Cloud Printing FAQ
Answers to the most common questions about cloud printing. How ezeep works. Supported devices and printers. Security. Pricing. Troubleshooting.
A
AnyPrinter
AnyPrinter by ezeep is a virtual print queue used for Pull Printing. When a user sends a job to AnyPrinter, the document is held in a secure cloud queue rather than being sent directly to a physical printer. The user can then walk to any printer in the organization and release the job by authenticating with a QR code or RFID/NFC card. AnyPrinter is the mechanism that enables Follow-Me Printing in ezeep.
API Printing
API printing is the ability to trigger print jobs programmatically through a software interface rather than through a user action like pressing "Print." In ezeep, the Print API allows applications, automation platforms (Zapier, Make, Pabbly Connect), ERP systems, and custom software to submit print jobs to any connected printer. Each ezeep plan includes a monthly quota for API-triggered print pages.
Azure Virtual Desktop (AVD)
Azure Virtual Desktop is a cloud-based desktop and application virtualization service from Microsoft, hosted on Azure. AVD allows users to access a full Windows desktop from any device. Printing from AVD requires a cloud printing solution because traditional printer drivers installed inside session hosts create image bloat, compatibility conflicts, and resource contention. ezeep provides driverless printing for AVD by installing a lightweight virtual driver inside the session host that routes jobs through cloud rendering.
B
BYOD (Bring Your Own Device)
BYOD is a policy that allows employees, guests, or members to use their own personal devices (laptops, smartphones, tablets) for work tasks, including printing. Cloud printing platforms like ezeep support BYOD by providing driverless print access from any device through a native app or browser-based printing (Print Now), with no need to install manufacturer-specific drivers.
C
Card Reader
A card reader is a hardware device that reads RFID or NFC cards, badges, or fobs for user authentication. In cloud printing, card readers are used at the printer to enable secure Pull Printing release. With ezeep, a card reader connects to the ezeep Hub. When a user taps their card, the system matches it to their account and releases their queued print jobs. Supported card technologies include Mifare and Legic.
Citrix Printing
Citrix printing refers to printing from Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops (formerly XenApp/XenDesktop) environments. Traditional Citrix printing requires drivers inside session hosts and often relies on Citrix Universal Print Server, which introduces complexity and overhead. Cloud printing solutions like ezeep replace this with a single virtual driver inside the Citrix session that routes all jobs through cloud rendering, eliminating driver management in the virtual image.
Cloud Connector
A cloud connector is a software or hardware component that bridges local printers to a cloud printing platform. It creates a secure, typically outbound-only connection between the on-premises printer and the cloud service. In ezeep, there are two types: the ezeep Hub (hardware) and the ezeep Connector (software installed on a Windows PC or server).
Cloud Managed Printing
Cloud managed printing is the practice of managing an organization's entire print environment (printers, users, policies, and reporting) from a single cloud-based platform. It replaces fragmented tools like local print servers, driver deployment utilities, and per-site monitoring dashboards with one centralized console accessible from any browser. Cloud managed printing can work alongside existing infrastructure or fully replace it.
Cloud Print Management
Cloud print management refers to the administration and oversight of printing operations through a cloud-hosted platform. This includes user and group management, printer assignment, policy configuration, usage tracking, cost reporting, and security enforcement. Unlike traditional print management that requires on-premises servers and site-specific tools, cloud print management provides centralized control across all locations from a single dashboard.
Cloud Printing
Cloud printing is a method of sending print jobs from any device to any printer over the internet, without requiring a direct connection, local printer drivers, or an on-premises print server. The print job is processed by a cloud service and delivered to the destination printer through a local connector or hardware bridge. Cloud printing enables platform-independent, location-independent printing.
Cloud Rendering
Cloud rendering is the process of converting a print job into the format a specific printer understands, performed entirely in the cloud rather than on the user's device or a local print server. The user's device sends a lightweight, driver-free print stream to the cloud. The cloud matches it to the correct driver from a hosted library, renders the job, and delivers it to the printer. ezeep's cloud rendering engine maintains a library of over 6,000 printer drivers.
Connector
See Cloud Connector.
D
Direct IP Printing
Direct IP printing sends print jobs directly from a user's device to a printer's IP address on the local network. While simple, this approach requires the correct printer driver installed on the device and direct network access to the printer. It does not scale across locations, does not support remote or mobile users, and provides no centralized management or security. Cloud printing replaces direct IP printing with a managed, driver-free alternative.
