Organizations invest heavily in protecting networks, devices, data, and applications, but one area can easily be overlooked: the print environment.
According to IDC research, (International Data Corporation) while 80% of surveyed companies considered IT security important to their business processes, only 59% placed the same importance on print security. This gap can leave organizations vulnerable, especially as printers and multifunction devices continue to handle sensitive businesses information every day.
Printers Can Create Unexpected Security Risks
Today’s printers are connected devices that interact with company networks, users, and sensitive information. That connectivity creates several potential security risks.
Printer-related vulnerabilities can include unsecured network ports, intercepted print, or scan jobs, information stored on device hard drives, confidential documents left in output trays, and authorized use of secure media. IDC found that more than half of surveyed organizations had experienced an IT security breach involving print security within the previous 12 months.
For businesses managing confidential customer information, intellectual property, financial records or regulated data, these risks can have serious consequences. Security incidents may require significant employee time to resolve, result in fines, or compliance penalties and potentially damage an organizations reputation.
Stronger Security Can Deliver Business Value
Improving printer security is not only about reducing risk. IDC’s research found that organizations implementing enterprise printer security solutions also experienced improvements in IT efficiency and operating costs.
Organizations interviewed by IDC reported up to six times fewer printer-related security breaches after implementing printer security solutions. They also reduced the amount of staff time required to support their printer environments by approximately half.
Printer security initiatives can also help organizations improve visibility and control over printing activity. Features such as user authentication and pull printing require users to verify their identity before documents are released. This can help protect confidential information while reducing unnecessary or abandoned print jobs.
IDC found that participating organizations achieved average reductions of 15% in paper costs, 14% in ink costs, and 16% in toner costs.
Building a More Secure Print Environment
An effective print security strategy requires more than purchasing secure devices. IDC recommends addressing technology, people, and processes together.
Organizations should consider capabilities such as encrypted communications, user authentication, secure hard drives, current firmware, and centralized fleet management. Businesses should also establish clear security policies, provide employee training, and regularly evaluate their print environments for new risks.
Centralized management can provide additional visibility by helping IT teams monitor devices, identify security issues, and maintain consistent policies across the printer fleet.
Make Print Security Part of the Bigger Picture
Printers should be treated as an important part of an organization’s overall IT infrastructure. By incorporating print and document workflows into a broader security strategy, businesses can help protect sensitive information while improving efficiency, reducing costs, and giving IT teams greater control over their environments.
A secure print environment is not simply about protecting the printer. It is about protecting the information that moves through it.
This content was provided by HP
