Ricoh Updates Enhanced Locked Print NX

Ricoh's Enhanced Lock Print security solution helps businesses protect confidential and proprietary information.

Printer maker Ricoh has updated its locked print security solution, Enhanced Lock Print NX v1.3. The new version, which protects an organization's confidential and proprietary information by allowing users to store, print and manage confidential documents with the security of user authentication at a multifunctional product, now adds the distribution and retrieval option of FlexRelease Server.

ELP-NX helps an organization capture all the benefits of shared, centralized MFPs without compromising document security. With ELP-NX, users can protect specific documents by selecting "locked print" from the print-driver menu, while network administrators can set "locked print" as the default for organizationwide document protection. ELP-NX users enter their ID and password on the MFP at walk-up. This helps ensure documents won't be released by another MFP user or left unattended in output trays, where others can easily view sensitive information.

The FlexRelease Sever option builds on the FlexRelease technology first introduced in Enhanced Locked Print EX, which allows users to send print jobs to one MFP but securely release them on a secondary MFP. FlexRelease Server for ELP-NX goes a step further, allowing businesses to provide FlexRelease technology across their entire fleet of MFPs and printers. Using a flexible print architecture that stores print jobs centrally, businesses can approach any ELP-NX-enabled MFP or printer to access and retrieve their locked print jobs.

FlexRelease Server can scale from a single device to thousands of MFPs and printers across an enterprise, making it well-suited for small businesses with an eye on expansion. FlexRelease Server supports Windows 2008 Server, Windows 2003 R2 Standard/Enterprise server and Windows 2000/XP/Vista operating systems.

"The addition of FlexRelease Server to Enhanced Locked Print NX takes an already cost-effective document security solution and makes it even stronger," said Ricoh Americas' executive vice president of marketing for document services and solutions division, Hede Nonaka. "Giving users the flexibility to walk up and print from any Enhanced Locked Print NX-enabled MFP or printer increases workflow and productivity, while allowing network administrators to create a secure printing environment for their organizations."

ELP-NX v1.3 is offered as a stand-alone product, as well as an option for Ricoh's Card Authentication Package (CAP). CAP simplifies the user experience by eliminating the need to enter a user ID and password on the MFP. CAP supports the use of proximity card readers that can be used for authentication by passing a proximity card near a card reader attached to the MFP or printer.

With FlexRelease Server for ELP-NX, the user authorization process can be automated using a proximity card with CAP. Utilizing a card reader installed on each machine, a user swipes their proximity card to authenticate his or her identity, allowing the MFP or printer to release their individual locked print job. Ricoh said this cuts down on the time required to manually input user log-in information while protecting sensitive documents from unauthorized viewers.