PRINT
IT
RESELLER.UK
43
VOX POP
Andrew Hall:
“Possibly it is just an
overlooked area. One assumes once a
document is printed, the data is erased.
This however is not the case, unless the
device is correctly configured and the tools
are correctly implemented to ensure the
highest security and encryption.”
Phil Jones:
“I believe this is down to a
couple of things, lack of awareness and
the presumed high cost of obtaining the
capability. Pricing for printers with security
features such as TLS/SSL encryption
start from under £200 which makes it
affordable for any size of business. The
security capability of printers should be
viewed as importantly as speed, size or
running costs.”
Quentyn Taylor:
“Printers have always
been part of the office environment and
this familiarity leaves many with a false
sense of security when it comes to print
infrastructure. When you look at some of the
most commonly reported leaks, it appears a
prevailing issue is employees picking up an
additional piece of paper when collecting
print jobs. However, a key reason why
many businesses experience inadequate
print security is the issue of ownership.
There needs to be a department that owns
this responsibility, whether that is within
facilities or IT, ensuring there are no serious
data risks or a lost opportunity that the full
integration into IT systems could bring.”
Brian Young:
“I don’t think it’s about
organisations placing lower value on
security – it’s just that some of them are
less aware or oblivious of the risks. They
don’t necessarily perceive the copier in
the corner as a computer – but their
lack of understanding can cause apathy
inadvertently.
“As mentioned earlier, this provides
an opportunity for resellers to share their
knowledge and highlight the risks and
protection available when discussing
a new print infrastructure solution. It’s
important to be aware of the threat to data
protection posed by MFPs and printers,
and even more important to know that
solutions exist.”
James Dunne:
“Many IT departments
unfortunately don’t have a choice but to
cut corners in order to keep costs low, and
not surprisingly, investment in security
suffers as a result. Cost often kicks security
into secondary position when dealing with
opportunities, but with the introduction
of GDPR (and the financial penalties
associated with it) this may not be the case
for much longer.”
Nigel Allen:
“From recent Quocirca
research, the percentage of businesses
actually securing their MFPs was at 22 per
cent. Much of this comes down to a basic
lack of education and awareness. There’s
actually quite a false sense of security
around printing - people underestimate
just how much data is processed through
their print infrastructure.”
PITR:
Are businesses simply
unaware of the security risks that
printers pose? As a vendor, what
can/are you doing to ensure that
print security is an integral part of
end-users’ IT security policies?
Andrew Hall:
“Programming an MFP with
secure access such as PIN or ID card, can
prevent the loss of sensitive information
which can be costly and a high risk for any
organisation. By enforcing output policies,
such as pull-printing, print jobs can only
be released following a physical action by
a user, therefore avoiding unwanted print
and limiting wastage.”
Phil Jones:
“Many business are unaware
of the potential risks. As a manufacturer
we are committed to having the
highest security on our devices. All the
authentication and encryption features
mentioned are available on Brother devices.
“When reviewing a print estate,
particularly under a managed print services
agreement, we would cover security within
our discovery phase to establish any
...continued
continued...
PITR:
Why do you think that organisations place a
lower priority on print security?
Brian Young,
Solutions Manager,
UTAX
“...some of them are less
aware or oblivious of the risks”
Quentyn Taylor,
Director of Information
Secuirty,
Canon Europe
A key reason
why many
businesses
experience
inadequate
print security
is the issue of
ownership