Driverless Printing
Driverless printing is a cloud printing approach where no manufacturer-specific printer drivers are installed on the user's device. Instead, the device uses a lightweight virtual printer driver that sends jobs to the cloud, where cloud rendering matches the job to the correct driver from a hosted library. This eliminates driver conflicts, spooler crashes, update cycles, and security vulnerabilities like PrintNightmare. In ezeep, driverless printing is the default architecture on all plans.
Duplex Printing
Duplex printing is the ability to print on both sides of a sheet of paper automatically. In cloud print management platforms like ezeep, duplex settings can be configured as defaults through Printer Profiles, ensuring double-sided printing is enforced organization-wide without relying on individual device settings.
E
Entra ID (Microsoft Entra ID)
Microsoft Entra ID (formerly Azure Active Directory / Azure AD) is Microsoft's cloud-based identity and access management service. In cloud printing, Entra ID integration allows organizations to sync users and groups from their directory to the print platform automatically. ezeep supports Entra ID group synchronization on Business and Enterprise plans, so printer assignments follow existing identity structures without manual setup.
ezeep
ezeep is the cloud printing platform developed by ThinPrint (a Cortado Group company). It provides driverless printing, cloud rendering, Pull Printing, printer mapping, group policies, print monitoring, and centralized management from a single cloud console. ezeep supports all major platforms (Windows, macOS, ChromeOS, iOS, Android, Linux, web browsers) and virtual desktop environments.
ezeep Connector
The ezeep Connector is software that runs on a Windows PC or Windows Server and imports all printers installed on that machine into the ezeep cloud. It provides a software-based alternative to the ezeep Hub for connecting printers to the cloud platform. The Connector is commonly used in environments where a Windows device is already managing printers, or as a transition path from existing print servers.
ezeep Hub
The ezeep Hub is a compact hardware device that connects local printers to the ezeep Cloud. It replaces print servers and always-on PCs. The Hub connects over Wi-Fi, automatically discovers printers on the local network or via USB, and bridges them to the cloud platform using a secure, outbound-only connection. It also supports RFID/NFC card readers for Pull Printing authentication and is managed remotely from the ezeep admin portal.
F
Fleet Management (Print)
Print fleet management is the practice of overseeing and maintaining an organization's entire collection of printers and multifunction devices. In cloud print management, fleet management includes monitoring device status, tracking usage, applying firmware updates, and managing printer availability across all locations from a centralized dashboard.
Follow-Me Printing
Follow-Me Printing is a printing model where print jobs are not tied to a specific printer. Instead, the user sends a job to a virtual queue, then releases it at any printer they walk to. The job "follows" the user. This eliminates the need to pre-select a printer and allows users to collect documents at whichever device is most convenient. In ezeep, Follow-Me Printing is enabled through Pull Printing with the AnyPrinter queue.
G
Google Cloud Print (Deprecated)
Google Cloud Print was a cloud printing service operated by Google that allowed users to print from any device to a Google Cloud Print-compatible printer. Google discontinued the service on December 31, 2020. Organizations that relied on Google Cloud Print have since migrated to alternative cloud printing platforms like ezeep or manufacturer-specific solutions.
Group Policies (Print)
In cloud print management, group policies are per-group settings that control which printing capabilities are available to users in that group. In ezeep, group policy toggles include Pull Printing, Print Later, Printer Selection in User Portal, and Local Printer Support. Group policies allow different teams or locations to operate under different printing rules without per-device configuration.
H
Hybrid Printing
Hybrid printing describes an environment where cloud-based print management coexists with some on-premises print infrastructure. This is common during migration from traditional print servers to a fully cloud-based or serverless architecture. ezeep supports hybrid printing through the ezeep Connector for Print Server, which bridges existing print server infrastructure to the cloud while the organization transitions.
I
IPP (Internet Printing Protocol)
IPP is an internet-based protocol for communicating between user devices and printers or print services. It supports job submission, status queries, and management operations over HTTP/HTTPS. IPP is the standard behind many modern print services, including Microsoft Universal Print. Cloud printing platforms may use IPP or proprietary protocols to deliver jobs from the cloud to local printers.
