SECURITY FOR PRINTERS IN RETAIL AND HOSPITALITY
A safe place Printer security should be a priority for businesses in the retail and hospitality sectors – and they often have differing requirements to those in other industries, which resellers should keep in mind when selling solutions to them.
Printers are essential bits of kit for businesses in the retail and hospitality sectors and, with the ever increasingly connected nature of them – and the amounts of personal data they can store – they need to be secure to combat the threat posed by cyber criminals. “Many businesses tend to underestimate the importance of print security, but for retail and hospitality, it should be a top priority,” says Dan Wogan, product manager for managed print and solutions at Epson. “These industries handle large volumes of sensitive customer data, including payment information and personal details, making them prime targets for data breaches. “Unsecured printers can be a vulnerable entry point, which could potentially allow unauthorised access to sensitive information. With the increasing reliance on connected devices and cloud-based systems, print security is essential for protecting customer and business data. “Smaller businesses in the retail and hospitality sectors are particularly vulnerable due to having limited security resources and planning. They face various threats, including data breaches, hacking attempts and unauthorised access to sensitive documents. “With fewer IT resources, these businesses can become easy targets. As printing is Providing a first class service Solutions for retail and hospitality POS Range
an area that is increasingly connected to networks, it is one that shouldn’t be neglected. Even for those with fewer
resources there are simple solutions available such as regular firmware updates that can help address these challenges.” Looking for weak links Deyon Antoine, product marketing manager at Toshiba Tec, adds that companies have fallen victim to cyberattacks and have suffered data loss due to printer security breaches. “These unassuming devices can be easily overlooked when it comes to including them into a company’s IT security policy,” he says. “It’s easy to forget that technological advances and the demands of customers means that MFPs and barcode label printers have now evolved into sophisticated IoT devices, able to capture, collect and share data, and are no longer the dumb network device they once were. “Cybercriminals will always look for weak links and entry points to exploit so security should be treated like any other smart device connected to the network, even more so, as hospitality and retail businesses have wireless networks which are public facing to enhance the customer experience.” Deyon adds that Wi-Fi network hacks are especially a threat in hospitality businesses. “Where unsecured guest Wi-Fi networks can be exploited by attackers to intercept data or launch attacks on connected devices and systems,” he says. “Malware and viruses can be introduced directly by unsecured USB ports and Wi-Fi hotspots on printers, these can then be used to disrupt operations, steal data, or provide attackers with a backdoor into a network.” Differing solutions While security is a priority, resellers should note that solutions for retail and hospitality businesses differ from those for businesses in other sectors. Deyon says that while the core principles
Dan Wogan product manager.
managed print and solutions
epson.co.uk
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Many businesses tend to underestimate the importance of print security, but for retail and
hospitality, it should be a top priority.
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