Everything You Should Know About Microsoft Windows Protected Print (WPP)

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Read This About Enabling Windows Protected Print (WPP)

On October 1, 2024, Microsoft launched Windows Protected Print Mode (WPP), a security-enhanced printing platform to prevent future print vulnerabilities and attacks, like PrintNightmare in 2021. This vulnerability allowed attackers access to remotely execute exploitative code through Windows print spoolers.

Microsoft identified that most printing vulnerabilities were caused by older drivers, which are incompatible with many modern security migrations. Their solution is to block the use of third-party drivers and instead default to IPP printing only. This will prevent any installs of IP/TCP printers and direct IP printing in your existing print stack.

Microsoft released WPP on October 1 as part of their Windows 11 version 24H2 security baseline release. WPP is not enabled by default at this time, but the plan is that WPP will be the default configuration by 2027—dates subject to change. 

Why Vasion Print Customers Don’t Need to Enable WPP

Vasion Print customers’ print stack is already secure and protected:

  1. You’ve eliminated your print servers. 
  2. Vasion Print verifies and permits the installation of certified drivers only.
  3. You have full centralized control over all drivers to verify only certified drivers are in use.
  4. You can configure Vasion Print to prevent the installation of drivers from outside our system. 

Because of this, during the height of PrintNightmare, none of our customers were affected by the vulnerability. 

While WPP is not enabled by default at this time, we recommend holding off from enabling Windows Protected Print Mode. We are updating Vasion Print to be compatible with WPP to ensure you have no disruptions if you enable it in the future. 

You’ve Got Questions, We’ve Got Answers

Q: Do I need to enable WPP to ensure my print environment is secure?

A: No. With Vasion Print, you are already secure. By eliminating your print servers, you’ve also eliminated a major attack surface in your print environment. 

Q: How will Windows Protected Print Mode affect my print environment if enabled? 

A: By enabling WPP, you’ll end up being unable to manage the Windows machines that have WPP enabled. You also lose access to many advanced features because WPP doesn’t support them. 

  • Installation Restrictions: It will disable your ability to install any TCP or IP printers and print from those ports, as it only allows for IPP printing. 
  • Driver and Queue Removal: It will automatically remove all existing drivers and print queues from your environment 
  • Reconfiguration Required: It will require you to reconfigure all print queues to an IPP port only. 

Q: How do I know if my printers support WPP?

A: WPP supports any Mopria-certified printers. Luckily, all popular printer manufacturer brands have certified their products with Mopria, so this should not be cause for concern. To find out which of your printers meet this certification, review their certified product list. 

Q: Does Vasion Print support Windows Protected Print Mode? 

A: We are updating Vasion Print to be compatible with WPP mode to ensure no disruptions to your print environment. We will follow up with additional updates as we continue to progress. 

Q: What if I’ve already enabled WPP?

A: You probably noticed that any TCP/IP printer, queue, or third-party driver disappeared from your printer list and direct IP printing stopped working altogether. But no worry, this is reversible. 

First, disable the WPP settings. Then, any previously deployed printers and queues will be restored. However, manually uploaded printers can not be restored and must be added again. If you need assistance, please contact Vasion’s Support team. 

Q: Who should I reach out to if I have additional questions?

A: Please reach out to Vasion’s Support team if you have any questions or concerns.

What is Print Workflow Automation?

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Today’s enterprises are constantly seeking new ways to increase efficiency, productivity, and security, all while decreasing costs. Though it’s an ambitious goal, it’s also essential for staying ahead in an increasingly competitive and volatile business landscape.

Thankfully, print workflow automation helps organizations streamline complex processes and increase accuracy, even when (and especially when) they’re strapped for time and resources.

By leveraging the latest AI and automation technologies, print workflow automation software makes the entire printing process a breeze. Now, let’s get into the details, including what print workflow automation is and how it benefits enterprise-level organizations.


Print Workflow Automation Explained

Print workflow automation is a web-based, no-code software solution that helps streamline and optimize print production. Also known as print management or outpoint management, it automates tasks, including print job scheduling, routing, delivery, and others. It’s a secure, scalable, print solution that helps businesses save time, reduce errors, and lower printing costs.

Here are some of the key features of print workflow automation.

  • Document automation: eliminates manual processing bottlenecks
  • Advanced reporting: helps identify workflows that need to be expedited or rerouted
  • User task lists: ensure workflows are managed correctly
  • Auditing and reporting: features that enforce compliance and regulatory standards
  • Tracking and notifications: increase transparency and erase silos
  • Native connectors: effortlessly integrate workflows with existing applications

Features like mobile capture, scanning, and eSignatures further enhance print processes and connect departments across the organization. With seamless third-party integrations, print workflow automation is one of the most user-friendly workflow builders on the market.

