driver management nightmares. Printers communicate directly with Windows devices, eliminating manual driver installation and constant updates. This streamlines IT operations, freeing up valuable resources.
- Improved Reliability and Compatibility: The Modern Print Platform ensures a consistent, reliable printing experience across diverse fleets, minimizing support calls and improving user satisfaction.
- Cloud Integration with Universal Print: For true modernization, the platform seamlessly integrates with Universal Print, a cloud-based solution that eliminates on-premise print servers, further cutting infrastructure costs and complexity.
Unlocking Advanced Features: Canon Print Assist
While Microsoft's platform streamlines basic printing, businesses often need more advanced, device-specific functionalities. This is where Canon Print Assist steps in as a critical Print Support Application (PSA).
Canon Print Assist bridges the gap between the Modern Print Platform and the full capabilities of Canon's multi-function devices (MFPs). This free, automatically installed application for Windows 11 (22H2 or later) enhances the default IPP Class Driver by:
- Restoring Advanced Print Features: It unlocks features like secure print, finishing options (stapling, saddle-stitch), document preview, and precise output control that generic drivers often limit.
- Intuitive User Experience: It offers a familiar interface, minimizing the learning curve and ensuring a smooth workflow.
- Seamless Integration: Canon Print Assist automatically installs when a compatible Canon printer is added, simplifying deployment for IT.
- Enhanced Security (Complementary): Beyond the Modern Print Platform's foundational security, Print Assist enables device-specific features like secure print, crucial for confidential documents. Canon's broader "5 Pillars of Security" for their devices further complements Microsoft's platform.
The Strategic Advantage
The combination of Microsoft's Modern Print Platform and Canon Print Assist offers a compelling vision for enterprise printing:
- Cost Savings: Eliminate print servers (with Universal Print) and slash IT time on driver management and troubleshooting.
- Enhanced Security Posture: A standardized, driverless environment with robust features minimizes print-related cyberattack risks.
- Improved User Productivity: Reliable, consistent, and feature-rich printing empowers employees and reduces frustration.
- Simplified IT Management: Centralized control and automated deployments free IT teams for strategic initiatives.
- Future-Proofing: Embrace these modern technologies to position your organization for future advancements.
The move to driverless printing is a strategic imperative. Microsoft's Modern Print Platform, fortified by solutions like Canon Print Assist, provides a path to a more secure, efficient, and cost-effective printing environment, transforming a traditional pain point into a competitive advantage.