SCANNER SECURITY
scanners,” says Andrew. “They often focus on securing traditional endpoints like computers and servers, neglecting peripheral devices like scanners.” Steve adds that scanner security is crucial. “In the constantly evolving fight against cyberattacks, IT peripherals such as printers and scanners are key elements of businesses risk management policies,” he says. “This risk has contributed to an increase in the outsourcing of printing and scanning processes.” Tony Moor, senior director of Silicon Lab Services for IOActive, adds: “In general PCs, servers and networking hardware would naturally be prioritised above more ‘passive’ hardware like printers and scanners,” he says. “However, that does not mean that there are not serious risks posed by any device that is connected to a home or office network. The attack surface of hardware can also be increased when the device uses consumables such as printer ink and toner, which are in turn composed of electronic hardware capable of harbouring threats.” Secure solutions With increasing threats out there, solutions must be put in place, and there are various ones that resellers can recommend to customers. “There are several measures that businesses can take to secure document scanners, including implementing a firewall to control network traffic to and from scanners, regularly update scanner firmware and software to patch vulnerabilities,” says Andrew. “PaperStream software included with Ricoh scanners offers some robust features to help mitigate security risks, such as access authentication, ensuring jobs can only be accessed by those with the right profiles, and scans can only be sent to authorised locations. Data encryption helps to prevent data leakage
Steve King product marketing manager
“Security features are among the many differences between the scanners on MFPs and standalone document scanners,” he explains. “Most document scanners contain both nonvolatile storage and volatile memory. Nonvolatile memory stores program data, scanner settings, and calibration data, while the data from scanned documents is stored in volatile memory. “The scanners that are built into many MFPs often retain scanned image data, which can introduce serious information security risk. “Scanners from Kodak Alaris do not store any document data. Instead, the data is stored in volatile memory and is deleted as soon as it’s delivered to its destination or when the device is switched off. It’s also important to ensure that the computer you connect a scanner to conforms to the organisation’s information security policies.” Risk awareness With the number, type and complexity of cyberattacks constantly growing, businesses are now generally much more aware of potential risks, although scanners can still be overlooked. “Many businesses are unaware of the security risks associated with document
kodakalaris.com
“
The scanners that are built into many MFPs often retain scanned image data, which can introduce serious
information security risk.
”
CONTINUED
printinthechannel.co.uk
39
Powered by FlippingBook