HP IT took all blog sites down for maintenance over the Thanksgiving holiday period--I appreciate your checking back in! One item that came to mind during this time was around printer security (maybe spurred by all the TV-talk on national security). While most people seem aware of security issues around their PC or personal identity theft, you might not naturally think of printer security at work. Andy Slawetsky from Industry Analysts, Inc. lays out some of the risks in his article, “Does Your Printer Pose a Security Risk.”While some of our competitors had some security problems with their multifunction printers, for quite some time, it’s hard to say that all printing solutions are totally safe. HP has worked on Imaging and Printing (I&P) security, particularly with Government, Healthcare and Financial Services organizations to answer common security questions. Much of this has been driven by Sarbanes-Oxley stipulations. However, you might have similar questions for your enterprise, such as:
- How secure is my I&P device?
- How do I secure information on my I&P devices?
- How do I ensure only authorized use of my I&P assets?
- How do I protect the integrity of my entire network, including I&P?
- How do I comply with audit and privacy regulations?
- How do I maintain and monitor the security of our I&P system?
Fortunately, the solution methodology we’ve created to answer these questions applies to most organizations that pass confidential information through their document workflow. To effectively secure your I&P system, your organization should consider:
- Securing your I&P Device(s)—this includes using MFP disk erase; user access controls; secure printing and encryption.
- Protecting Information on the Network—using secure network printing protocols; preventing fax bridging; securing the scan path and using HP Jetdirect print servers. For instance, the HP Jetdirect 635n EIO Print Server is the only one approved by the Department of Defense for the more secure IPv6 and IPsec standards.
- Effectively Monitoring and Managing I&P devices—using report generation, usage controls (ie. color), and alerts that are integrated and easy to use.
Following this framework should go a long way in securing the I&P process for your enterprise. If your I&P system and network is complex, you might want to consultatively determine how best to implement the broad range of security solutions available. More information on this process is available on the HP Secure imaging and printing website.
There are also a number of printer security solutions available from 3rd-party vendors. These take the form of:
- Workflow and document security—encryption, authentication and tracking
- Secure and Remote Printing—controlling printing output with decryption and controlled release
- Push and Pull Printing—secure access to office printers over the internet
You can gain information on these specific solutions by visiting the HP IPG Global Solutions Catalog (GSC). The GSC also provides contact information, so you can purchase any solutions you’re interested in directly from the manufacturer. While it’s difficult to make all information systems completely secure--as people always need some form of access that may be breached—you can proactively make I&P processes for your enterprise much safer.
Posted
12-01-2006 11:03 AM
by
Anonymous