01732 759725 42 VOX POP It’s fair to say that today, organisations are facing a broader attack surface than ever before. Businesses quickly found out that home working was more technology-dependent than ever before – unplanned for cloud adoption, shadow IT and unsecured home networks brought a wave of new threats. Now, with hybrid working here to stay, security risks and concerns remain one of the top pain points for IT teams Post-pandemic: security is an even higher priority Kerry Rush, Product Manager, Sharp UK: “Print security is critical for any business. This is only becoming increasingly more important as the number of cybersecurity attacks rise and methods of infiltration become more complex and diverse. Consider the amount of personal, sensitive and financial information multifunction print devices process each day – these devices have a hard drive that stores a digital copy of everything printed, copied or scanned. Companies have developed Security is a key concern for business leaders both inside and outside the IT department, particularly given the explosion in ransomware attacks in 2021, yet although most organisations pay close attention to securing their IT networks, the same level of attention isn’t always given to the print infrastructure. This month’s panel discusses the importance of printer security, the risks of an unsecured print infrastructure, and how print and IT channel vendors can help customers mitigate risk and strengthen their security posture. policies and procedures that cover hardcopy material and IT infrastructure, but often print devices are overlooked. “At Sharp we offer a full range of print security services that are as individual as each of our customers. Our priority when it comes to print security is to understand the risk, so we consult with our clients and assess their security needs before configuring each device with the required level of security. Our security audits identify areas of weakness and then we recommend preventative measures to keep documents and data safe and secure.” www.sharp.co.uk James Pittick, Channel Director B2B Direct Sales, Canon UK & Ireland: “The shift to remote working during the pandemic saw a significant rise in cyberattacks as cyber criminals sought to take advantage of dispersed workforces. According to a report from Accenture, there were on average 270 attacks per company over 2021, an increase of 31 per cent compared with 2020. “As businesses continue to adapt to hybrid working and many employees are enjoying the return to a physical office space, it is important that a strong security system is in place. Robust network security as well as endpoint security, regardless of whether a cloud or an on-premise server infrastructure is chosen is essential. The foundation of a secure system is the capacity to incorporate potentially hundreds of devices and networks, ensuring that critical data remains safe. To tackle this, a multifaceted armour, combining VPNs, a zero trust architecture and updated antivirus software should be incorporated. “Printing is a key element of this security system. Partners should consider offering their customers a solution that uses a cloud-based server, which enables printing to remote shared devices – whilst ensuring that all data remains secure and that all print jobs are traceable. Users from outside of the organisation can be restricted from the device, by preventing access to the Kerry Rush James Pittick
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