We did it again! Our platform stood out in Keypoint Intelligence evaluations

MPS Monitor, our leading SaaS platform for remote printer and MFP fleet management has achieved a Platinum rating from Keypoint Intelligence, earning a perfect score of 5 out of 5 in all evaluated categories: features and productivity, usability, IT admin and security, support & training, and value. This exceptional performance also secured the prestigious 2024 Pick Award for our SaaS platform, in the category Smart Workplace Solution.

Keypoint Intelligence’s rigorous evaluation highlighted MPS Monitor’s comprehensive capabilities in remote monitoring and management of printer and MFP fleets: “MPS Monitor comes with all the features that print providers need to oversee and secure distributed print fleets across various customer locations. […] MPS Monitor can help dealers simplify processes, reduce the cost of doing business, accelerate cash flows, increase customer satisfaction and retention rates, and identify new sales and service opportunities within customer accounts”.

The platform’s user-friendly setup, requiring only the MPS Monitor DCA utility installation, ensures quick and straightforward data collection from devices. This enables access from any web-enabled device, with optimal interaction on desktops or tablets. Additionally, MPS Monitor archives extensive device data, including operational messages and historical information, enhancing dealer responsiveness through customizable alert emails.

The integration with Microsoft PowerBI enriches the service, offering dealers dynamic data analysis tools to identify sales opportunities and manage costs. PowerBI’s reporting capabilities allow for real-time data visualization adjustments and support comprehensive consumables management and seamless data exportation for invoicing and logistics. Keypoint Intelligence praised the inclusion of instructional resources that make it easier for dealers to utilize these advanced features.

“MPS Monitor has significantly upgraded its service offerings with notable enhancements designed to optimize operational efficiency”, Keypoint Intelligence states in its report. The integration of advanced HP Smart Device Services (SDS) tools like HP JAMC, HP Smart Device Agent, and HP SDS Cloud DCA, along with the introduction of DCA 4, provides robust diagnostic capabilities and improved device management. New analytical features, including the Supplies Intelligence Dashboard and Customer Contract Dashboard, alongside two innovative APIs, streamline data integration and analysis. The addition of languages such as Polish, Thai, Vietnamese, and Traditional Chinese since the last evaluation further broadens the platform’s accessibility.

In the report, Keypoint Intelligence highlighted the key benefits brought by MPS Monitor’s platform, as following:

• “It reduces IT costs”
• “Proactive customer service”
• “Do more with HP devices”
• “Supercharge your business with analytics”
• “Create contracts and invoices”
• “Logistic management for consumables”
• “A holistic security approach”.

The Pick Award was granted to MPS Monitor for the results achieved in the testing and other compelling reasons. Keypoint Intelligence lauded our platform for its holistic approach to security, exceptional customer support, and proactive service capabilities. In detail, MPS Monitor employs robust security features, including two-factor authentication, SSO integration with Azure AD and Okta, and encrypted communications using HTTPS and SNMP protocols. The platform’s data centers, protected by armed guards and advanced surveillance systems, are ISO 27001-certified, GDPR-compliant, and undergo regular penetration testing and SOC 2 Type 2 audits.

Moreover, MPS Monitor’s customer support is highly responsive, with 95% of issues actioned within the same or next business day. Support is included in the subscription and available via different channels and tools and a built-in ticketing system, which tracks issues and provides updates. Dealers benefit from a wealth of downloadable manuals, FAQs, and tutorial videos accessible through the Help menu, along with a Communications screen for new feature announcements and updates.

Overall, MPS Monitor confirms its position as a leading comprehensive, secure, and highly effective solution for managed print services. MPS Monitor’s dynamic data analytics features empower dealers to optimize their sales, marketing, and service departments, driving business growth and operational efficiency. MPS providers can also export data in many different formats, to simplify analysis in other programs.

“We are proud and deeply honored to receive these two prestigious recognitions from Keypoint Intelligence,” commented Nicola De Blasi, Chief Strategy Officer of MPS Monitor. “These awards are a testament of our unwavering dedication to innovation and excellence. They inspire us to continuously enhance our platform to help dealers not only meet but exceed the evolving demands of their customers, all while navigating the increasingly complex landscape of managed print services.”