4 Benefits of Print Workflow Automation

There’s a reason the print management industry is growing rapidly. The market is expected to reach $118.27 billion by 2031, largely fueled by the increased demand to optimize budgets and print processes.

Businesses that invest in print workflow automation enjoy benefits such as streamlined print operations, reduced costs, increased visibility, and enhanced security, to name a few.

1. Streamlined Operations

Most workers say they don’t have enough time to focus during the workday, yet the demand for increased productivity is higher than ever. This is why print automation is so valuable—it saves IT professionals and business leaders and their teams valuable time that is often wasted on inefficient printing.

With print workflow automation software, users can easily export and print data from multiple applications for reporting, storing, version control, and more. A highly visible, unified, native printing experience makes the whole process completely seamless, meaning fewer IT tickets and fewer headaches across the organization. 

2. Reduced Costs

Centralizing print management allows companies to have better control over their printing infrastructure, which helps reduce overall costs by minimizing waste and the need for IT support. Because printing is done efficiently, securely, and cost-effectively, businesses can reduce spending on printers, printing supplies, and costly print servers.

3. Increased Visibility

Nearly one-third of all business leaders are looking to AI to help increase employee productivity without increasing headcount. They want to use it to save time, help teams work smarter, and eliminate busy work. 

Here’s the good news: AI is up for the challenge. Print workflow automation allows businesses to scale using insights only available with the help of AI. Rather than relying on siloed, disparate systems, it offers businesses unparalleled visibility for generating, storing, and sending documents. With print management, organizations get the data needed to pivot, grow, and make a measurable impact.

4. Enhanced Security

Over 40% of organizations have had an IT security breach in the last 12 months, and security breaches have increased for 70% of U.S. businesses in 2024. This dramatic rise in cybersecurity threats is causing enterprises to rethink their print processes, with 79% increasing their print security spending.

Print workflow automation software aids businesses in addressing these concerns, helping to increase security and meet ever-evolving compliance and regulatory requirements. Secure printing options like pull printing and user authentication help protect sensitive documents and prevent unauthorized access. Unsurprisingly, organizations that invest in print management services are considered print security leaders.

 

Empower Your Business with Print Workflow Automation

Print management solutions empower enterprises to overcome the many challenges that come with outdated printing processes, such as costly equipment, disparate systems, complex security needs, and limited resources.

By streamlining document workflows, businesses can transform their print environment from a cumbersome burden to a powerful tool for efficiency, productivity, and ongoing success.

Ready to optimize your printing and reduce costs? Book a demo today to learn more about PrinterLogic, a powerful workflow management solution that eliminates information silos and connects your entire organization.

Top 5 Frequently Asked Questions About Output Management

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Output management solutions spiked in popularity during the COVID pandemic, and they’re becoming increasingly common. By 2032, the market for output management software will likely hit USD $9.9 billion. If you haven’t jumped on board yet and still need clarity, we’re here to give you a foundational understanding of output management by answering the most commonly asked questions about output management software. 

 

Output Management FAQs

1. What is output management?

Output management is a type of software that manages the creation, distribution, formatting, storage, security, and archiving of documents. All these functions are managed from a centralized platform. Because output management solutions can handle both physical and digital documents, companies can unify print management and document management systems in a single solution. 

Output management is often confused with print management. While there’s a lot of overlap, there are some critical differences. Print management deals with documents that are physically printed. From sending the print job to the printer and managing printing devices to managing print workflows and tracking printing quotas, print management software is certainly valuable. However, output management does all that and more. In addition to all of the capabilities that print management has, output management software also manages digital documents and offers additional features for security, visibility, workflow simplification, and device-neutral delivery.

 

 

2. What are the benefits of output management? 

Companies reap many benefits from investing in an output management system. One of the most immediate benefits is more efficient workflows. Output management systems automate and streamline document delivery options to digital storage and email. Automation helps reduce document mishandling while optimizing printing processes. Also, when installing output management software, companies can connect processes from legacy applications, which helps streamline workflows and keep projects organized. 

Another benefit of output management is visibility. Dynamic print reports allow companies to track and monitor user-level print activity on both back- and front-end printing. These reports offer visibility into cost-reduction opportunities, user behavior, problems with documents reaching their destination, and delivery methods. When companies understand this data, they can keep documents safe while making them more easily accessible. 

Security is another major advantage of output management software. These systems enforce security policies and protect sensitive information by implementing access controls, encryption, off-network printing, and secure release printing. For companies in heavily regulated industries, output management systems also help keep your company safe with compliance features. Ranging from manufacturing and healthcare regulations like Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) and the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), to general data protection such as the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), output management’s traceability ensures compliance across your organization.

