Canon promises secure printing with UniFlow 5

Canon has unveiled the latest version of its UniFlow print management software designed to deliver increased security while simplifying and automating common processes.

UniFlow version 5 provides a single platform for printing and scanning input and output, which Canon claimed as an industry first.

Advantages include reducing time and maintenance costs while increasing productivity when compared with using two systems, Canon said.

Other key additions include enhanced security. When workers scan documents, the software can be configured to look for keywords to help prevent security breaches, the manufacturer claimed.

If an employee tries to scan or print a document that contains particular keywords, the job will be stopped and an email will be sent to an administrator informing them of an attempted breach.

Such a system could have drawbacks, however. The more a system is locked down, the more effort is needed to use it, but the consequences of a security breach could be so severe that such efforts outweigh the disadvantages, according to Nikki Paine, UniFlow and Helix product manager at Canon.

Canon recommended using multiple combinations of keywords to ensure that the correct documents are controlled, not all documents on the same subject.

"Over 86 per cent of data loss involves customer information and 44 per cent of information lost is in paper format," Paine said. "Canon is noticing that customers are interested in how to secure their documents."

A secure database is also able to keep a record of all activities carried out on the printer in case its use needs to be reviewed. This can act as a deterrent to prevent accidental and malicious data breaches.

The new workflow engine also allows users to connect to any back-end system. Workers are able to log-in to any Canon device to authorise printing, scanning, faxing and email to other multiple locations from that printer. The number of locations depends on the staff member's authorisation.

Employees can also change the colour, text, dpi options and job build using the interface on the printer.

A Universal Driver is also touted to deliver a consistent output as it sends a document only when the user releases the job at the printer, which Paine claimed is the only system on the market that can deliver a "consistent output" .

UniFlow 5 can be integrated with Canon's Helix Production Workflow web-to-print and production solution to merge office and corporate reprographics departments.

The latest version of UniFlow is available now.