L
Local Printer Support
Local printer support is a cloud print management feature that allows users to print to printers directly connected to their device (via USB or local network) within a remote desktop or virtual desktop session. In ezeep, local printer support is a group policy toggle that enables local printer redirection in RDP and VDI environments, so users working from home can print to their home printer through a cloud-managed session.
M
Managed Print Services (MPS)
Managed Print Services is an outsourced arrangement where a third-party provider manages an organization's print environment, including hardware, supplies, maintenance, and sometimes software. MPS contracts typically cover printer procurement, toner replenishment, service calls, and fleet optimization. Cloud print management platforms like ezeep can complement or replace parts of an MPS engagement by providing centralized software management without hardware dependency.
Microsoft Universal Print
Microsoft Universal Print is a cloud-based print service included with certain Microsoft 365 subscriptions. It eliminates print servers by using IPP to communicate directly with Universal Print-compatible printers. Universal Print requires Microsoft 365 E3/E5 licensing, Microsoft Intune for deployment, and either compatible printers or a Universal Print Connector for older devices. It is designed primarily for Microsoft-only environments. ezeep differs by supporting all platforms, any printer brand, and not requiring additional Microsoft licensing.
MFP (Multifunction Printer)
A multifunction printer is a device that combines printing, scanning, copying, and sometimes faxing into a single unit. MFPs are the standard shared device in most offices. Cloud print management platforms manage MFPs alongside single-function printers through the same console, policies, and security controls.
Mobile Printing
Mobile printing is the ability to print from smartphones and tablets. Cloud printing platforms enable mobile printing by providing native apps (iOS, Android) or browser-based interfaces that connect to cloud-managed printers without requiring device-specific drivers or direct network access. In ezeep, the Print App (iOS and Android) and Print Now (browser-based) both support mobile printing.
N
Named User
In SaaS print management platforms, a named user is any individual person with an account in the system. Licensing and billing are typically based on the number of named users. In ezeep, the first 10 users are included free. Each additional user beyond 10 is billed according to the active plan.
NFC (Near Field Communication)
NFC is a short-range wireless communication technology used for contactless data exchange between devices. In cloud printing, NFC is commonly used for Pull Printing authentication: a user taps an NFC-enabled card or badge on a reader connected to the printer (or ezeep Hub) to release their queued print jobs.
O
Outbound-Only Connection
An outbound-only connection is a network architecture where the local device (such as the ezeep Hub) initiates all communication with the cloud service. No inbound connections are accepted, which means no firewall ports need to be opened for incoming traffic. This architecture reduces the attack surface and supports Zero Trust network principles. ezeep uses outbound-only connections for all Hub and Connector communication with the cloud.
P
Point and Print
Point and Print is a legacy Windows feature that allows users to connect to a shared printer on a print server and automatically download the necessary driver. While convenient, Point and Print has been the source of critical security vulnerabilities, most notably PrintNightmare (CVE-2021-34527), which exploited the driver installation process for privilege escalation. Cloud printing eliminates the need for Point and Print by removing drivers from endpoints entirely.
Print App
A print app is a lightweight software application installed on a user's device that enables cloud printing. The ezeep Print App is available for Windows, macOS, ChromeOS, iOS, and Android. It installs a virtual printer driver and connects the device to the user's assigned printers in the ezeep cloud. The mobile version also serves as the QR code scanner for Pull Printing release.
Print App for Services
Print App for Services is a specialized version of the ezeep Print App designed to run as a Windows service rather than as a user-facing application. It enables printing from systems where no user is logged in, such as ERP systems, kiosk terminals, automated workflows, and backend applications. The Print App for Services authenticates once and maintains a persistent connection to the ezeep cloud.
Print Later
Print Later is a feature that allows users to queue print jobs and release them at a convenient time, without the full secure authentication step required by Pull Printing. Print Later is available from the ezeep Pro plan and above. It is useful for users who want to batch their print jobs or delay printing until they are at the office, but do not need the security controls of Pull Printing.
Print Monitoring
Print monitoring is the tracking and reporting of print activity across an organization. In cloud print management, monitoring includes print volume, cost estimates, and usage breakdowns by user, group, printer, and location. ezeep provides a tracking dashboard on Pro plans and above, with CSV export available on Business and Enterprise plans. All monitoring happens through the cloud with no agents on endpoints.
