Small gaps invite big problems. A mouse can squeeze into a hole that’s one-fourth of an inch – the width of a pencil. Once inside, even a single mouse can cause significant damage. But there’s never just a single mouse.
Apply this to your mobile device fleet. Organizations focus on protecting smartphones, tablets, scanners, etc. with Enterprise Mobility Management (EMM). These critical devices are the most vulnerable to serious threats.
When it comes to printer security software, organizations are overlooking this essential component. Consider these numbers*:
| Only 19% of organizations are considered print security leaders | 56% of enterprises leave printers out of their security strategy altogether | It’s estimated that less than 2% of printers are considered secure |
Only 19% of organizations are considered print security leaders
56% of enterprises leave printers out of their security strategy altogether
It’s estimated that less than 2% of printers are considered secure
That type of oversight invites the mouse (a security threat) into the house (your corporate network) and leads to massive problems (a security breach).
Why are Printers Neglected?
Thermal printers for labels, barcode label printers, radio-frequency identification (RFID) printers and mobile rugged receipt printers are viewed as just printers. All they do is print. If they’re printing, they’re working, right?
Not quite. Printers are gateways to corporate networks and pools of confidential information. They’re small gaps that hackers will find, enter and eventually exploit. It may be happening already: 61% of IT professionals believe their printers already contain malware*. The mouse is already in the house.
How did it get inside? Reasons include:
- Out of sight, out of mind: A business-critical smartphone or tablet goes everywhere. An industrial printer? They’re usually stationary or in a remote location – and easily forgotten.
- Takes too long: For one printer, navigating an endless menu on a small screen or inserting a USB stick is cumbersome and time consuming. For multiple printers in various locations? No way.
- Can’t have downtime: Printers can’t be taken offline for 20 minutes for a security update, as that impacts productivity. The solution? Keep them online and hope there isn’t a data breach.
- Too expensive: Need to secure a printer? Pack it up and ship it to IT so they can perform the update. Then, they’ll pack it up and ship it back to you. Not very cost-efficient.
WANT MORE REASONS WHY PRINTERS GO UNSECURED?
Download The BluePRINT for Printer Management Success to Find Out
What Can Hackers Access Through a Printer?
A mouse can chew through wood, plastic, vinyl, wiring, insulation and, yes, concrete.
Without printer security software, a threat enters your network through an unsecured printer and accesses the following:
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Personal Identification Information (PII)
Payment Information and Details
Government Records (i.e. Health Card Info)
Employee Names, Records and Details
Patient Records and Health Data
Business Documentation
Email Communications and Correspondence
Data Collected by Corporate Apps
This information may not be stored on a printer, but it can be reached through a printer. When a printer-related data breach occurs, the costs are astronomical*:
| The average cost of a printer data breach is over $950,000 (USD) | Regardless of source, the average data breach takes 277 days to contain |
Securing printers should be a top priority. In fact, 75% of CIOs predict printers will become the focus of data breaches soon*.
As mentioned earlier, organizations are leaving printers unprotected. They risk losing nearly a million dollars in costs and almost a full calendar year in data containment and control.
All this damage. All this lost revenue and productivity, caused by a single data breach. One mouse, if you will.
The Perfect Deterrent: Printer Security Software
Mousetraps aren’t effective because the mouse has already entered the house and caused damage before getting caught.
Mice can chew through almost anything. One thing they can’t get through: Steel wool.
Steel wool is simple to get and easy to deploy. Its sharp edges deter mice from trying to gnaw through it.
SOTI Connect protects your network against hackers and data threats. Here’s what it can do to harden your printer security:
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Deploy |
Identify and deploy firmware updates and Wi-Fi certificates to any printers that need them. This ensures all your mobile and industrial printers are protected. |
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Enforce |
Establish powerful password and security policies to prevent unauthorized access to your network infrastructure. |
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Schedule |
Push security configurations to printers when it’s convenient for the business. Ensure printer security and productivity without compromise. |
Protect Your Printers with SOTI Connect
Security is paramount. In fact, your customers want you to make cybersecurity a priority. If they’re victims of a data breach, they’ll switch to a competitor. And good luck trying to attract new customers as 70% actively avoid businesses impacted by a data breach.
Don’t let the tiniest gap critically injure your business. Find the gaps and close them quickly and easily with SOTI Connect.
*Source: The BluePRINT for Printer Management Success
