Educational Institutions Benefit by Using Managed Print Services

MPS BenefitDuring recent years, a growing number of educational institutions discovered advantages in switching to managed print services (“MPS”). From Public School Systems to University level consortium systems, school administrators help implement more streamlined, efficient and secure printing by relying upon MPS. This brief article explores this topic.

The Chief Benefits of MPS For Educators

Large educational institutions often maintain printing services for departments, faculty members, and students in several locations. The use of MPS permits institutions to coordinate and streamline the costs of printing by enabling administrators to track printing services across multiple campuses. It helps control the costs involved because of the capability to monitor every use of a printer within the educational system.

Schools using this type of managed system also enjoy an enhanced ability to predict and project maintenance expenses. Educational institutions help prevent unnecessary printing (thus ultimately conserving paper). They also enjoy an improved capability to allocate the use of printer resources more effectively.

Maintaining Tighter Printer Security

Both Educause and the Consortium For School Networking reported in 2018 that member surveys revealed concern about better security as a leading priority. As educational institutions, many universities today conduct sensitive research. Since modern printers often form components within area wide networks, this equipment may pose a “weak link” in campus IT programs from a safety standpoint.

By obtaining system-wide MPS services, administrators enjoy much better control over potential cyber security breaches related to institutional printers and copiers. They gain the ability to detect outside intrusions more quickly, while also exercising an improved capability to prevent the pilferage of printing. The security benefits alone may justify a decision on the part of an educational institution to contract for MPS assistance.

An Important Balance

Firms offering MPS services to educators appreciate the need to balance the implementation of cost-effective streamlining and institutional security measures with rights of free speech and intellectual inquiry (which often require unrestricted access to information). Successful MPS providers recognize the vital importance of both these goals in modern society. As the popularity of managed printing grows, many IT experts anticipate more public school systems and institutions of higher education will consider contracting to obtain MPS technologies.