Read the complete Solution Report here and the Pick Award article here

Read Keypoint Intelligence press release here

Download MPS Monitor brochure here

Discover all the capabilities of MPS Monitor praised by Keypoint Intelligence by requesting a free 30-day trial.

About Keypoint Intelligence
For over 60 years, clients in the digital imaging industry have relied on Keypoint Intelligence for independent hands-on testing, lab data, and extensive market research to drive their product and sales success. Keypoint Intelligence has been recognized as the industry’s most trusted resource for unbiased information, analysis, and awards due to decades of analyst experience. Customers have harnessed this mission-critical knowledge for strategic decision-making, daily sales enablement, and operational excellence to improve business goals and increase bottom lines. With a central focus on clients, Keypoint Intelligence continues to evolve as the industry changes by expanding offerings and updating methods, while intimately understanding and serving manufacturers’, channels’, and their customers’ transformation in the digital printing and imaging sector.

About BLI Smart Workplace Solution Pick Awards
Buyers Lab Smart Workplace Solution Picks stand alone in the industry and are hard-earned awards as they are based on rigorous testing, including evaluation of key attributes such as features, usability, and value. Each product that passes its Keypoint Intelligence lab test earns a Platinum, Gold, Silver, or Bronze rating, with the best performers qualifying as Pick contenders.

MPS Monitor has been featured in Quocirca’s Print Security Landscape 2024 report. In this document, Quocirca identifies significant trends in the print security landscape and underlines our robust security features, posture, and strategy: “MPS Monitor continues to advance the security features of its device management platform. The company has adopted a security and data protection by default and by design approach, which sees robust security controls implemented throughout the development and release process.”

Print Security Landscape 2024: key insights

The rise of hybrid work and AI has introduced new print security challenges, pushing manufacturers and channel partners to prioritize integrated security solutions. Quocirca’s study reveals significant advancements in security among leading printer manufacturers. As remote work blurs security boundaries, unsecured public networks and employee-owned printers have heightened risks, making print security a priority on IT agendas.

Despite progress, print-related data breaches remain a concern, with 67% of organizations reporting data losses in 2024, up from 61% the previous year. Midmarket businesses have been most affected, with breach costs rising to £1 million. Additionally, AI-driven security threats have come into focus, with 83% of respondents acknowledging AI’s crucial role in identifying risks. Quocirca emphasizes the need for comprehensive strategies, including fully managed print services and support for mixed fleets, to mitigate these growing security challenges.

MPS Monitor: a Security-First approach

MPS Monitor has been recognized for advancing the security features of its device management platform and its security by-design and by-default approach. “MPS Monitor 2.0 is a cloud-native SaaS solution for remote monitoring and management of printers, MFPs, and label printers that enables dealers to streamline billing, meter reading, and automated supplies replenishment. […] Its cloud-based SaaS device management platform offers a robust set of security features and capabilities to protect data, user accounts, and infrastructure, such as single sign-on integration and multi-factor authentication, as well as physical security measures to safeguard the data centres against unauthorised access”.    

MPS Monitor’s key differentiators:

• Security Certifications: Achieving compliance with ISO 27001, SOC 2 Type 2, and CSA STAR Level 2 demonstrates our dedication to maintaining the highest security standards.
• High-Security Data Centers: Our services are hosted in secure data centers with 24×7 monitoring, real-time alerting, and continuous vulnerability assessment.
• Software Integrity: We employ stringent security measures in our development and release processes, including external cybersecurity firm reviews.
• User Account Security: Multi-factor authentication and SSO integration with Azure Active Directory and Okta ensure secure user access.
• Secure Data Collection: Our DCA technology is continuously assessed for security, using secure protocols and ports for data collection.
• Device Web Access (DWA): This feature allows secure browsing of printer web pages, bolstered by MFA and strict access policies.
• AI-Embedded Technology: Our tailored Generative AI system provides timely and accurate insights into our security posture.
• Label printers support: MPS Monitor ensures secure monitoring of label printers through DWA technology, which uses unique features and procedures to prevent its use as an attack vector.

