Print.IT Reseller - issue 87

PRINTITRESELLER.UK VOX POP 43 The decentralised nature of hybrid working results in the surface layer of firms’ IT networks ballooning, creating more opportunities for would-be hackers... “This is on top of the major pre- existing security threat caused by print devices – printed documents being left on the output tray. This is still causing huge GDPR risks in spite of the increased use of ‘follow me’ print solutions.” Stuart Mabe, Services Delivery Manager, Services and Solutions, Brother UK: “Three in five IT professionals told us in our latest research that IT security will be ‘very important’ to their business over the next two years. It’s encouraging that so many are placing such importance on the security of their technology infrastructure, particularly as the trend towards hybrid working arrangements requires a new playbook for keeping systems secure. “The decentralised nature of hybrid working results in the surface layer of firms’ IT networks ballooning, creating more opportunities for would-be hackers to access systems and steal sensitive information through vulnerable devices. IT leads are now under greater pressure to ensure they identify the vulnerabilities in their expanded networks, which could include poorly protected printers, before any hackers do. Resellers will play a vital role in supporting them with this effort.” Steve Holmes, EMEA Regional Director, PaperCut: “Broadly speaking, businesses are now becoming more aware of the risks posed by physical print devices and unmanaged print. This is predominantly down to the great work being driven by the print ecosystem, resulting in an increased awareness of the issue amongst the IT management chain. “However, it is one thing to be aware of print security, but another thing to be on top of it. Therefore, it is imperative that companies regularly reassess print in the context of their broader security policies and ensure that it's not overlooked; and in the context of the last 16 months, that means recognising that hybrid working brings its own security challenges, one of which is of course print. “Most organisations have done an excellent job of bringing print under control and making it secure in the workplace; now they need to ensure that this security and print diligence is applied to staff working remotely. After all, a security breach, whether it is print-related or not, can result in data loss or data being compromised, which can impact confidence in a brand, not to mention resulting in large fines from the ICO if it’s found that mandates like GDPR have been compromised.” Sajan Shivshanker, Chief Operating Officer, Aura: “I think there has been a change in the way IT professionals look at print infrastructure and networked devices. If we go back a few years, it was definitely the case that print vulnerabilities were overlooked, and most businesses would agree that print infrastructure security problems needed addressing. Today, as a result of greater awareness and advances in technology, organisations have realised that print devices are processing, storing and producing sensitive data which creates a security risk. As a result, printers need to be treated like any other IT endpoints and proper safeguards should be put in place. An unsecured MFD is a potential entry point into an organisation with serious security risks. “When the pandemic hit, suddenly everyone worked from home – and with such a rapid implementation of IT systems to enable remote working, came increased security risks. Company devices were now in use outside the carefully protected network, and possibly even being used as more of a personal device instead of a work asset – this includes exploited. Awareness around the general security risks posed to businesses has continued to grow, largely driven by the increasing cybersecurity attacks we are witnessing. Despite this, business owners continue to overlook their print security, with many not considering these devices as an IT security risk. “Printers and MFPs are everywhere and can provide easy access to sensitive printed, scanned or faxed documents. They can also be a point of entry for attacks which affect the company-wide network if they are not secure.” Andy Ratcliffe, Managing Director, Key Digital: “Office print devices have evolved past the phase of simply printing with no other features. They have now become smart devices, with cloud connections, application integrations and are often a core part of many document and data processes. Despite this, they are often treated like any other peripheral device. “According to a recent Quocirca survey, 61 per cent of companies admitted suffering at least one data breach through insecure printing. And more technologies and third-party integrations open up more potential security threats to be exploited. continued... Stuart Mabe Kerry Rush Andy Ratcliffe