Cloud print adoption challenged by cost and security concerns
Quocirca’s Cloud Print Services 2023 Study reveals that while cloud print adoption is increasing, organisations have key concerns around cost, security and performance.
The research, conducted among 507 IT decision-makers in the UK, USA, France, and Germany shows that 21% expect their IT infrastructure to be fully in the cloud by 2025, an increase from 5% who are fully cloud-based today. A further 36% expect to be mostly cloud-based, up from 29% today. Hybrid cloud is set to be the dominant approach, however, with two-thirds (67%) expecting this will be their approach by 2025.
Cloud momentum is evident in the print environment, where 31% now manage printing fully or mostly in the cloud, and more than half (55%) expect to do so by 2025.
Increased print server adoption
Despite the tangible benefits in terms of hardware, management and environmental cost reductions, few companies have completely eliminated print servers.
Only 13% of respondents have reduced or completely removed servers from the print environment in the past year, and almost half (48%) have actually increased the number they are using. Among those operating mixed vendor fleets or using MPS, the figure is higher; 58% and 60% respectively have deployed more print servers.
This rise in print server deployment – particularly among those operating mixed vendor fleets – is likely to be a reflection of the changes organisations are making to support hybrid working and expand their device fleet.
Security is the top barrier to adoption
More than one-third (36%) of ITDMs cite security as a top barrier to adoption of cloud print management. A further 29% cited a lack of demonstrable cost savings, while 28% were concerned about performance.
While aware of the benefits, organisations are looking for greater certainty in these areas. Cloud MPS providers and ISVs need to focus on clarifying their messaging on security, cost, and performance benefits in order to support the continued cloud transition.
A hybrid future supported by MPS
MPS providers are playing an important role in the deployment of cloud print. While 40% of respondents using a managed print service are very satisfied with their shift to a cloud-based print infrastructure, while only 27% of those not using MPS are very satisfied.
This suggests that utilising a third-party MPS provider is a more successful strategy for reaping the full benefits of cloud print. With cloud print services listed as a key supplier selection factor by almost half (45%) of decision-makers, MPS providers with cloud expertise are in a strong position.
In particular, MPS providers with security expertise will be well positioned to offer strategic guidance to customers to help them successfully implement a cloud print strategy.
Quocirca’s Cloud Print Services 2023 Report contains buyer and supplier recommendations, alongside detailed analysis of cloud print offerings from major vendors and ISVs:
Brother, Canon, Epson, HP, Kyocera, Konica Minolta, Lexmark, Ricoh, Xerox, Celiveo, Kofax (Printix), LRS, MyQ, NT-Ware (UniFLOW), PaperCut, Pharos, Thinprint (ezeep), Vasion (PrinterLogic) and Y Soft
Find out more in Quocirca’s Cloud Print Services 2023 Study
