As August rolls in, the theme of “back to school” is everywhere — but it’s not just for students and teachers. Businesses, schools, and organizations alike can take inspiration from the season to refresh, upgrade, and optimize their technology. 

With hybrid work models, evolving cybersecurity threats, and the need for better collaboration tools, there’s never been a better time to give your IT infrastructure a fresh start. 

This month, SumnerOne is focused on helping businesses transition smoothly into the second half of the year with strategic IT services and technology upgrades that improve performance, security, and efficiency. 

The middle of the year is a critical checkpoint. Your mid-year assessments offer a valuable opportunity to pause, reflect on operations, and assess progress against objectives. While the focus often turns to program outcomes or financial projections, this period is also the ideal time to delve into an often-overlooked yet incredibly impactful area: your print infrastructure.

An optimized print environment can be a powerful catalyst for enhancing efficiency, ensuring compliance, and achieving cost savings across your agency. In this post, we’ll explore how a strategic reassessment of your printing needs post-mid-year can lead to significant modernization and prepare your agency for a strong finish to the fiscal year.

The summer might be winding down, but for school leaders and administrators, the pace is only picking up. The back-to-school season is a whirlwind of activity, and it's also your prime time to get your institution's operations in top shape for the academic year ahead. To help ensure that your campus is prepared to function efficiently, securely, and effectively, take time to assess your school's print technology.

From essential administrative documents to vibrant marketing materials for upcoming school events, a successful academic year hinges on a robust and reliable print infrastructure. Keep reading to learn how modern print solutions can turn this busy season into an opportunity for operational excellence.

With cyberattacks targeting schools on the rise, IT leaders must look beyond traditional network defenses to ensure every data pathway is secure. One often-overlooked area? The print environment. Printers and MFPs are now sophisticated, network-connected devices — making them potential entry points for hackers and data leaks.  

Before the new school year begins, IT teams should take a proactive approach to ensure their print infrastructure aligns with security best practices, compliance mandates such as FERPA, and the demands of a modern, hybrid education environment.  

For schools, legal offices, government agencies, healthcare institutions, and commercial print shops, confidential documents serve a crucial role. Since these documents contain sensitive information, organizations must take all necessary measures to ensure the security of their documents.

One great example of a software program that can help in this aspect is PaperCut, a print management software solution designed to improve document security, print job management, and other print-related tasks, such as copying, scanning, and faxing. Think of it as a kind of digital keycard that organizes print jobs and makes accessing certain features simpler.

Mid-year is a natural inflection point for many businesses. It’s when goals are reviewed, budgets are reassessed, and teams ask: Is our current strategy delivering results? For many, the answer leads to strategic pivots — and when done right, the results can be transformative. 

Here are real-world examples of businesses that made bold mid-year adjustments and reaped the rewards, featuring success stories from SumnerOne and Production Print Solutions (PPS) clients.

The first day of school will be here before you know it. While students enjoy their final weeks of summer, school administrators, IT managers, and print center leaders know it’s time to get organized. Whether you’re supporting a K-12 district or a college campus, proactive planning now can help eliminate printing headaches coming in August.

At SumnerOne, we work closely with schools across the Midwest to ensure their document management infrastructure runs smoothly year-round. Here’s our quick and actionable School Summer Checklist to prepare your print and document environment for a successful new year.