This blog has been updated to reflect the new product name for our support service, PaperCut Maintenance & Support (M&S).
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The value of M&S
M&S is how you keep your PaperCut installation up-to-date. You see, PaperCut isnāt a subscription licence - itās perpetual. That means you buy it outright (easier for capex budgeting) and itās yours forever and ever and ever and ā¦ well, you get the drift.
However, just like, say, your toaster, your purchase is a particular model (or in the case of software, version). But, with toasters you donāt get any upgrades (well, you might, but I’m not familiar with toaster upgrade programs).
Having a particular model (version) is cool for the first few months and even yearsāit has the latest features, after all. But what happens when a new feature comes out that youād really rather fancy having? What happens when a security threat pops up that your version isnāt protected against (ok, so toasters donāt have security threats, but software sure does)..
Thatās the value of M&S. With M&S, you get access to the latest versions of your PaperCut software . That means regular new features AND protection against security threats. Whoa, access to the latest and greatest print management technology AND instant peace of mind. BOOM!
Letās talk about print management security
Something I hear a lot from PaperCut MF users is that it just works (not: āit only just worksā, I mean: āit just ā¦ worksā). In many ways, PaperCut MF is a set and forget. It chugs away in the background tracking and monitoring and reporting and saving and just ā¦ working.
It wouldnāt surprise me if there are system administrators who havenāt logged into their PaperCut dashboard in ages. Because … it just works - thereās nothing to check on.
But there is something to check on. Updates. Especially security updates. The critical-patches-that-protect-a-network type of patches.
The LAST thing any IT worker wants to do is front up to the executive team to admit, āThe security breach occurred because we hadnāt downloaded the latest security update of x software.ā
M&S is your first line of protection against security attacks, by giving you access to patches, updates and upgrades. Important stuff.
A bit about new features
Letās take a brief peek at a couple of recent additions to PaperCut MF. Just so we can understand what many universities and hospitals and small businesses and the like are missing out on with their elderly instances of PaperCut:
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- BYOD printing (printing from a userās mobile device)
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- Scan to Cloud Storage (scanning to Dropbox and OneDrive etc.)
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Integrated scanning (which means every brand of device in your workplace scans the same way, phew)
Thatās a bit of a shame, because when PaperCut releases a new feature, it leads to saved costs, better convenience, a happier environment, a safer workplace, or some combination of the four.
Look, I held onto my 2003 Subaru Impreza for a looooong time. I mean it had automatic windows, air conditioning, a stereo with CD player - what more could I need? But late last year I relented and bought a pretty new VW and oh my - how technology has changed. This one has a computer that helps me park and reverse and all sorts of stuff I had to do myself in the past. Itās got a teensy tiny 1.5 litre engine that goes twice as fast as my old 2 litre while using half the gas.
Technology, it changes REAL quick. And at PaperCut, M&S is how you keep abreast.
Becoming M&S-protected
If youāre a PaperCut MF user, get back in touch with your reseller and start a conversation about M&S. Your reseller will tell you about the latest bits weāve added to PaperCut software that might improve the way you work. See if itās worth it for you.
And if youāre a PaperCut NG user, fire off a quick email to sales@papercut.com . Too easy.
