Printer Security: Protecting Your Network and Data

Why Printer Security Matters

Modern printers are networked computers with processors, memory, and storage. An unsecured printer can serve as an entry point for cyber attacks, expose confidential documents, and leak sensitive data.

Firmware and Software Updates

Keep your printer firmware up to date to patch known security vulnerabilities. Enable automatic update notifications if available, or check the manufacturer's website regularly for new firmware releases.

Access Controls

Change the default administrator password on every network printer. Enable user authentication features that require employees to log in before printing, scanning, or accessing stored documents.

Encrypted Communications

Enable encrypted communication protocols such as TLS for print jobs sent over the network. This prevents sensitive documents from being intercepted during transmission from the computer to the printer.

Secure Print Release

Secure print release requires users to authenticate at the printer before documents are printed. This prevents confidential documents from sitting unattended in the output tray.

Network Segmentation

Place printers on a separate network segment from sensitive servers and workstations. This limits the potential impact if a printer is compromised and reduces the attack surface of your network.