 

 

3. Can an output management system integrate with our existing ERP, CRM, and other business systems?

Yes, absolutely! One of the strengths of output management systems is that they centralize all printing operations. This includes connecting to many other systems, including enterprise resource planning (ERP), customer relationship management (CRM), electronic medical records (EMR), electronic health records (EHR), document management systems (DMS), and more. PrinterLogic’s Output Management integrates well with Epic, Oracle Health, and SAP systems.

 

4. How does the output management system ensure secure and uninterrupted printing, especially in SAP environments?

Output management systems are great for ensuring secure and uninterrupted printing. Output management systems ensure print jobs are received and delivered by using automated failover scenarios to protect critical operations. 

In SAP environments specifically, output management helps ensure smooth and secure printing by integrating with SAP products. When output management systems integrate with SAP products, the two solutions can work together to deliver documents securely in a device-neutral environment. PrinterLogic’s Output Management solution works with SAP to route print jobs, spin up multiple Service Clients to achieve redundancy and high availability, and store and analyze the print job metadata. For more details, read our blog post that goes more in-depth about how PrinterLogic’s Output Management system provides failsafes to make sure your SAP print jobs are secure and uninterrupted.

 

5. Can the output management system provide a unified platform for managing both administrative and clinical printing, especially in specialized industries like healthcare?

Yes, output management systems are perfect for providing a unified platform for managing administrative and clinical printing, especially in industries such as healthcare. Output management systems can manage both administrative and clinical printing because they have both on-premises and cloud-based capabilities. Companies can integrate their output management software with Epic or other healthcare document software to unify all forms of healthcare print management, including Epic clinical and general office printing. This centralized print management approach eliminates the need to deploy drivers and queues to print servers altogether.

 

Want to Learn More About Output Management?

PrinterLogic’s Output Management system is here to help propel your business processes forward. Centralized control, enhanced efficiency, and strengthened security are just a few of the benefits of our Output Management software. To learn more about how PrinterLogic’s Output Management can centralize and protect your documents, schedule a free demo today. 

How to Optimize ROI and Operational Efficiency in Healthcare

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Did you know that 20-40% of health system spending globally is wasted through inefficiency? In an industry as vital as healthcare, that waste has a direct impact on people’s lives. Luckily, most spending waste in healthcare could be easily solved with minor changes. One of the easiest changes is to implement an output automation solution. If you’re a healthcare organization aiming to optimize your ROI and maximize operational efficiency, here are five efficiencies your org can gain by implementing output automation. 

  

What Is Output Automation? 

First, let’s define output automation. Output automation is the practice of ensuring any output from any system is delivered to the correct destination at the right time and in the preferred format. Not to be confused with Output automation, Output management focuses mainly on the creation, sharing, printing, downloading, and storage of documents. 

An output automation platform can help your company with:

  • Managing workflows for both printed and digital documents
  • Providing visibility into printing habits and document delivery patterns
  • Capturing data from various sources (including CRMs, ERPs, and emails) and tracking how they’re delivered
  • Formatting and storing documents and data so they’re safe, accessible to the right people, and easily searchable

 

1. Eliminate Downtime

Downtime can be dangerous within healthcare organizations—for patients’ well-being and your business. When your printer environment stalls, physicians can’t send in medication orders, consent forms can’t be printed, health insurance companies can’t access necessary information, and care is delayed. 

Outdated printer systems often have a single point of failure. If one piece of hardware stops working or the system crashes, it halts internal and external processes. However, output automation software ensures that anyone can print the necessary documents whenever they’re needed. You can set up automatic redundancies, allowing you to print even when one system fails. Vasion’s PrinterLogic Output Automation solution establishes direct links between clients and printers so you can print even if there’s a server failure or a WAN outage. 

 

2. Strengthen Compliance and Security

Compliance and security measures are integral to protecting sensitive information in healthcare. Organizations in the field are required to safeguard data for multiple regulations, such as HIPPA and GDPR, at all times. Output automation helps manage and prevent access to private, sensitive patient health information (PHI), which aids in upholding compliance regulations. 

Output automation software provides a detailed audit trail of who prints and accesses what information. Admins can set up special rules to prevent the printing of certain types of information to help protect PHI. With output automation, you can also redact print jobs in real-time, protecting sensitive data from exposure and avoiding the improper disposal of paper that may include PHI. 

 

3. Cut Printing Costs

Healthcare organizations shouldn’t have to sacrifice quality of care for lower costs. Companies can save money while increasing the quality of patient care by using output automation software. There’s no need to keep dumping money into unreliable, expensive legacy printers that constantly need to be fixed. With output automation software, you can: 

  • Eliminate unreliable front-end print servers 
  • Streamline driver and printer deployments to cut unnecessary hardware
  • Keep all print jobs on your local network
  • Drive automation and content management across the enterprise for all printed, scanned, emailed, and faxed documents  

Output automation software also allows you to track print jobs, set print limits, and easily share digital documents, all of which help lower printing costs.