For further information and the key insights about the print security landscape 2024, you can read the excerpt of the Quocirca report here.

Feel free to experience the MPS Monitor top notch security yourself amongst many other features by requesting a free of charge 30-day trial.

As organizations increasingly embrace Software as a Service (SaaS) solutions, the need for robust security measures becomes paramount. The IDC Spotlight, sponsored by MPS Monitor, “Driving Higher Standards in SaaS Security for Managed Print Services” offers a comprehensive look at current trends, challenges, and best practices in this space. It underlines the importance of security in SaaS applications, especially in the context of Managed Print Services (MPS), and also validates MPS Monitor’s security posture.

IDC’s opinion on MPS Monitor: a model for secure SaaS in MPS

According to the IDC Spotlight, “Established in 2010, MPS Monitor has emerged as a pioneering force in the global MPS industry. Since its inception, MPS Monitor has drawn a path of success across all continents, with headquarters in Europe and direct operations in North America and Asia. At the heart of its mission lies a commitment to establishing itself as the market leader in remote monitoring and management (RMM) of printers and multifunction devices of all brands.”

MPS Monitor has made significant investments in security, achieving certifications such as ISO/IEC 27001, AICPA SOC2 Type 2, and CSA Star Level 2. These certifications are renewed and rigorously tested regularly, demonstrating MPS Monitor’s commitment to maintaining high-security standards.

Some of the key security features of MPS Monitor include:

• Modern Coding Practices: Unlike many legacy MPS solutions, MPS Monitor’s codebase is built with modern security standards in mind, ensuring it is up-to-date and resilient against threats.
• Continuous Testing and Updates: MPS Monitor’s critical components, such as the Data Collection Agent (DCA), undergo regular code reviews and external security checks before each release. Their cloud systems are penetration-tested biannually.
• Advanced Authentication Mechanisms: MPS Monitor employs robust authentication methods, including Single Sign-On (SSO) and Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA), enhancing overall security.

Growing adoption of SaaS software and security imperatives

The rapid shift towards SaaS platforms is transforming how businesses operate. As reported in IDC Spotlight, “As of 2024, 53% of organizations worldwide are using software-as-a-service (SaaS) solutions, and a reported 80% of organizations plan to convert all their systems to SaaS by 2025.” The allure of SaaS lies in its promise of fast solution deployment, reduced burden on internal IT resources, and simplified operations. However, IDC highlights a critical oversight in this rush: security. Many organizations focus on the benefits of SaaS without giving adequate attention to the associated security risks.

Managed Print Services are not immune to this trend. The document notes that 49% of organizations with over 100 employees have adopted cloud-based print solutions, with some suppliers seeing up to 50% annual growth in their cloud offerings. Despite this, many MPS software vendors have lagged in developing robust security capabilities, often only addressing document and device security superficially. The real need is for a holistic security approach that includes rigorous testing and compliance with international standards.

Market trends and challenges for SaaS and MPS

In this shift towards SaaS solutions, many legacy print and device management applications are being adapted for cloud environments without the necessary redesign or implementation of robust security measures. These older systems often lack true multitenancy, data separation, API security, and strong authentication, making them vulnerable to the myriad threats posed by public Internet exposure.

On the other hand, all SaaS companies face increasing security challenges as their platforms grow, expanding their attack surfaces and becoming prime targets for cyberattacks. Critical risks include account hijacking and supply-chain compromises, where attackers infiltrate development pipelines to embed malware in code updates. In the MPS world, Data Collection Agents (DCAs) can become gateways for network intrusions. Many organizations, constrained by limited IT security budgets and a lack of awareness, underestimate these risks, often failing to invest adequately in security measures.

As highlighted by IDC, there is a significant need for a shift in perception, recognizing that comprehensive and proactive security strategies are essential for safeguarding print and device management systems in the SaaS era. A modern cloud-native approach, with security integrated from the ground up, is crucial for maintaining the integrity and safety of these platforms. In this context, dealers play a key role in helping companies navigate this complex landscape.

