The Datamax Thinking Blog

For many organizations, the idea of moving infrastructure to the cloud is equally intriguing, yet covered in a fog of questions and uncertainties. Even more so, print is one of the last basic business technologies to move to the cloud.

A cloud of fog suspended along the earth’s surface obscures visibility, making the path ahead uncertain and potentially dangerous.

When it comes to security, MFPs should be treated just like any other endpoint on the network.

So, it's time to finally upgrade your copier(s) or MFP(s). How seriously have you considered security?

Although speeds, feeds, and cost of ownership are still relevant elements of pre-sale discovery and dialog, a heads-up sales consultant will also proactively introduce MFP Control and Security to the conversation. They know, when it comes to security, MFPs should be treated just like any other endpoint on the network.

Confidence in how well the print infrastructure is protected against security breaches has decreased since the onset of COVID-19. Prior to the pandemic, 33% of IT decision makers said they were completely confident, compared to 21% now.

Work From Home could be a  productivity boost for employees, but it's become a downright predicament for those charged with print security. 

Work culture and workplace structure remains fluid as businesses deal with the onset and continuing effects of COVID-19. As such, business owners and IT personnel are tasked with a double-edged sword: Reigning in control over print and scan functionality, while ensuring cost/control savings, proper security protocols, and end user flexibility.

McAfee Embedded Control blocks the execution of unauthorized applications like malware through intelligent whitelisting.

In an attempt to fully secure your home, imagine creating a list of every potential intruder that exists in your neighborhood, in your city, and beyond. Now – imagine creating a list of every APPROVED individual into your home.

By taking measures now to streamline and, where possible, automate your workflow processes, your commercial printer, quick copy shop or In-Plant Center has the potential to lower costs, accelerate production time and eliminate processing errors.

Growing up, I distinctly remember the sound of my father’s brass wind up clock, ringing every morning from across the house.

Today, of course, I have an iPhone with an automated function to set my alarm for the same time every day. It does the work for me — I don’t have to remember to wind it up daily.

When your office equipment service provider isn't well-configured with necessary resources and tools, and individual technicians are not consistently spending time in online training sessions, these clichés can fall like rain.

"We deliver world-class service." Heard that before? 

The phrase is an all-too-commonly heard pitch in an advertising campaign or during the sales process. It’s a bold claim, one that’s impossible to measure or define, and a phrase that falls flat the first time an unresolved issue surfaces.

Canon’s Unified Firmware Platform (UFP) allows Canon imageRUNNER ADVANCE models to be updated with cutting-edge features, new functionality, and enhanced security measures on an ongoing basis.

For a runner, the challenge of keeping a steady, fast pace only grows stronger the longer the race goes on.

Hackers and cyberattacks are evolving faster than ever before. In response, necessary security updates often move at a sprinter’s pace, with no finish line to speak of. Meanwhile, your documents, your networks, and your devices need to stay "fresh" to protect against security threats … and obsolescence.

While attacks declined slightly this year, phishing attacks remained the most successful attack vector, followed by a number of other employee errors that could be mitigated with better security training.

The front line, in military terminology, is the position(s) closest to the area of conflict of an armed force's personnel and equipment. It's a vulnerable position on the battlefield, but also in the office.

Employee cyber security education is an essential piece of any effective ransomware protection strategy. But as SMBs keep taking the phishing bait, their front lines — their own employees — are exposed as a weak link in their defense plan. 

Over the last 9 months, we’ve worked hard to answer COVID-19-related questions, to provide resources, to deliver the content that mattered most to our customers, in an unprecedented time for businesses everywhere.

We'd love to shake your hand, but an elbow bump will do for now. Either way, we sincerely appreciate you reading in 2020! 

Our year at the Datamax Thinking Blog kicked off with a New Year's-themed article, “6 Resolutions Your Business Technology Partner Must Truly Value in 2020.” It detailed characteristics that businesses should seek in any technology vendor relationship they engage with: Traits like “the ability to respond – and resolve,” “the creativity to dig deeper,” and “the worthiness of your trust.” 

Essentially, Section 179 of the IRS tax code allows businesses to deduct the full purchase price of qualifying equipment and/or software purchased or financed during the tax year. That means that if you buy (or lease) a piece of qualifying equipment, you can deduct the FULL PURCHASE PRICE from your gross income.

As organizations continue to wrestle with workflow challenges and seek ways to expedite routine business processes through technology, Section 179 presents a unique procurement opportunity.