January 12, 2024

The Evolution of Print Security Protocols

The internet and digital tech have changed print security a lot. More people work online, risking their personal info. Print security now has to keep up.

The Internet Printing Protocol (IPP) is a key example. It lets printers do more to keep information safe. This includes stronger controls and encryption for security.

IPP now works with almost all the printers globally. It plays a vital role in keeping our info secure online. Modern companies and people rely on its safety features.

The History of IPP

The Internet Printing Protocol (IPP) started in 1996. Novell suggested it then. Soon after, the IETF made a group to work on this idea. This group shaped and improved the IPP to fit the printing world’s needs.

At first, the protocol changed many times. It began with just ideas like LDPA and HTPP. These ideas mixed hypertext and printing technologies.

Big names like HP, Microsoft, and Lexmark then came together for IPP. They wanted a standard way to print that works for all devices.

The Printer Working Group (PWG) was a big step for IPP. It was a team of printing tech leaders. They focused on making IPP easy to use and compatible.

The PWG constantly made IPP better with new standards and ways to use it. They wrote documents for 3D printing, scanning, and the cloud. This made IPP meet the printing world’s changing needs.

In 2018, IPP/1.1 was seen as a top Internet Standard for printing. This marked how far IPP had come, being trusted and used by many for digital printing.

Implementation and Features of IPP

Implementing IPP means using HTTP’s features for printing. This mix makes printing at work safe and strong.

IPP shines in handling many file types. It works well with PWG, PDF, and JPEG. This means you can print almost anything.

IPP acts like a messenger between your computer and the printer. It lets your computer and the printer talk. With IPP, you can send, check, and stop print jobs easily.

IPP uses TCP with port 631 for connecting devices. This makes sure printing runs smooth. Setting up printers with IPP is easy, thanks to this.

IPP works with many different printers thanks to Universal Print and CUPS. This means lots of choices. Organizations can pick the printer that fits them best.

With IPP Everywhere, you can print from anywhere. It makes printing simple and convenient, no matter where you are.

IPP makes printing strong, safe, and open to everyone. It works with different files, connects your devices well, and links with lots of printers. IPP is key for today’s printing needs.

Other Printing Protocols

Besides the Internet Printing Protocol (IPP), other protocols help in printing. Each one has its special abilities for different printing tasks and settings.

The Line Printer Daemon protocol (LPD) is one example. It lets you send print jobs to a printer on the network. Many systems use LPD because it’s easy to send print jobs.

Then, there’s AppSocket, for talking between network devices and printers. But, it doesn’t have its own protection, so it could be risky sometimes.

SMB is great for sharing files and printers on Windows computers. It helps users easily share things over a network, fitting well with Windows settings.

Wireless printing is becoming key for user convenience. AirPrint lets Apple devices print without wires. Mopria is for Android and Windows 10 users, giving them wireless printing too.

Windows also uses the Web Services for Devices (WSD) to find and talk to printers. Yet, Google Cloud Print, which many used for wireless printing, stopped in 2020.

Among these, IPP is a top choice for print security. It brings strong features, encryption, and checks users to keep prints safe. Knowing about these protocols helps people and groups choose the best one for their printing.