No new third-party print drivers will be certified or distributed via Windows Update. This shift reflects what IT professionals have felt for years: device-specific drivers are a legacy approach in a world moving toward zero-trust.

Organizations are moving away from managing hundreds of print drivers toward cloud platforms where driver functionality is built in. SAFEQ Cloud supports this shift through Microsoft IPP Class Driver support for Windows Protected Print, including built-in finishing options on supported devices.

Although SAFEQ Cloud can support vendor drivers, most organizations rely on its cloud-native approach, delivered through the SAFEQ Cloud PC Client. Its effectiveness is proven at scale, with over one billion pages printed annually.

Ultimately, the industry is moving toward unified standards and cloud platforms where IT teams no longer need to manage print drivers. SAFEQ Cloud is built for where the industry is heading— simplifying IT, reducing reliance on legacy infrastructure, and helping organizations confidently move beyond traditional print management.

19 | STATE OF PRINTING