Devices and protection
Printers are computers too
The printer in the corner has a hard drive, a network connection and its own software. Most offices never think of it that way.
1 min readChecklist
The short version
Office printers store documents, connect to the network and send email. They need the same care as any other computer.
Why printers matter
A modern office printer is a small computer. Many store copies of recent print and scan jobs. They connect to the network, often to email, and sometimes to shared folders. They have their own software, which can have security flaws like any other.
A printer that is never updated and still has its factory password is an easy target, and a quiet place for an attacker to hide.
Checklist
- Change the admin password. Printers often ship with a default password that anyone can look up.
- Keep the firmware updated. The maker releases fixes for printers just as for computers.
- Turn off what you do not use, such as old network protocols, remote management from outside the office and wireless printing features.
- Set up scan to email carefully. Use an account made for the printer, with only the access it needs, instead of a person’s mailbox and password.
- Put printers on their own network segment if possible, separate from the computers that hold sensitive data.
- Use secure print for sensitive documents, so jobs wait until the person enters a code at the printer.
- Wipe the storage before the printer leaves. Lease returns and old printers can carry documents with them.
Talk to us about your technology
Tell us what you run today and what is getting in the way. We will get back to you about how we can help.