Konica Minolta Print Support Application (PSA)

Konica Minolta is fully committed to supporting Microsoft’s modern printing architecture in Windows 11 — including Windows Protected Print — as part of our long-term strategy to deliver secure, reliable, and streamlined printing experiences. As Microsoft transitions away from traditional kernel-mode drivers, Konica Minolta is investing in and adopting the Print Support Application (PSA) model to preserve full device functionality while aligning with Microsoft’s security and platform direction. 

The Konica Minolta PSA serves as the functional bridge between Windows’ native, driver-less printing pipeline and the advanced capabilities of Konica Minolta multifunction devices. While the Windows native IPP based print stack provides secure, baseline printing, the PSA enables access to device-specific features that are not exposed through the standard Windows printing framework, including: 

• Finishing options such as stapling, hole punching, booklet making, and folding 

• Tray selection, and output destination (Store Job, Print & Hold, etc.) 

• Secure print, user authentication, account track and job release workflows 

• Device-specific quality, color, and layout optimizations 

In this architecture, Windows manages the secure print pipeline, while the Konica Minolta PSA provides the policy, capability discovery, and user interface components necessary to expose and control these advanced features in a secure and supported manner — without relying on legacy kernel-mode drivers. 

This approach delivers several benefits: 

• Security: Reduced attack surface through removal of legacy drivers, full alignment with Windows Protected Print, and isolation of vendor functionality into user-mode PSA components. 

• Functionality: Preservation of enterprise-grade print and finishing capabilities expected in demanding office environments. 

• Compatibility: Ongoing alignment with Microsoft’s evolving print architecture, ensuring future Windows updates do not disrupt printing operations. 

• Operational consistency: A standardized user experience across devices while still enabling model-specific features. 

In parallel, Konica Minolta supports Microsoft Universal Print as a cloud-based print service, enabling centralized, scalable print management aligned with hybrid and cloud-first IT strategies. 

The initial release of the Konica Minolta PSA is planned for early 2026, with ongoing updates and enhancements thereafter to expand feature support, improve performance, and maintain security and compatibility as Microsoft’s printing ecosystem continues to evolve.