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Managing Wireless Printers and their Security Issues

JohnDB | Feb 26, 2010 |

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Wireless thermal printers help to ease the printing process with the flexibility and superior quality of printing they offer along with saving of time, space and money. Wireless thermal printers are space saving and easy to use with multiple connectivity options. They are user friendly and accurate, and with freedom from cables and wires, they can be used anywhere and everywhere in a wide range of applications with ease.

Wireless thermal printers move from place to place within an office, and can be connected to a host of other devices. The crucial issue then is of managing these devies. Wireless printers can be managed with specialized applications devised by software companies. These include general IT asset management applications like the HP Open-View portfolio, or Tivoli by IBM. The other option is to use management applications for wireless devices like the Wavelink Avalanche Software or the Motorola Mobility Services Platform. Some special printer specific software is also available but can be used only if it provides the appropriate security protocols with customary network support for applications. Most software available is not ideally suited to take advantage of the special features provided by wireless thermal printers and derive value out of it.

Efficient barcode printing helps to provide consistency in operations and prevent problems from spilling over to other applications or devices. This will help in saving administrative time as well. Additions like grouping help to save time. A simpler management system used for wireless printers will help to improve the reliable performance of the printer and deliver the most accurate results in mission critical assignments.

Companies need to visualize the various printer management scenarios and the options available to maximize the benefits of wireless printers. The multiple choices for printer management offered by companies like Zebra enhance their reliability. Zebra printers come with built-in SNMP connectivity, multiple printer utilities and the all-inclusive ZebraNet Bridge Enterprise printer management solution.

Network Security With Wireless Printers

Users are often fearful of security lapses with the inclusion of printers in their wireless network. However, these fears are unfounded since all wireless thermal printers come equipped to support the requisite protocols and architectures used for system protection. Thus they can support VPNs or Virtual Private Networks, WPA, WPA2, 802.11x, 802.11i and LEAP, all of which form the security protocol for 802.11b and 802.11g networks.

Security support offered will vary according to the printer model, the server in use and the radio. New networking technologies change the security settings as well. Printers can be equipped with the same safeguards as those used for the rest of the wireless infrastructure. This will ensure that the printer is not a weak link in the security of an entire network.