PRINTER SECURITY FEATURES THAT ALL OFFICE PRINTERS SHOULD HAVE AND WHY

As print, comms and IT specialists, it is our job to educate businesses to understand that printers can be a potential entry point for cyberattacks. All office printers should include printer security features to keep your business safe.  

At iNREACH, we work with our clients to help them understand the risks that office printers can bring and to implement processes to avoid cyber-attacks through their printers.

PRINTER SECURITY FEATURES

As well as internal processes to minimise security risks, you should look at your print device and ensure it has printer security features.

Here are some key printer security features that your device should have and why:

• Access Control Features

Access control features can prevent unauthorised users from accessing the printer. These features can give different levels of access to different employees and prevent users outside the organisation from hacking into the printer. When you source a printer from iNREACH, we can implement the following access control features.

User Authentication: Requires users to authenticate using methods such as PIN codes or passwords before accessing the printer.

Role-Based Access Control: Limits access to certain functions based on the user’s role within an organisation.

• Data Protection

Protect data stored in the printing history to minimise data breaches in the case of a cyber-attack. We can offer the following;

Encrypted Printing: Print jobs are encrypted both in transit and at rest to prevent unauthorised access.

Secure Erase: Ensures that data stored on the printer’s hard drive is completely wiped after the job is completed so there is no stored data to access or leak.

• Network Security

Network security is important for any device that is connected to the internet. It encrypts data and is difficult to hack into. All of our printers come with the following features as standard:

Secure Network Connection: Supports secure protocols like SSL/TLS for encrypting data transmitted over the network.

Firewall Protection and Port Control: Allows configuration of firewall settings and control over which ports are open to mitigate unauthorised access.

Malware Detection: Includes mechanisms to detect and prevent malware from compromising the printer.

Intrusion Detection: Monitors for unusual activity that may indicate a security breach.

• Document Security

Document security features are important for in-house security procedures. They can stop documents from falling into the wrong hands and prevent documents from being copied and plagiarised. Document security features include:

Secure Print Release: Holds print jobs in a secure queue until the specified user physically arrives at the printer and provides authentication. This prevents sensitive documents from being left unattended.

Watermarking: Adds company watermarks to printed documents to discourage unauthorised copying and distribution.

• Monitoring and Management

Monitoring and measurement features can help you as a company check on printer usage and access attempts. This enables you to understand who is using the printer and advise if unknown users are attempting to access it.

Audit Logs: The printer keeps detailed logs of all print jobs, access attempts, and administrative actions for accountability and forensic analysis.

Remote Monitoring and Management: This may be a requirement if you have employees who work remotely. It provides the ability to monitor and manage printer security settings remotely through a centralised interface.

• Physical Security

As well as digital and online security features, our printers also have physical security features. This minimises risk of tampering and physical access.

Lockable Trays and Panels: Prevents unauthorised access to paper trays and internal components.

Secure Placement: Ensures printers are located in secure areas to minimise physical tampering risks.

• In-House Training and Policies

As well as printer security features on the devices themselves, it is also a good idea to educate your team on printer security and create some internal documentation and policies. By making the whole team aware of the security risks involved with modern printing devices, you can minimise the risk of an attack.

Security Training: Educates users about secure printing practices.

Security Policies: Implements and enforces policies for secure printer usage.

PRINTER SECURITY FEATURES FROM iNREACH

By actively implementing printer security features, you can help protect your office print devices from being exploited as attack vectors. You can ensure that sensitive information remains secure throughout the printing process within your organisation.

If your organisation is investing in a new print system and you want to discuss printer security features, then contact our team today.

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