Managed.IT - issue 55

MANAGED.IT 27 PRINTING HP streamlines workflows with new MFP app platform Platinum status for FollowMe www.managedITmag.co.uk Just like single-function scanners (see left), MFPs are being enhanced to support the seamless integration of paper and digital workstreams. In the case of market leader HP, this is being done with the newly announced HP Workpath and HP Command Center platforms. A new cloud platform and developer ecosystem, HP Workpath enables customers and print resellers to access (or develop their own) smartphone-like applications for MFPs, including HP’s new range of A3 colour print devices (see below). Designed to streamline business processes, typical applications might allow users to: n Scan receipts and submit an expense report directly from a Concur app running on the MFP; n Scan a paper invoice directly into Sage Intacct on the MFP, attach it to a purchase order and submit; or n Scan a paper document and, using an app on the MFP, save it directly into a Microsoft Teams or Google Docs shared folder. HP says there are currently For the fifth consecutive year, analysts at Keypoint Intelligence – Buyers Lab (BLI) have given the highest rating to Ringdale’s print management solution for document security and compliance. With a mission to identify solutions that address business-critical challenges around office printing, analysts from BLI put FollowMe Enterprise and Government/ Public Sector through a rigorous evaluation, after which they awarded it the highest possible Platinum rating. Jamie Bsales, Director of Solutions and Security Analysis at Keypoint Intelligence, said: “The FollowMe solution is well suited for enterprise and public sector customers looking to address data protection and compliance requirements, drive down costs and optimise user productivity. Its Data Loss Prevention abilities, in particular, set FollowMe apart. Through the judicious use of content monitoring policies, administrators can enable all manner of safeguards that prevent sensitive data from being put to paper and leaving the organisation.” He added: “Where FollowMe stands out from similar systems BLI has tested is in the broad range of device makes supported. Ringdale offers applets for just about every embedded software platform in printers and multi-functional printers.” Eric Crump, Ringdale’s Director of Strategic Alliances, says the report is proof of the company’s continued technology leadership and ability to address the printer-related data privacy and endpoint security concerns of public sector organisations and global enterprises. He said: “We are pleased to be recognised again, for the fifth year in a row, by Keypoint Intelligence for print security and management in the most demanding business environments. This acknowledgment sets our global partners apart with the industry recognised enterprise security services that international customers require.” The BLI Platinum-rated Solution Report for FollowMe is available to download from www.followme.ringdale.com . 300-plus HP Workpath developers creating general and bespoke workflow apps for the platform. More than 50 industry-specific apps for healthcare, education and government are already available and HP expects this number to increase to 70 by the beginning of 2020. HP’s second new cloud-based platform, the HP Command Center, has an important role to play in the adoption of MFP apps by enabling service providers to find, access, recommend, subscribe and remotely deploy HP Workpath apps from a single cloud-base. HP Command Centre also provides dealers and service providers with a broad range of remote management capabilities. Simpler fleet security Coinciding with the launch of the HP Workpath and HP Command Center platforms, HP has announced security enhancements that simplify fleet security management for channel partners. Security Manager 3.4 with support for Simple Certificate Enrolment Protocol (SCEP) now provides access to a broader Certificate Authority portfolio and simplifies the process of issuing device certificates across a fleet. In addition, HP’s new Essential Security Policy integration within HP Smart Device Services (SDS) enables customers and channel partners to enhance the security of the entire IT network. A3 colour devices Finally, HP has expanded its printer offering with new A3 devices featuring an enhanced print mode that provides a wider range of colours and an extra level of vividness and gloss for important proposals, brochures and other marketing material. These include the Color LaserJet Enterprise MFP M776; the HP Color LaserJet Enterprise M856 Printer series; and the HP Color LaserJet Managed E85055, a managed version of the 800 series, which comes with a lower cost per page and features designed to meet the needs of contractual service providers. www.hp.com Smarter printing More than 50 industry- specific apps for healthcare, education and government are already available