Document Security and Your Printers

Smart business owners know the ins and outs of business security; it is not something to be ignored or taken lightly by any means. If you are a business owner, you have likely addressed security issues such as building security, employee safety, and Internet and network security. You may feel like you have really checked security off of your to-do list. But what so many business owners have not yet realized is that there is a common security hole right in their office, and hackers who would wish you harm are becoming more aware and adept at exploiting this vulnerability. We are talking about your printers.

How are Printers a Security Vulnerability?

It may come to a surprise that printers can be a security vulnerability for your office, or perhaps it is something you just had not thought of in that way. Whatever the case, we will share just how a printer can cause problems for your business security. First off, the majority of printers these days have an internet connection. In addition, most printers hold onto the information that they process. It is easy to imagine printing a document and it simply passing through the printer, but that information is kept on the printer’s hard drive for a set amount of time. Because most people don’t think of the security problems that could accompany a printer, security measures are usually lacking or inexistent; a hacker’s dream. With these potential problems, how do you keep your information safe?

Playing it Safe

With these potential security risks, it is important to come up with a plan. Some of the simplest ways to secure your printer are to set up security like you would on your computers, while also installing a program to routinely delete information from your printer’s hard drive. By taking these measures, you can make your printer much less of a target.

If you’d like to learn more about printer security for your office, please feel free to contact us today!