We're considering replacing Windows print servers with a cloud print management platform that uses direct IP printing. Right now, our network controls allow only the print servers to reach printers. The proposed setup would require clients to reach them directly.
Is that a major security tradeoff, or can it be managed reasonably with network controls? What else should we check before moving?
Direct IP printing is a reasonable option, but direct access doesn't have to mean unrestricted access. Put printers on their own VLAN and allow the required print ports from the relevant client networks. Block access to management interfaces such as the web UI and SNMP from ordinary clients.
Check the actual ports and protocols the product needs before writing the rules. TCP 9100 is common, but don't assume it's the only one. Removing the server also removes a convenient choke point, so printer firmware, credentials and endpoint security matter more.
The concern isn't overblown if you have sensitive documents or regulatory requirements. Printers can have exposed management pages, unchanged default credentials and features that capture or forward documents. Letting more endpoints reach them changes the attack surface.
The existing print server may also be providing a central place for auditing and control. Before removing it, check what visibility and restrictions the SaaS product provides and whether those meet your requirements. A less sensitive environment might reasonably accept more direct access.
Map the traffic flow before deciding. Does the cloud service just manage printer deployment while jobs travel directly from the client to the printer, or do jobs go through the cloud? Those are different questions for security and availability.
Ask what happens during an internet outage and how users outside the office reach a printer. Also check whether the product offers a local gateway that can be the only system allowed to connect to printers. That may preserve your current network boundary, though it introduces a local component to manage.
!now_with.corners:
Printer count and site layout matter too. Test the outage behavior rather than assuming cloud management means printing either will or won't work offline.
I'd avoid treating direct printing as a dealbreaker on its own. If the printers are hardened and clients can only reach the necessary print port, it may be a worthwhile trade for getting rid of Windows print servers. The answer depends on what you're protecting and how much control you need.
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plausibly+wrong~:
Also ask whether every client really needs every printer, or whether access can be limited by site or user network. That could make the firewall policy a lot less broad.