In today's digital age, businesses in the UK rely heavily on printers for their day-to-day operations. However, printing is not as secure as it may seem. With sensitive and confidential information being sent to printers every day, it is important to prioritise security everywhere and anywhere.

Here are the top security threats in printing and how to prevent them:

Unsecured Networks

One of the most common security threats in printing is the lack of secure networks. Many printers are connected to unsecured networks, which can be easily accessed by cybercriminals. To prevent this, businesses should ensure that all printers are connected to secure networks, and that all network access points are secure.

Outdated Firmware

Outdated firmware can lead to security vulnerabilities in printers. Hackers can exploit these vulnerabilities to gain access to sensitive information. To prevent this, businesses should ensure that all printers have the latest firmware updates installed.

Unsecured Printing

Unsecured printing can lead to sensitive information being printed and left unattended. This can be easily accessed by anyone who comes across the printed documents. To prevent this, businesses should implement secure printing policies that require users to authenticate themselves before printing.

Physical Security

Physical security threats in printing include theft, loss, and tampering of printed documents. To prevent this, businesses should ensure that printers are located in secure areas, and that access to them is limited to authorised personnel only.

Malware and Viruses

Malware and viruses can be introduced to printers through email or USB drives. This can lead to sensitive information being compromised or even lost. To prevent this, businesses should ensure that all printers have anti-virus software installed, and that all emails and USB drives are scanned before being used.

To summarise, it is crucial to prioritise security everywhere and anywhere in printing. Businesses should ensure that all printers are connected to secure networks, have the latest firmware updates, implement secure printing policies, provide physical security, and have anti-virus software installed. By doing so, businesses can prevent security threats and protect sensitive information from being compromised.