26 November 2025 | Business Technology Support Ltd

Make Sure You’re Ready: The Print Revolution Is Here

The world of printing is changing, and it’s changing fast.

Microsoft is officially moving away from legacy printer drivers in favour of a modern, secure, cloud-friendly approach. It’s a huge leap forward for security and simplicity, but one wrong move could leave your print infrastructure in chaos.

That shiny new “Windows Protected Print” button? It might look tempting, but pressing it without a plan could wipe out your entire print environment.

What’s Changing - and Why It Matters

Microsoft Modern Print Platform

Built into Windows 11 and Copilot+ PCs

Driverless, secure, and cloud-friendly

Based on IPP/Mopria standards

Supports ARM devices like the Surface Pro

Uses Print Support Apps (PSAs) for flexibility

In short: legacy print drivers are gone. This is the new era of seamless, universal printing.

Windows Protected Print

When enabled, this feature removes all legacy printer drivers and ports - permanently.No traditional drivers. No exceptions. It’s set to become the default print mode in the near future.

So before you press that button, take a step back and understand your print landscape, especially if you rely on host-based systems or application-specific drivers.

Microsoft Universal Print

Fully cloud-based through Microsoft 365

Enables zero-trust segmentation

Managed entirely in Azure

Requires Universal Print-ready devices

Powerful, yes - but setup requires care to avoid losing essential functionality.

Why Microsoft’s Move Matters

Legacy printer drivers have long been a weak point in IT security. They operate at high admin levels, giving attackers an easy target.

Microsoft’s goal is clear: eliminate insecure, manufacturer-specific drivers and move towards a unified, protected, and cloud-integrated print experience.

That’s great news for IT leaders, but only if you plan your transition properly.

Before You Press the Button

Here’s your readiness checklist: ✅ Audit your current print environment ✅ Map your applications and dependencies ✅ Plan your migration strategy ✅ Choose Microsoft Modern Print-ready solutions ✅ Use uniFLOW Online for a smooth, secure transition

uniFLOW Online: Your Safety Net

When it comes to cloud print management, uniFLOW Online stands out as the bridge between old and new. We can provide this solution and talk you through the details, but here are the key benefits:

Fully compatible with Microsoft Modern Print and Windows Protected Print

Driverless cloud printing via Microsoft Store app

Seamless integration with Universal Print

Still works after pressing the button

Automated updates for long-term reliability

Full print audit, reporting and budget control

Visual dashboard for printer status

Integrations with OneDrive, SharePoint and Google Drive

User authentication via Microsoft 365 or Azure AD

One driver. One solution. Total control.

The Takeaway

Microsoft’s new print ecosystem promises speed, security and simplicity - but it demands readiness. Press the button too soon, and you could lose more than your drivers.Plan your migration right, and you’ll unlock a future-proof, cloud-native print experience that’s faster, safer, and smarter.

The future of printing is here, make sure you’re ready for it. Contact us today to discuss the ways we can help.

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