An article on the Entrepeneur Europe discusses how office printers, networks and Social Media accounts are an easy target for hackers and that some companies might not even know they have had a security breach.
The article penned by Kevin Pickhardt, CEO, Pharos Systems International, discusses how “as CEO of a software solutions company supplying corporations and government agencies alike with on-premises and cloud-based solutions,” he took notice of stories emerging about security risks in printers and their networks.
Pickhardt said that looking into the problem, four research companies told him that 100 percent of his clients with cloud solutions, were facing new security risks in regard to flaws in the Intel processors. Confirming the problem was fixed within 48 hours he iterates that the quick reaction would have been impossible would all of the servers been onsite servers rather than cloud based.
Explaining why protecting your data is so critical, Pickhardt explains: “A data breach can cause you to lose your customers’ trust. According to a study by Gemalto, 66 percent of consumers surveyed said they wouldn’t do business with a company that had had sensitive information exposed due to a data breach. After all, the costs of such a breach can be extraordinary, as the recent Equifax cyberheist demonstrsated.”
He continues: “The other problem is that, just as they are finding unique ways to steal data, hackers are also finding ways to use it against business owners. If your competitors get their hands on your stolen data, or if hackers hold it for ransom, you can lose valuable proprietary information. This was demonstrated by the Sony Pictures attack in 2014 and the more recent WannaCry ransomware virus. So, there is a strong business case for improving every aspect of network security.”
In his article Pickhardt makes the point that these issues are not just for big enterprises, but small and medium-sized business alike.
Outlining three easy steps to monitor and avoid security risks, Pickhardt sees monitoring company social media accounts, securing printers and educating employees as the key elements for every business.
Pickhardt calls printers “the forgotten entry point”, explaining that “office printers are not only potential sources of data loss and confidentiality issues, but attack vectors that hackers can exploit.”
“Modern printers are essentially advanced, specialised network hosts, and as such, they should be given the same level of security attention as traditional computers,” he continues.
His recommendation is to “lock down all network printers by using firewalls, changing their default passwords and disabling any unnecessary protocols. Also, be sure to keep up with firmware updates when manufacturers discover and report security flaws. Check back regularly to ensure that any “hard resets” haven’t reintroduced open ports and default passwords.”
An finally, Pickhardt recommends to educate employees regulary to protect against data breaches. According to Pickhardt, “employees pose both the biggest risk and the best defense.”
“Train all employees about security risks and best practices and empower security staff to make decisions to improve your IT infrastructure. Educating employees about the massive damage a data breach can inflict should convince them to take their role in company-wide security efforts seriously,” Pickhardt concludes.
