Print in the Channel - #38

PRINTER NETWORK SECURITY

CONTINUED

“SMBs often do not have dedicated IT staff or management resources, so there’s a preference for easy-to-install, operate and manage tools without needing advanced technical skills or significant customisations,” he says. “There is also growing preference for cloud solutions that remove the need for on-premise servers. At the same time, security also take priority with SMBs seeking solutions that meet security standards and can be operated securely even by non-specialist staff.” Gary agrees that customers are often looking for simplicity, as well as seamless integration, easy deployment of drivers and flexibility to have a solution that is truly independent across all vendors for future flexibility such as PaperCut, MyQ and Y Soft. “They clearly all want to maintain value for money, but clients are beginning to consider the risk of breaches/security vs investment and see print management and security settings as a necessary investment to secure their network like with IT,” he adds. Security components When putting together a print network security solution for an SMB, there are certain things that should be included. Ian says that a strong print security solution should combine secure hardware, proactive device management and ongoing monitoring. “Core elements include regular firmware updates, strong authentication measures, encrypted data transmission, secure print release capabilities and the ability to identify and

“As a result, organisations are increasingly looking for cloud-based solutions that provide visibility and control across distributed environments. The ability to manage, monitor and secure print infrastructure remotely has become particularly important in supporting flexible working models.” Gary agrees that people visiting an office periodically can add complexity. “Print management tools to allow users to print jobs and collect when in the office improves security, reduces wastage, and reduces risk of cross contamination of documents at the printer, which is a real concern with sensitive documents,” he says. Jonathan adds that hybrid working expands the potential attack surface and increases the complexity of threat levels. “This requires more robust security solutions to protect sensitive data and systems,” he adds. “Businesses need to be able to provide security solutions that do not impede user experience but still provide administrators the ability to implement security controls and have full auditing capabilities of user activity.”

Contributors

Jonathan Wells

ricoh.co.uk

Gary Organ

www.fujifilm.com/uk/eu

Trends SMB customers have certain

requirements for what they want in a network security solution. Ian says that simplicity remains a key priority. “Many SMBs are looking for solutions that strengthen security without adding complexity or increasing demands on already stretched IT teams,” he adds. “Automation, ease of deployment and centralised management are becoming increasingly important considerations. “While cost effectiveness remains important, organisations are also placing greater value on reliability, resilience and ongoing support. Increasingly, SMBs are seeking solutions that deliver long-term value by reducing risk and simplifying day-to-day management.” Jonathan agrees that simplicity is key.

Ian Fox