The Datamax Thinking Blog

When evaluating potential managed service providers, it’s important to look at both the hard metrics as well as the humanistic qualities of the company you will entrust with your technology landscape.

As security concerns take center stage and IT becomes increasingly complex, small to medium-sized businesses (SMBs) continue to seek the help of a managed IT services provider.

Hybrid work isn’t a static concept – by nature, it implies that where people work will change over time, so your communication solution has to embody elasticity.

Legendary UCLA Coach John Wooden used to preach to players that “flexibility is the key to stability.”

Disruption and adversity are everyday realities in sports. From the unexpected injury, a late-inning comeback, a defensive halftime adjustment, or a controversial call; the ability to recognize and adapt are keys to success on the playing field.

Having a stout, multi-layered cyber security plan has never been more important than it is now. Not only are costs rising, but attacks are getting more sophisticated.

Figuring the true cost of downtime from a cyber security incident can be a lot like guessing the number of marbles in a glass jar: Anyone’s guess, really.

So shoulders shrug and business moves on as usual – perhaps dangerously so.

How well has your technology partner paid solid mind to how you work and operate? What your objectives are? What you value as a business?

Great partnerships produce great results.

The Wright Brothers, though they got their start fixing bicycles, developed the three-axis controls that made flying a fixed-wing aircraft possible. Through their collaborative partnership, the two literally gave us all wings to fly.

With a cloud-based phone system, organizations can increase collaboration and accelerate communication throughout their workday. But what are some of the features that cut through the distraction, and release the true power of mobility?

Scientist Arthur C. Clarke's words in 1962 certainly foreshadowed today's business technology environment: “Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic.”

Outside of restricting who can see and use which printers, basic usage tracking capabilities, and other vanilla print management features, Microsoft Universal Print does not do much else— especially compared to the full-blown print management solutions that we’ve evaluated in the past." - Keypoint Intelligence

Cloud migration for businesses, whether voluntarily embraced or hastily implemented after the pandemic forced workers home, continues to be an all-too-common reality. In fact, 61% of businesses migrated their workloads to the cloud in 2020, according to Flexera.

For those who have lost their handle on office print costs, and office print usage, print management provides that peace of mind. And Papercut MF is software that uses the power of your devices for good — easy, secure, and waste-free printing.

When it comes to business processes, business owners,  IT administrators, and office managers essentially seek peace of mind.

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.