Microsoft is changing the way businesses print.¹ With the introduction of its Modern Print Platform and the gradual retirement of legacy print drivers, Microsoft is signalling the end of a decades-old model, and a shift towards more secure, consistent and cloud-ready printing.

This isn’t just a technical update. It’s a wake-up call for organisations that rely on print to keep their operations moving. The time to prepare is now.

Why Microsoft is making the change

At the heart of this shift is security. PrintNightmare and other vulnerabilities exposed just how risky traditional V3 print drivers can be. Microsoft’s new approach replaces these with native IPP class drivers, Virtual Printer Apps, and Universal Print, designed for both Windows on ARM and x86 platforms. These drivers are simpler, sandboxed and updated through Windows Update.

With Windows protected print (WPP) enabled, Microsoft can now enforce this model at the operating system level – effectively blocking legacy drivers entirely.

What this means for you

If your organisation runs on older print infrastructure, there’s a strong chance your print environment will stop working when WPP is enabled or enforced. You could face incompatibility issues, broken workflows or unexpected downtime.

But this shift isn’t just about risk. It’s an opportunity to modernise. Cloud-native print platforms offer improved scalability, reduced support burden, and better visibility and control.

How Canon helps you stay ahead

Canon’s uniFLOW Online is built to support Microsoft’s Modern Print Platform. With native support for IPP class drivers and Microsoft’s Virtual Print PSA, it gives you everything you need to transition smoothly. Our solutions help you assess your fleet, identify risks, and deploy a secure, modern print environment with minimal disruption.

We’ve helped organisations across Australia move their print infrastructure into the cloud – and we’re ready to help you do the same.

Ready to make the move? Canon can guide your transition to Modern Print.