The Security Gap That’s Putting Your Business at Risk
You have your servers and network secure, right? But have you thought about your endpoint devices that access the network, like printers and laptops? It may come as a surprise but printers can be a significant risk if left unprotected. In fact, a Spiceworks study found that printers are behind approximately 25% of network breaches.
For many IT professionals, printers are last on the long list of security priorities. In fact, only 18% consider them a medium or high risk for threats or breaches. With an “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” mentality, endpoint devices are connected then left to do their thing and often missed when it comes to important security updates.
But these devices need to be top of mind when it comes to security.
As it is connected to the network, one of the most significant security risks is printers as an access point. Efficiently securing this access point, just like any other endpoint device, is essential. Another consideration is multi-function printers (MFPs) with the ability to email scanned documents. Scanned documents can be sent to and from anyone, making it easy for someone to share something confidential or as though they were another person. Finally, something as simple as a document being picked up from the printer by another person can also be a risk often not considered when setting up security policies.
One of the best ways to ensure appropriate print security is choosing the right devices. HP have print security features embedded in their devices that address four primary steps to ensure the utmost security:
- Check operating code: HP Sure Start checks BIOS code and, if compromised, restarts with a safe “golden copy.”
- Check firmware: Whitelisting checks firmware during startup to determine if it’s authentic code—authenticated and digitally signed by HP.
- Check printer settings: HP JetAdvantage Security Manager checks and fixes any affected device security settings after a reboot.
- Continuous monitoring: Run-time intrusion detection monitors memory activity to continually detect and stop attacks. HP Connection Inspector inspects outgoing network connections to stop suspicious requests and thwart malware.
Another important step to securing your printers, outside of the hardware itself, is educating staff. Educating your users on safe printing practices can prevent issues before they appear. Have rules in place for ensuring printing is collected as soon as possible and that confidential information is treated sensitively. As they say, prevention is better than cure!
The IT security of your organization should have a holistic approach. This means ensuring everything is safe, including your endpoint devices. For advice on how to ensure printer security in your business, get in touch with the experts at ABT Group to find out about our solutions.
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