 

 

4. Simplify Integrations

Healthcare companies often juggle dozens of software platforms, including identity providers (IdP), electronic medical record (EMR) systems, electronic health record (EHR) systems, etc. Output automation systems are designed to integrate easily with other platforms so organization’s don’t have to pick and choose between options. Vasion’s PrinterLogic Output Automation integrates seamlessly with Epic, Nutanix, Citrix, Azure Virtual Desktop, VMware, IGEL OS, and more to keep all systems connected and running smoothly without interruptions. 

 

5. Relieve IT Teams

Another feature of output automation that helps increase efficiency is self-service printing. This permits healthcare workers who are traveling between locations or buildings to print without having to submit a ticket and involve helpdesk workers. This allows not only your IT team to reallocate time previously spent on helpdesk tickets, but permits all employees from your organization to focus on more pressing matters and not printing. 

 

Increase ROI and Efficiency with Output Automation from PrinterLogic

Output Automation from PrinterLogic increases ROI and boosts efficiency by helping you better manage and optimize your print environment.

Feeling the Security Squeeze? How to Protect PHI with Cloud-Native Printing

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Breaches amongst healthcare organizations have been on the rise in the last few years, but massive cyber attacks in recent months are the cause of immediate concern. In the first half of 2024 alone, it’s been reported that HealthEquity faced a breach affecting 4.5 million in the U.S., RiteAid was subject to an attack impacting 2.2 million users, and Change Healthcare–a subsidiary of UnitedHealth Group–reported the data of potentially one-third of Americans was leaked. 

All three breaches were reported to have each lost at least two or more of these sensitive Protected Health Information (PHI) data points, including:

  • Full name
  • Address
  • Date of birth
  • SSN
  • Taxpayer details
  • Driver license number
  • Dependents’ information
  • Employer and employee IDs
  • Payment card information
  • Medical history
  • Health insurance details

In a world where sharing personal details with providers to receive care is necessary, patients must have trust that their healthcare organizations are safeguarding their highly sensitive information. Without proper cybersecurity protocols in place around PHI, companies providing healthcare services risk losing retention, their integrity, and the trust of their communities, all of which are necessary to survive in this climate. 

 

How do data breaches happen? 

Vulnerable Third-Party Solutions

It’s common for multiple companies to use third-party service providers; however, when a service provider is breached, all organizations utilizing their services are implicated. 

This happened to HealthEquity, which was using HealthEC, a health management solution company. HealthEC was the initial target of the breach, which led to the implication of 4.5 million HealthEquity users’ data. 

 

Unprotected Log-in Processes

If a company only has one authentication precaution in place for users, its systems are extremely vulnerable and a likely target for hackers. However, using multi-function authentication (MFA) precautions can make you 99% less likely to be hacked. 

MFA requires a user to verify their identity by using more than one authentication method, such as a badge swipe, PIN, QR code, or password verification, to access guarded information. This essentially adds multiple hoops for a hacker to jump through to gain information. These authentication methods are often used to log in to patient or provider portals, request subscriptions, schedule appointments, or access a repository of data. 

In the case of the pharmacy chain RiteAid’s ransomware attack, a hacker simply used an employee’s log-in credentials and gained access to the businesses’ systems.

For Change Healthcare, Chief Executive Officer of UnitedHealth Group Andrew Witty explicitly revealed that the attack happened because UnitedHealth was not using multi-factor authentication, regardless of it being an industry standard. 

 

Is my print environment at risk of a data breach? 

Print environments have historically been a vulnerable attack surface (remember PrintNightmare?) for hackers to access company and PHI data. By implementing a print management solution like PrinterLogic, you can protect your network using these security features: 

Zero Trust Printing: Reduce attack surfaces by eliminating old infrastructure like print servers.

Secure Release Printing: Protect sensitive documents using MFA for print job retrieval.

Off-Network Printing: Allow remote employees and contractors to print on the go while maintaining security.

IdP Integrations: Securely use leading third-party Identity Providers to store and manage passwords and other authentication data.

Rules & Routing: Configure criteria that prevent unauthorized users from printing documents with specific keywords and patient information. 

 

How can using PrinterLogic prevent cyber attacks? 

PrinterLogic’s print management solution is a cloud-native, centralized platform that ensures the PHI information your org handles is protected internally and externally, preventing threats on all fronts. Print jobs stay on the local network, and you get unlimited access to security features that defend against internal and external cyber threats. 

In addition, PrinterLogic is certified as a SOC 2 Type 2 and ISO 27001:2022 compliant solution designed to help you better protect your data, improve compliance with industry regulations, and increase customer trust.

Gear up to prevent attacks against your healthcare organization’s print environment by booking a demo. Still want to learn more? Here’s everything you need to know about getting started with PrinterLogic.