Zero Trust and Modern Print: Preparing for the Biggest Shift in MPS

By Kevin Birt, Digital Workspace Manager

For the first time in more than two decades, the way organisations print is undergoing a fundamental transformation. For IT teams, end users, and business leaders, understanding these shifts is essential. Planning now can prevent disruption later.

Why Legacy Printing is a Risk

Traditional printing relies heavily on manufacturer-provided drivers installed on client PCs or servers. These drivers often operate with high security privileges, handle complex functions, and vary widely between devices. While they have historically provided flexibility and compatibility, they also introduce significant vulnerabilities.

A Security-First Approach to Printing

To address these risks, a new standardised approach to printing has been developed, designed to eliminate reliance on third-party print drivers. Under this model, when a printer is connected to the network, a standard driver is automatically deployed. Manufacturers can still provide optional apps to enable advanced features, but the core printing pathway is consistent and secure.

This modern approach reduces the attack surface, simplifies device management, and aligns printing operations with Zero Trust principles. IT teams can enforce segmentation, monitor usage, and control access without worrying about privileged drivers executing unverified code.

Preparing for Device and OS Changes

Another key driver of change is the evolution of endpoints. Older operating systems are reaching end-of-life, necessitating migration to the latest platforms. Modern laptops, particularly those using ARM processors, cannot currently install traditional drivers. Without a modern print solution in place, users may suddenly lose printing functionality when they upgrade devices

This is especially relevant as organisations replace machines with new, branded laptops designed for efficiency, collaboration, and AI-enabled tools. These devices are incompatible with legacy drivers, making the adoption of a standardised, modern print platform essential for continuity.

If a member of your organisation were to go into the settings of their device and press the button to set up Windows protected print (WPP) mode, all print drivers would be deleted and rendered unrecoverable.

Planning Your Transition: Don’t Press the Button Yet

While this new platform is not yet mandatory, organisations are advised to treat its eventual adoption as inevitable. Waiting until the switch is enforced could result in operational disruption, lost productivity, and security vulnerabilities. Instead, organisations should take a proactive approach:

Audit your print environment: Identify all printers, servers, drivers, and workflows in use. Understand where legacy drivers are still required and which devices may be impacted by new operating systems.

Map critical features: Determine which printer functions are essential for daily business operations and how they are delivered. Assess whether modern print apps can provide equivalent functionality.

Engage with vendors and service providers: Ensure that all printers are compatible with the standardised platform and that support apps are available for advanced capabilities.

Align with Zero Trust strategy: Segment printing environments, enforce device authentication, and implement secure print release and encrypted transport wherever possible.

Pilot and plan migrations: Start with less complex locations or device classes to validate the modern print experience before scaling across the enterprise.

Conclusion

The transition to a modern, secure print environment represents a once-in-a-generation change in enterprise IT. With legacy drivers becoming a liability, endpoint upgrades underway, and Zero Trust security frameworks increasingly mandated, organisations must prepare now to avoid disruption later.

The key message is simple: don’t press the button yet. Audit your print estate, assess workflows, engage vendors, and plan your migration carefully. By taking proactive steps today, organisations can ensure that when the new printing standard becomes the norm, their operations remain secure, seamless, and productive.