When IT professionals discuss network security, conversations typically center on firewalls, endpoint protection, and cloud security. But there’s a critical piece of infrastructure that often flies under the radar: your printers.
Recent research reveals a sobering reality. A study from Quocirca found that 56% of organizations experienced print-related data loss in the past year, with small and medium businesses particularly vulnerable—70% reporting print-related data breaches in the past year, costing an average of nearly £1 million per incident.
The Hidden Vulnerabilities in Your Print Environment
The printer security landscape is more complex than many realize. Unlike the dramatic “hacking” headlines might suggest, many printer vulnerabilities stem from fundamental design issues rather than sophisticated attacks.
In 2020, Cybernews demonstrated this perfectly when they accessed nearly 28,000 printers worldwide–not through elaborate hacking, but by simply using standard printing commands on unsecured devices. The PrintNightmare exploit, which prompted Mopria Alliance member @Microsoft to issue emergency patches as recently as 2023, highlighted how printer-related vulnerabilities can compromise entire systems.
The core issues are often surprisingly basic:
- Weak Default Security: Many printers ship with default passwords or no passwords at all. A @Consumer Reports investigation found security flaws across all five major printer brands tested, including insecure protocols and unnecessary permissions.
- Neglected Updates: Unlike computers and mobile devices, printers rarely receive regular security updates. Many organizations never change default settings or apply firmware patches.
- Network Integration Without Protection: Modern printers often include embedded web servers for remote management, frequently without adequate password protection or network segmentation.
The Real-World Impact
These vulnerabilities create multiple attack vectors. Compromised printers can serve as entry points for broader network attacks or be conscripted into botnets for distributed denial-of-service attacks. More directly, attackers can manipulate print jobs to output sensitive information or redirect confidential documents to unauthorized recipients.
For businesses, the risks extend beyond immediate data loss. Print-related breaches can expose customer information, financial records, or proprietary documents–creating compliance violations and damaging customer trust.
A Different Approach: Security Through Simplicity
While traditional printer security often requires complex driver management, authentication systems, and constant updates, the future of printing is heading in an undeniable direction: driverless printer technology.
Mopria certified printers take a fundamentally different security approach. By eliminating the need for third-party drivers–which Microsoft has identified as particularly vulnerable–driverless printing reduces the attack surface while simplifying security management.
With over 9,000 Mopria certified printer models and 120+ million certified devices worldwide, this technology enables secure printing through built-in Android and Windows support without introducing additional software vulnerabilities.
Essential Steps for Print Security
Whether you’re managing a small office or enterprise network, certain security practices remain critical:
1. Start with an Audit: Identify all printing devices on your network, including any unauthorized or forgotten devices. Assess what types of data your organization regularly prints and where potential vulnerabilities exist.
2. Secure Default Settings: Change all default passwords immediately. Disable unnecessary features like Bluetooth if unused, and close all non-essential network ports.
3. Implement Access Controls: Ensure only authorized users can access printing resources. This might involve user authentication systems or network segmentation to isolate printing devices.
4. Maintain Current Software: Apply firmware updates and security patches regularly. Consider devices that support automatic updates to reduce maintenance burden.
5. Monitor Continuously: Establish ongoing monitoring of print-related network activity to detect unusual behavior or unauthorized access attempts.
Looking Forward: The Evolution of Print Security
The printing industry is responding to these security challenges. Microsoft’s development of Windows Protected Print mode represents a significant step forward, eliminating many legacy vulnerabilities by running print services with reduced system privileges and removing third-party driver dependencies.
This evolution toward more secure, simplified printing architectures aligns with broader cybersecurity trends emphasizing reduced complexity and improved default security postures.
The Bottom Line
As organizations become increasingly distributed and printing needs grow more complex, security cannot be an afterthought. The data is clear: print-related security incidents are common, costly, and often preventable.
This Cybersecurity Awareness Month, take a fresh look at your printing infrastructure. Evaluate your current security posture, consider technologies that reduce rather than increase complexity, and remember that sometimes the most effective security approach is also the simplest one.
Your network is only as secure as its weakest link. Make sure your printers aren’t that link.
For more on printer security, stay tuned for a roundtable with Mopria Alliance members later this month as we continue our Cybersecurity Month discussion.
Ready to simplify your print security? Learn more about Mopria certified devices and driverless printing technology at Mopria.org.
