Cloud printing has quietly become the way modern businesses print. Instead of a print server humming away in a cupboard, print is managed in the cloud, so staff can send a job from any device, anywhere, and release it securely when they are at the machine. It is the fastest-growing part of managed print for good reason: it fits hybrid working, removes on-site servers, and makes print more secure rather than less. Here is what cloud printing actually is, how it keeps documents safe, and why UK businesses are moving to it.
What is cloud printing?
Cloud printing means your print environment, the queues, the drivers, the rules, lives in a cloud platform rather than on a print server in your office. A user sends a job from a laptop, phone or desktop, wherever they are, and it is held securely in the cloud until they authenticate at a device and release it. There is no local print server to buy, patch or replace, and no need to be sitting on the office network to print. For a business with remote workers or more than one site, that is a genuine change.
Why are businesses moving to cloud printing?
| Driver | What changes |
|---|---|
| Hybrid working | Staff print securely from home, the office or on the move, then release at any device |
| No print servers | The on-site servers you used to buy, patch and replace simply go away |
| Lower IT overhead | Central management across every site, with less to maintain |
| Stronger security | Encrypted jobs, secure release and identity-aware access, usually with no VPN needed |
| Less waste | Jobs only print when the user is at the device, so nothing is forgotten in a tray |
Is cloud printing secure?
This is the question that stops many businesses, and the answer is reassuring: done properly, cloud printing is more secure than the traditional setup it replaces. Jobs are encrypted on their way to the cloud and held until the person authenticates at the device with a PIN, card or app, which means confidential documents never sit in an open output tray for anyone to pick up. Modern platforms use identity-aware access and typically remove the need for a VPN. Paired with the fundamentals, device encryption and prompt firmware patching, it closes gaps rather than opening them. Our guide to office printer security covers those fundamentals.
Secure print release, the heart of it
The feature that makes cloud printing click for most people is secure print release, also called pull printing or Follow Me printing. You send a document, walk to any enabled device, tap your card or enter a PIN, and only then does it print. It sounds small, but it removes the single most common print security failure, sensitive documents left sitting in a shared tray, and it cuts the waste of prints that are sent and never collected. Tools such as PaperCut and HP Secure Print deliver exactly this, and you can see them on our software solutions page.
How Mastercopy delivers cloud printing
Cloud printing is at its best as part of a managed service, where the platform, the devices and the security are set up and maintained for you. Mastercopy designs the right cloud print environment for how your team actually works, whether that is one office or twenty, rolls out secure print release across the fleet, and keeps it patched and monitored under our ISO 27001 certified management. It is all part of our managed print services, and it works hand in hand with our advice on keeping hybrid teams connected and productive.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is cloud printing?
Managing and sending print jobs through a cloud platform instead of an on-site print server. Staff print from any device, anywhere, and the job is held securely until they release it at a machine.
Is cloud printing secure?
Done properly, more secure than traditional printing. Jobs are encrypted and held until the user authenticates at the device, so nothing sits in an open tray. It uses identity-aware access and usually needs no VPN.
Do I still need print servers?
No. Cloud printing removes the on-premise print servers you would otherwise buy, maintain and replace, cutting cost and IT overhead and keeping print working for remote and multi-site teams.
Can staff print from home with cloud printing?
Yes. Jobs are managed in the cloud, so staff can submit from home or a client site and release securely at an office device when they arrive. It is what makes print work for hybrid teams.
What is secure print release or pull printing?
It holds a job in a queue until the user authenticates at the device with a PIN, card or app, so nothing prints to an open tray. It prevents confidential documents being left out and cuts waste.
Thinking about moving your print to the cloud? Call Mastercopy on 01642 750404 or email sales@mastercopy.co.uk and we will design the right secure cloud print setup for your team.