Print in the Channel - issue #19

PRINT IN EDUCATION

CONTINUED

educational institutions typically handle a large volume of sensitive data and have greater insider threats, necessitating robust security measures tailored to protect personal information and network attached equipment,” he says. “Solutions for schools and universities might prioritise features like user authentication, secure print release, and encryption to prevent unauthorised access and data breaches. Additionally, compliance with educational data protection regulations is crucial. “In contrast, businesses might focus more on protecting intellectual property and ensuring secure document handling within a corporate environment. While both sectors require strong security, the specific needs and regulatory requirements can vary. Resellers should tailor their recommendations and solutions to address these unique challenges, ensuring that educational customers receive the most appropriate and effective security solutions for their needs.” Reseller conversations When talking to customers in the education sector, there are various topics that resellers should raise. “Resellers must always stress the need to keep security front-of-mind at all times, and if they have a managed print service agreement with their customers, to ensure that they are always advising their customer about the latest security hardware and software updates and that they are working with them to install them,” says Stuart. “There are many stakeholders when it comes to implementing robust security measures – from device manufacturers to software providers, resellers, IT teams and end users – so resellers must stress that end users are aware of the role they must play in keeping the network and confidential data secure.” Gary agrees that resellers should emphasise the critical importance of print security, but also tailor solutions to suit the organisation’s long-term goals. “They should share best practice and guidance while also discussing potential risks, such as data breaches and unauthorised access to sensitive information, and how these can impact students and staff,” he says. “Understanding long-term goals and what their network infrastructure will look like moving forward is key so that solutions are tailored to suit each organisation for now and the future. Cloud solutions should also be playing key part in that strategy.

“By focusing on these aspects, resellers can position themselves as knowledgeable and reliable partners in enhancing printer security.” Quentyn Taylor, senior director – product, information security and global incident response, Canon EMEA, notes that security breaches have increased for 61% of organisations in the past year alone, according to Quocirca. “Among these threats, ransomware stands out as the number one concern, and its growth in recent years has been alarming. Organisations of all sizes are vulnerable, making it essential for all to prioritise their cybersecurity efforts,” he says. “One of the best ways to combat this growing threat is by developing a detailed understanding of their security perimeter and the assets that need to be protected. Organisations must conduct thorough security assessments to identify potential weak points and bolster their defences accordingly. “Resellers can help organisations in the education sector to navigate their document security requirements by identifying key ‘pain points’ where print workflows can be streamlined and made secure.” Andrew adds that it is vital to understand what strategies, plans or otherwise are already in place. “It’s imperative to understand the senior leadership team’s understanding and buy in. “Following this it’s important to understand prior investment as well as what products and solutions are available to certain educational establishments at a significantly reduced rate. “From this a plan for improving cyber foundations can be formed providing the maximum protection, reducing risk while minimising expense. “Conversations must be tailored, and a deep understanding of education is required. Through this the highly sensitive personal data that is held by educations establishments can be protected whilst not stifling learning outcomes.”

Quentyn Taylor senior director – product, information security and global incident response

canon.co.uk

Resellers can help organisations in the education sector to navigate their document security requirements by identifying key ‘pain points’ where print workflows can be streamlined and made secure.

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