Print Now
Print Now is ezeep's browser-based printing feature. Users open a web page, upload a document, select a printer, and print. No app installation or driver is required. Print Now works from any device with a web browser, making it ideal for guests, BYOD scenarios, kiosks, and environments where installing software is not practical.
Print Queue
A print queue is a list of print jobs waiting to be processed and sent to a printer. In traditional printing, queues are managed by a print server or the local spooler on the user's device. In cloud printing, queues are managed in the cloud. Pull Printing uses a virtual queue (like AnyPrinter) to hold jobs until the user authenticates at a physical printer.
Print Rendering
See Cloud Rendering.
Print Server
A print server is a dedicated computer (typically running Windows Server) that manages print queues, processes print jobs, and distributes them to printers on a network. Print servers require hardware, licensing, driver management, and ongoing maintenance. They are a single point of failure and a common target for security vulnerabilities. Cloud printing and serverless printing architectures eliminate the need for print servers entirely.
Print Spooler
The print spooler is a Windows system service that manages print jobs in a queue and sends them to the printer. The spooler handles job prioritization, buffering, and communication with the printer driver. The Windows Print Spooler has been the source of numerous critical vulnerabilities, including PrintNightmare (CVE-2021-34527) and 29 subsequent patches since 2021. Cloud printing with ezeep bypasses the local spooler for all cloud-rendered jobs.
Printer Driver
A printer driver is software that translates a print job from a generic format into the specific language a particular printer model understands (such as PCL or PostScript). Each printer model typically requires its own driver, and different operating systems need different versions. Driver management at scale is a major source of IT overhead, compatibility issues, and security risk. Cloud printing eliminates endpoint drivers through cloud rendering.
Printer Mapping
Printer mapping is the process of assigning specific printers to specific users or user groups. In traditional environments, this is done through Group Policy Objects (GPOs), login scripts, or manual configuration on each device. In cloud print management, printer mapping is handled centrally. ezeep supports manual assignment, Microsoft Entra ID group sync (Business/Enterprise), and domain-based automatic assignment.
Printer Profile
A printer profile is a set of default print settings applied to a specific printer, such as color/mono, duplex, paper tray, copies, and orientation. In ezeep, printer profiles are configured in the admin portal and enforced during cloud rendering. This means defaults apply regardless of which device or platform the user prints from, without configuring anything on endpoints.
PrintNightmare
PrintNightmare is the common name for CVE-2021-34527, a critical remote code execution vulnerability in the Windows Print Spooler service discovered in 2021. It allowed attackers to exploit the Point and Print driver installation process for privilege escalation and arbitrary code execution. Since PrintNightmare, Microsoft has patched 29 additional spooler-related vulnerabilities. Cloud printing platforms like ezeep eliminate this attack surface by removing printer drivers from endpoints entirely and using cloud rendering instead.
Pull Printing
Pull Printing (also called Secure Release Printing or Secure Print) is a printing workflow where jobs are held in a secure queue rather than being sent directly to a printer. The document only prints when the user physically authenticates at a printer, typically via QR code, RFID card, NFC badge, or PIN. Pull Printing prevents unauthorized access to printed documents, eliminates uncollected waste, and enables Follow-Me Printing. In ezeep, Pull Printing is available on Business and Enterprise plans.
Q
QR Code Release
QR code release is a Pull Printing authentication method where the user scans a QR code posted on or near a printer using a mobile app. The app identifies the printer, matches it to the user's queued jobs, and releases them for printing. In ezeep, QR code release uses the ezeep mobile app (iOS and Android). No additional hardware is required beyond a printed QR code sticker at each printer.
R
RFID (Radio-Frequency Identification)
RFID is a wireless technology that uses electromagnetic fields to identify and track tags attached to objects, cards, or badges. In cloud printing, RFID card readers connected to a print release device (such as the ezeep Hub) enable users to authenticate and release Pull Printing jobs by tapping their employee badge or access card. Common RFID technologies used in print environments include Mifare and Legic.
S
SaaS (Software as a Service)
SaaS is a software delivery model where applications are hosted in the cloud and accessed via the internet, typically through a web browser. Users pay a subscription fee rather than purchasing and maintaining on-premises software. ezeep is a SaaS cloud printing platform: all management, rendering, and infrastructure run in the cloud, with no on-premises servers or software to maintain beyond the lightweight Hub or Connector.
