Print-related data loss can occur in a variety of ways, including accidental ones like leaving a confidential printout on your desk. But while many print-related data losses are honest mistakes, be aware that there are threat actors looking to do harm to your network.
Reduce your risk of ransomware, malware and stolen data by including all of your organization’s networked endpoints, including your print fleet, as a part of your organization’s security plan.
Your Managed Print Services (MPS) provider can help with strategic guidance on how to set up and maintain a more secure print fleet.
Forward-thinking MPS providers, like Gordon Flesch Company (GFC) have created an internal Security Council to more effectively monitor security bulletins issued by printer manufacturers and send out timely communications to MPS customers.
RELATED ARTICLE: The Expert’s Guide to End-to-End Print Security
In this article, we’ll explain the responsibilities of a Managed Print Services (MPS) provider in educating their customers about print security concerns, define what a Security Council is and discuss why this team is crucial for MPS customers with networked print fleets.
The basic duty of a MPS provider is to manage and optimize your printer fleet. While every MPS customer has choices they can make regarding the details of their printer fleet security, a true partnership will include ongoing print security information and education communicated by the MPS provider. This information may be sent to customers via email, blog articles or other targeted communications.
A Security Council is formed by a carefully selected group of the MPS provider’s employees. A variety of roles are needed to create an effective, cross-functional team. However, having a senior manager sponsor the team is key. This executive sponsor will have access to organizational and industry resources to assist the Security Council with their duties.
Regular meetings are suggested to keep on top of industry notifications and customer feedback. However, the main purposes of a MPS provider’s Security Council is to:
Print security is a conversation that your MPS provider should start when designing a new printer fleet install or upgrade. From set-up to end-of-life, you will have options for keeping your devices secure.
In fact, expert MPS providers, such as GFC, will cover all of the printer security options available to you, including:
Additionally, GFC provides links on the Printer Security page of their website. These include links to the Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures (CVE) list for the manufacturer of your device. This is a list of publicly disclosed computer security flaws. This list is key in assisting IT personnel to prioritize and address known vulnerabilities to make your networked print devices more secure. GFC customers also have the option to sign-up for automatic security bulletin notifications and/or related blog articles for added convenience.
A needs assessment to review your business technology is the perfect place to start the print security conversation with a MPS provider. This assessment will identify any gaps in your current device fleet and offer ideas for improvement.
Include your IT Manager in this discussion as printing devices are basically a computer that is attached to your network. This is a great time to review your organizational security measures and ensure that the settings for your print fleet are aligned with your organizational Attitude Toward Security.
The end of a print device’s life is just as important to keep secure. Talk with your MPS provider to learn more about how they will reset your decommissioned device back to the factory default and will overwrite the hard drive.
In fact, asking for a hard drive overwrite certificate of completion from your MPS provider, is a best practice that we highly recommend!
At Gordon Flesch Company, our goal as your MPS partner is to inform you of valuable information related to print security best practices, potential threats and solutions that will enhance your organization’s overall security.
Our Security Council consists of GFC print professionals and IT security experts from our Managed IT partner, Elevity. We consistently collaborate to develop security incident response plans and stay on top of emerging security risks, for you.
Looking for an overview of why print security is important? You’ve found it! Download your free copy of our Quick Guide to Print Security and you’ll learn all about print security, how it works and what you can expect from implementing a proper endpoint security strategy.
