🔐 Is Your Printer Fleet a Security Risk?

Pablo Morera
Apr 2
2 min read

Updated: Apr 3

In a world hyper-focused on cybersecurity, one major threat often slips under the radar: your office printers.

Yes, that sleek multi-function device in the hallway might be your network’s most overlooked vulnerability. In fact, according to Quocirca’s Global Print Security Report, over 60% of businesses experienced data loss due to unsecured printing. And yet, many organizations still treat print as “set it and forget it.”

At VisionCore Systems, we know firsthand how damaging an unsecured print fleet can be, and how easy it is to fix with the right strategy.

👀 Why Printers Are the Forgotten Security Hole

Modern printers are more than just paper pushers; they’re smart, connected, and packed with data. But that intelligence comes with risk:

Default passwords never changed after setup
Open ports that allow unauthorized remote access
Outdated firmware with known exploits
Unencrypted print jobs traveling across the network
Sensitive documents left in output trays or memory

Each of these issues could provide an entry point for hackers or cause a compliance violation under laws like HIPAA, GDPR, or PCI-DSS.

⚠️ What’s Really at Stake?

Confidential data leaks (e.g. HR files, patient records, contracts)
Network-wide breaches using printers as entry points
Costly compliance fines for unprotected data
Reputational damage from preventable security incidents

In some documented cases, attackers accessed entire networks through printers with outdated firmware or remote management enabled without restriction.

🛡️ Best Practices to Secure Your Printer Fleet

Securing your print environment doesn’t have to be complicated. It just requires attention and action. Here are a few essentials:

Change all default admin passwords immediately
Disable unused protocols and ports
Enable user authentication (badge release, PIN codes)
Set up secure print release to prevent abandoned documents
Apply regular firmware and patch updates
Use encryption for stored and transmitted data
Enable logging and audit trails for accountability

🔧 How VisionCore Systems Protects You

At VisionCore Systems, we specialize in print security without the headaches. Whether you’re a large enterprise or an MSP supporting other organizations, we help you:

📅 Deploy secure print release with PIN or badge authentication🔐 Lock down device settings and access ports🌐 Apply firmware updates and security patches proactively🔍 Monitor activity with detailed logging and audit trails🔒 Encrypt print data end-to-end📖 Train your team on secure print practices

We take a proactive, compliance-ready approach to make sure your printers aren’t the weakest link in your network.