Is Your Printer Fleet Secure? What Business Owners Need to Know

Introduction

Security is a top priority for businesses handling sensitive data—especially those in finance, healthcare, and legal industries. While most organizations focus on securing their networks and endpoints, one of the most overlooked security vulnerabilities is the office printer fleet.

Printers are no longer simple standalone devices. They are network-connected endpoints that process, store, and transmit sensitive information. Without the right security measures in place, your printer fleet could be an open door for hackers, data breaches, and compliance violations.

At ManagedPrint, we help businesses protect their print environments with proactive security monitoring, fleet management solutions, and expert guidance to prevent cyber threats before they happen.

In This Blog You Will Learn:

• The most common security risks associated with office printers.
• How monitoring tools like EKM protect your fleet from cyber threats.
• Steps to ensure your print environment is fully secure.

The Hidden Security Risks in Your Printer Fleet

If your business is like most, your printers are connected to your network—which means they are vulnerable to cyberattacks just like any other device. Here are some of the most common security risks companies face with their printer fleet:

1. Unsecured Print Jobs & Data Leaks

Many businesses allow employees to print sensitive documents without restrictions. If these documents sit unattended at the printer, anyone can retrieve confidential information.

Risk: Unauthorized access to sensitive financial records, employee data, or customer information.

Solution: Implement secure print release solutions, requiring authentication (PIN, badge, or biometric login) before a print job is released.

2. Outdated Firmware & Security Patches

Printers need regular firmware updates to protect against new vulnerabilities and exploits. Unfortunately, many businesses fail to update their devices, leaving them open to cyberattacks.

Risk: Hackers can exploit vulnerabilities in outdated printer firmware to gain access to your network.

Solution: ManagedPrint ensures all devices receive security updates and patches to close vulnerabilities before they become a problem.

3. Weak Printer Network Security

Many office printers lack basic security settings, such as password protection or encrypted communication. If an attacker gains access to a printer, they may be able to capture print jobs, install malware, or even access other devices on your network.

Risk: Cybercriminals can infiltrate your network through an unsecured printer.

Solution: ManagedPrint configures advanced security settings such as encrypted connections, access control, and secure administrative logins to prevent unauthorized access.

4. Hard Drive Data Storage Risks

Most modern office printers store copies of scanned, printed, and faxed documents on their internal hard drives. If you fail to wipe data before disposing of or replacing a printer, confidential information could fall into the wrong hands.

Risk: Data theft from discarded or resold printers.

Solution: ManagedPrint implements secure data erasure protocols to ensure sensitive data is permanently removed before devices are decommissioned.

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How EKM Helps Protect Your Printer Fleet from Cyber Threats

One of the best ways to secure your printer fleet is to implement a fleet monitoring solution like EKM (Enterprise Key Management). Here’s how ManagedPrint uses EKM to enhance security:

1. Real-Time Monitoring & Alerts

EKM provides 24/7 monitoring of your printer fleet, detecting unauthorized access attempts, unusual print activity, and potential security breaches.

2. Automated Firmware & Security Updates

With EKM, we ensure all devices receive critical security patches automatically, preventing hackers from exploiting outdated firmware.

3. Secure Print Policies & User Authentication

EKM allows businesses to enforce secure print policies, requiring employees to authenticate before releasing print jobs, reducing the risk of sensitive data exposure.

4. End-of-Life Data Protection

Before retiring or replacing a printer, EKM ensures all stored data is securely erased, preventing data leaks from old hardware.

By integrating EKM into your ManagedPrint solution, we provide comprehensive security protection for your print environment, keeping your business safe from cyber threats.

Steps to Secure Your Printer Fleet Today

To fully protect your print environment, follow these key security best practices:

✅ Conduct a Security Audit: Identify vulnerabilities in your current printer fleet.

✅ Implement Secure Print Release: Require authentication before printing sensitive documents.

✅ Regularly Update Printer Firmware: Ensure all devices receive the latest security patches.

✅ Encrypt Print Traffic: Prevent unauthorized interception of print jobs.

✅ Secure Network Access: Restrict who can access your printers and set strong passwords.

✅ Properly Dispose of Old Printers: Wipe all stored data before decommissioning or replacing devices.

At ManagedPrint, we handle all these steps so you don’t have to, providing a fully managed security solution for your printer fleet.

Are Your Printers Secure? Let ManagedPrint Help.

If your business hasn’t reviewed printer security recently, now is the time. Cyber threats evolve daily, and an unsecured printer fleet could be the weakest link in your network security.

Contact ManagedPrint today for a free security assessment and find out how we can protect your business before a security breach happens.