For years printers have been a staple in the office. But did you know today’s printers are sophisticated machines that need to be secured, just like your office computers? Left unprotected they can become a gateway for hackers to infiltrate your network.
Here are eight top best practices to keep your printers and network protected:
1. Disable unnecessary services: Many printers come with insecure and unnecessary protocols enabled by default. It’s important to disable these services to reduce potential vulnerabilities.
2. Secure the network: Ensure that the network your printer is connected to is secure. This includes implementing strong network access controls and using firewalls to restrict unauthorized access.
3. Keep your printer software up to date: Regularly update your printer’s firmware and software to ensure you have the latest security patches and bug fixes.
4. Implement image overwrite: Enable the image overwrite feature on your printer, which ensures that data stored on the device’s hard drive is securely erased after each print job.
5. Control access: Set up user access restrictions to limit access to your printer. Only authorized users should be able to print or access printer settings.
6. Collaborate with stakeholders: Involve relevant stakeholders, such as IT personnel and security teams, to develop a comprehensive print security policy that aligns with your organization’s overall security strategy.
7. Limit internet connectivity: If possible, restrict internet connectivity to your printer to minimize the risk of unauthorized access and potential attacks.
8. Use strong administrative passwords: Change default passwords and create strong, unique passwords for printer administration accounts to prevent unauthorized access.
By following these eight best practices you’re protecting a critical gateway to your organization’s data. From disabling unnecessary services to collaborating with key stakeholders, the steps you take can significantly reduce the vulnerabilities that printers may pose if left unprotected. By protecting your printers you’re taking essential steps to reinforce your organization’s security.