Universal Print from Microsoft is a cloud-based print solution that enables simple, rich, and secure printing experiences while reducing time and effort for IT
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What is Universal Print?

Universal Print is a Microsoft 365 subscription-based service that organizations use to centralize print management through the Universal Print portal, saving your end users and IT department time. It enables organizations to manage their print infrastructure through a Cloud service from Microsoft, as Universal Print runs entirely on Microsoft Azure. It's fully integrated with Azure Active Directory and supports single sign-on scenarios, bringing further security and ease to your printing environment.

Deploying with Universal Print–compatible printers do not require any on-premises server infrastructure, and Universal Print can be deployed with non-compatible printers by using Universal Print connector software.

Use Cases for Universal Print

End-User Experience: With Universal Print, end users can save time by collaborating, locating printers, and utilizing the documents they need without the hassle. Universal Print can utilize end-user locations at a granular level to easily discover the right printer. Such locations could include country, city, building, floor, etc. Universal Print combines ease of discovery with the familiar Windows print experience for users (discover, install, and print) so they can print seamlessly from any device.

Fully Move to the Cloud: Many organizations don’t have Cloud printing because they have not had a good economic option previously, so they have maintained on-premise file servers at each branch location. By moving printing to Universal Print, logins to Azure Active Directory and file sharing to OneDrive, organizations are free to decommission on-premises hardware and the patching, upgrading, and monitoring associated with it.

Universal Print is scalable and easy to configure. As we return to our offices, enable your users to print from any printer without the need to install and configure printer drivers and location-based services – saving them time and headaches.

Streamline infrastructure: Since this is a Cloud solution, organizations don't need to manage or upgrade it. IT departments no longer need to continually provide maintenance to branch office’s server infrastructure and troubleshoot help desk calls, saving an organization both time and hassle.

Security: Keep printers and documents secure with Azure Active Directory and security groups via permissions and conditional access policies. All printing data is stored in accordance with Microsoft’s data management guidelines. Ensure your data is not being put at risk with Universal Print.

Universal Print Licensing Options

Universal Print is included with commercial and educational Microsoft 365 and Windows 10 subscriptions but can also be purchased as a standalone subscription. Organizations that have one of the following subscriptions have licenses for Universal Print:

• Microsoft 365 Enterprise F3, E3, E5, A3, A5
• Windows 10 Enterprise E3, E5, A3, A5
• Microsoft 365 Business Premium

Universal Print comes with a pool of print jobs – which are available to all users who have a license. Each Universal Print license includes 5 print jobs per month that are pooled. For example, a subscription with 1,000 licensed users will have 5,000 jobs per month available to all users.

Customers who don’t have a subscription that includes Universal Print can buy the standalone subscription for $4 per user per month. For all customers, a volume add-on pack (500 print jobs per pack) is $25 per tenant per month. A print job can include a document with multiple pages. Organizations can also purchase add-on packs of 500 print jobs; however, unused print jobs expire at the end of each month.

How Interlink Can Help

Are you transitioning to the Cloud or looking to utilize Universal Print? Interlink’s team of expert consultants can help address your specific business needs and provide recommendations for the future.
Contact Interlink today to receive a free consultation!