MFP SECURITY
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printers from ‘potential weak spots’ into well-managed, secure assets that support long-term business resilience.” Trevor says SMBs are looking for ease of use, simple installation and, above all, total peace of mind from their secure print network. “They need to know their print devices are secure in their own right, certified and independently tested,” he says. Resellers should always impress on their customers the importance of securing their print environment as this is a fundamental part of their data, network and ultimately business security, Trevor adds. “Printers and MFPs that are independently recognised and validated for their security technology will enable channel partners to differentiate their offer, add value and ultimately build trust with their customers,” he says. Gary says the key is understanding the client’s individual risk profile and concerns. “This often determines the level of security features a customer will want to implement and invest in,” he explains. “The key is to ensure that salespeople are having the conversation and seeing the value some of the MFP security features and third-party software bring to end users.”
security. “Data privacy and compliance will drive the development of features, while the need for managed security services is expected to rise,” he says. “These trends will shape a dynamic, evolving market focused on advanced threat detection and response.” Rick says he expects cyberattacks against MFPs will become more sophisticated and automated. “Expect to see malware designed specifically for MFPs, as well as more advanced exploitation tools that make attacks faster and easier to execute,” he says. “To stay ahead, manufacturers will need to build stronger defences directly into devices; think anti-malware engines, enhanced encryption and smarter data handling safeguards. In short, the arms race will continue, but with the right measures, businesses can stay one step ahead of the bad actors.” Trevor notes that cybercriminals looking to infiltrate a network via a network connected MFP will always assess the current methods manufacturers employ to defend against these threats and look to employ new ways to bypass these defences. “Kyocera takes security seriously and as such we will continue to develop new and innovative security features including: AI-driven threat detection, improved secure authentication protocol, increased encryption and access control,” he says. Gary says that with technology advancing at the speed it is, security breaches are inevitable. “The key is implementing as much as possible to mitigate the risk,” he adds. “I still believe the greatest risk is companies not taking the risk of the MFP on the network seriously enough. Customers will struggle to keep up with updates and developments in technology, and this is where it becomes important that specialists continue to do some of the heavy lifting for clients, providing an opportunity to add significant value to the customer.” n
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To stay ahead, manufacturers
will need to build stronger defences directly into devices; think anti-malware engines, enhanced encryption and smarter data handling safeguards.
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Future threats The threats from cybercriminals will not be going away, so resellers will have to remain agile to the changing nature of attacks. Ian says that growing awareness of potential risks due to AI and quantum computing will boost demand for cloud- based solutions with enhanced endpoint
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