Many corporate institutions have implemented IT environments that enable staff to access their personal or corporate desktop from any computer terminal, mobile device or from any location using wifi zones. Flexibility and automation are commonplace. The printing environments that firms operate, however, are often less dynamic, leading to inefficient use of printing resources, internal information potentially being compromised and increased administrative burden on technology and support staff.

Cloud printing is particularly useful for large organizations with complicated computer network infrastructures. Many of these enterprises connect hundreds (if not thousands) of devices and printers across many locations. As the workplace becomes more mobile, employees may need to print from multiple locations in different parts of a building or of a country.

Cloud printing services can smooth out some of the snafus of printer driver management, and allow users to print from virtually any device that can connect to the service. However, many third-party cloud printing services use the “public” cloud which precludes organizations that have high levels of security concerns from using.

The cloud allows businesses to be more efficient, and printing should be one of those business processes, maybe even the most basic business process that could be simplified with the cloud. The big benefit of cloud printing is that it drastically simplifies intra-organizational printing structures and flattens the complexities of coordinating hardware across a widely distributed system of computers. Of course, not all cloud printing is created equal.

In 2014, due to the rise in BYOD, organizations will be compelled to manage their enterprise print environments from a single printer driver rather than multiple drivers to manage their fleets of printers within large organizations. This type of printer driver management will be particularly beneficial within the healthcare sector.

Although organizations are addressing many of the challenges associated with supporting the BYOD trend, when it comes to mobile printing, many still have their work cut out for them, particularly in the healthcare industry. Critically imperative within health care facilities is the ability to print patient information despite the location, printer or device the staff is using.  That’s where printing virtualization steps in.