Secure Release Printing
See Pull Printing.
Self-Join
Self-Join is a user onboarding method where new users add themselves to an organization by scanning a QR code or clicking a link, without requiring an admin to send an individual invitation. In ezeep, Self-Join can be configured as permanent (the user stays in the organization indefinitely) or temporary (the user's account is automatically removed after a set period). Self-Join is available on all ezeep plans.
Serverless Printing
Serverless printing is a cloud printing architecture that eliminates on-premises print servers entirely. All print rendering happens in the cloud, and a lightweight hardware device (like the ezeep Hub) or software connector bridges printers to the cloud platform. No Windows Server infrastructure, no local spooler management, and no driver distribution to endpoints. Serverless printing is the architecture ezeep is built on.
Single Sign-On (SSO)
Single Sign-On is an authentication method that allows users to access multiple applications with one set of credentials. In cloud printing, SSO lets users authenticate to the print platform using their existing Microsoft, Google, or Apple credentials without a separate password. ezeep supports SSO on all plans.
T
ThinPrint Output Gateway
ThinPrint Output Gateway is the virtual printer driver used by ezeep on user devices. It acts as a lightweight, universal print endpoint that captures print jobs and sends them to the ezeep cloud for rendering. Unlike traditional printer drivers that are specific to a manufacturer and model, ThinPrint Output Gateway handles all printers through one driver. It is the mechanism that enables driverless printing on endpoints.
TLS (Transport Layer Security)
TLS is a cryptographic protocol that provides secure communication over a network. In cloud printing, TLS encrypts print data in transit between the user's device and the cloud, and between the cloud and the printer. ezeep uses TLS 1.3 (minimum TLS 1.2) for all connections, ensuring print data cannot be intercepted or read during transmission.
Total Cost of Ownership (TCO)
Total cost of ownership is a financial estimate that includes the full lifecycle cost of an asset or system, not just the purchase price. For printing, TCO includes hardware, licensing, energy, maintenance, driver management, help desk tickets, and IT labor. Cloud printing reduces TCO by eliminating print servers, driver management, and per-site infrastructure, replacing them with a predictable per-user subscription.
U
Universal Print
See Microsoft Universal Print.
User Portal
A user portal is a self-service web interface where end users can manage their own printing settings and preferences. In ezeep, the User Portal allows users to see their assigned printers, toggle printer selections on or off (if the "Printer Selection in User Portal" policy is enabled), and access Print Now for browser-based printing.
V
VDI (Virtual Desktop Infrastructure)
Virtual Desktop Infrastructure is a technology that hosts desktop environments on a central server or cloud service and delivers them to user devices. Common VDI platforms include Azure Virtual Desktop, Windows 365, Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops, and Omnissa Horizon (formerly VMware Horizon). Printing from VDI environments is challenging because traditional drivers cause image bloat and compatibility issues. Cloud printing solves this by using a single virtual driver inside the session host and rendering jobs in the cloud.
Virtual Printer Driver
A virtual printer driver is software that appears as a printer on the user's device but does not correspond to a physical printer. Instead, it captures the print job and routes it to another destination, such as a cloud service, PDF file, or virtual queue. In ezeep, the ThinPrint Output Gateway virtual driver captures all print jobs and sends them to the cloud for rendering and delivery.
VLAN (Virtual Local Area Network)
A VLAN is a network segmentation technique that isolates groups of devices on the same physical network into separate logical networks. In secure print environments, printers can be placed on their own VLAN with the ezeep Hub as the sole bridge to the cloud. This supports Zero Trust network principles by preventing direct access to printers from user devices.
W
Windows 365
Windows 365 is Microsoft's cloud PC service that streams a full Windows desktop from Azure to any device. Like Azure Virtual Desktop, printing from Windows 365 requires a cloud printing solution to avoid driver management inside the cloud PC image. ezeep supports Windows 365 with the same driverless, cloud-rendered printing used across all its supported platforms.
Z
Zero Trust Printing
Zero Trust is a security framework based on the principle of "never trust, always verify." In printing, Zero Trust means no user, device, or connection is trusted by default. Every print request requires authentication, print data is encrypted in transit, and printers are isolated from direct user access. ezeep supports Zero Trust printing through outbound-only Hub connections, identity-based access via Entra ID or SSO, Pull Printing with per-job authentication, and network isolation through VLAN support.
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