While warnings about digital security get all the attention, don’t forget about the vulnerability of physical documents.
Picture this typical scenario: You’re in the final stages of preparing a business proposal or contract. You hit Print, then get distracted by a co-worker or the phone.
Ten minutes later, you finally get to the shared printer and either A) pick up your document, or B) see that it’s not there, curse the printer, and go hit Print again.
In the case of A, do you really know what happened to the document in the 10 minutes you left it there? Can you be sure it wasn’t photocopied or at least eyeballed by a disgruntled co-worker who may be bent on sabotaging the company?
And in the case of B, note that you assumed the printer has screwed up again – but did it? Or did the aforementioned co-worker simply walk off with your document?
Inherent trust
Security experts point out that there is an enormous amount of “inherent trust” in printers. Sadly, that makes them hotbeds for hacking and spying. Printer makers and company security departments need to attack these vulnerabilities.
On the physical side, the solution can be as simple as requiring employees to key in a PIN at the printer before their print job rolls. More and more enterprises are taking this approach.
The other side of the coin is that today’s printers (as well as copiers) create copies of files, which creates yet another area of vulnerability. Security experts have long called this a ticking time bomb, as few IT groups have addressed the need for improved security around these devices.
© National Security Institute, Inc.