A strategic approach: balancing modernization with security

Although companies are integrating SaaS software into their MPS strategies to modernize their IT infrastructure, there’s a disconnect between the security priorities reported by organizations and what current MPS solutions offer. While security is a top concern, few solutions meet the high-security standards required by modern print architectures.

To mitigate these risks, IDC recommends some best practices for ensuring SaaS platforms do not introduce additional security vulnerabilities, including:

• Develop and integrate comprehensive corporate security policies from the outset.
• Evaluate SaaS providers’ security postures and ensure compliance with recognized standards.
• Regularly perform security audits and keep systems updated.
• Adopt a Zero Trust architecture, treating every network device and connection as a potential threat.

IDC foresees a transformative period for the office print market, driven by Managed Print Services that prioritize security. We believe MPS Monitor stands out for its unparalleled focus on security and compliance, setting a benchmark for other vendors in the industry.  As companies seek to modernize their print infrastructure, they must prioritize solutions that offer comprehensive security features and continuous testing to safeguard their networks against emerging threats.

Download IDC Spotlight here

In their latest whitepaper, the leading analyst firm sets an industry benchmark for SaaS platform’s security and compliance.

In today’s rapidly evolving market, Managed Print Services (MPS) providers face unprecedented challenges, with cybersecurity at the forefront. As organizations increasingly rely on MPS solutions, ensuring the security of these platforms has never been more critical. MPS providers are in the middle, because they are responsible for protecting clients’ data and network integrity, despite not developing the tools they use. With the rise of supply-chain attacks and the widespread use of remote print management solutions, “dealers must carefully select and manage third-party vendors to ensure they meet the security standards their customers expect.”

Secure MPS is the answer.

According to Keypoint Intelligence’s latest whitepaper, MPS providers must adopt Secure MPS by partnering with software vendors who demonstrate robust end-to-end security, compliance with standards like ISO/IEC 27001 and SOC2, and transparent security practices. Key requirements include regular software updates, advanced data protection, incident response plans, and continuous security assessments of third-party vendors. This comprehensive approach ensures the security of print devices, networks, and data communication, thereby building trust and reassuring clients about the safety of their sensitive information.

Keypoint Intelligence analysis of MPS Monitor.

The MPS market is experiencing a constant transformation due to increasing demands of enhanced security amid rising cyber threats. This is where MPS Monitor sets the bar, offering the gold standard in security for MPS Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) platforms. MPS Monitor tackles the above-mentioned challenges head-on, providing a secure and reliable platform that adheres to rigorous international standards. Keypoint Intelligence explains why MPS Monitor can be considered the pinnacle of security in the MPS SaaS market:

• Compliance with International Standards: MPS Monitor’s 2.0 platform complies with top-tier security certifications such as ISO/IEC 27001, SOC2, and GDPR. These standards represent a commitment to ongoing security practices, regular audits, and updates to counter emerging threats.
• Comprehensive Security Measures: The platform incorporates end-to-end encryption, advanced authentication mechanisms, and frequent penetration testing. This ensures that all data, from device communications to cloud storage, is protected against unauthorized access and breaches.
• Proactive Vulnerability Management: MPS Monitor emphasizes regular updates and thorough code reviews. Before each release, the platform undergoes rigorous security assessments, including reviews of the Data Collection Agent (DCA), to identify and mitigate any potential vulnerabilities.
• Robust Incident Response: In the event of a security breach, MPS Monitor has a well-defined incident response plan. This includes immediate containment, detailed forensic analysis, and communication with affected parties, ensuring quick and effective resolution.
• Supply Chain Security: MPS Monitor places a strong emphasis on the security of its supply chain, regularly evaluating third-party vendors to maintain high security standards across the entire MPS ecosystem.

With these measures, MPS Monitor provides a secure foundation for MPS providers to manage their clients’ print environments confidently. By setting a new benchmark for security, MPS Monitor not only protects sensitive data but also fosters trust among providers and their end customers.

Read the full whitepaper here

 

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