HID Introduces New, 'Green' Print Management Program
HID Global, a provider of secure-identity systems, announced it is partnering with leading multi-function printer (MFP) manufacturers and their application solution partners to develop secure print authentication solutions. The move is designed to enable HID customers to reduce overhead and costs, increase security and compliance and promote environmental sustainability, the company said.
The program extends an organization’s existing security investment to incorporate MFP print solutions by leveraging HID Global readers as well as HID Prox and iCLASS cards. By allowing employees to print documents only when they have authenticated to the print device with their HID credentials, companies can reduce the amount of paper, toner and electricity used on a daily basis, saving money and helping reduce printing-related waste.
HID said it has collaborated with industry leaders to introduce print management tools that result in compliance with privacy laws, cost savings, and environmental sustainability. Through these partnerships, controlled document printing is achieved by enabling networked printers or MFP devices with third-party software and an HID contactless card reader, where print jobs are then released only when authorized users present their HID contactless card to the reader on the device.
“Our customers are all feeling pressure to meet the demands for social responsibility and accountability while saving money. Controlling document printing is a very simple way for them to ensure regulatory compliance, minimize costs associated with printing and reduce their overall carbon footprint,” said Debra Spitler, vice president of HID Connect at HID Global. “For companies with an existing investment in Genuine HIDTM cards and readers, adding on secure printing is a smart decision. Organizations can reduce the amount of paper and energy they use and save an average of $150 to $250 per employee per year. This really adds up.”
Significantly, managed printing also allows companies to meet industry-specific compliance requirements by reducing the ability for sensitive data to be accessed and mishandled. Current print management software provides the ability to associate printer use and costs by individual, department, location and other variables. It enables companies to establish rules-based printing policies, track usage and run detailed reports, enabling them to more effectively enforce security policies and comply with regulations imposed by the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), Sarbanes-Oxley Act, Payment Card Industry (PCI) Data Security Standard (DSS), and others.
HID added that industry studies support the need for companies to take action. A recent study by InfoTrends & ALL Associates Group, for example, established the following:
- The average employee prints 10,000 pages per year, of which 17% (1,700 pages) are considered waste. Those same 10,000 printed pages consumed 51.5 kWh of electricity in the print process.
- Manufacturing those 10,000 pieces of paper produced 284.5 pounds of greenhouse gases, which is the equivalent of just over 1 week of car exhaust.
- Almost 9 kWh hours of electricity were spent on printing the 1,700 pages that the user didn’t really want.
- By controlling document printing, organizations reduce overall print “waste” and minimize their carbon footprint by:
- Eliminating wasted paper by deleting print jobs that are not released in pre-set timeframes.
- Reducing the use of toner and the wear and tear on the device by printing fewer documents.
- Saving electricity by allowing the device to be in a low power mode until a card presentation takes place.
To learn where to purchase secure print authentication solutions and for more information on how to reduce costs, increase security, facilitate compliance and promote corporate “Green” initiatives, visit www.hidglobal.com/secureprint.