Epson: Enterprise Guide to Securing Printers
Printers have rapidly advanced technologically in recent decades, bringing enterprise businesses the benefits of increased productivity and efficiency, as well as decreased costs. However, unlike printers of yore, printers today are essentially powerful computers. Consider the following printer features and functionality that are commonly available off the shelf:
• “Smart” capabilities – Printers now integrate into print management systems, allowing the enterprise to centrally administer printing practices. “Smart” features, such as log in to print and pull printing, help reduce waste, such as print-and-forget copies.
• Multifunction features – Printers often provide a range of capabilities in one device, from printing and scanning to faxing. Many newer models integrate with apps for features such as printing or scanning to cloud-based servers, increasing the efficiency and productivity of mobile employees.
• Native hard disk drive (HDD) and random access memory (RAM) – Many printers contain local storage that, in years past, was available only on computers.
• Connectivity within the Internet of Things (IoT) – Given their powerful features and connectivity to other IT devices, printers are nodes in an ever-expanding IoT.
The features and functionality that provide many benefits also introduce potential security vulnerabilities and risk if not secured. This guide is intended to raise awareness of security issues related to modern business printers and common printing practices, as well as considerations for improving enterprise printer security.
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