Outage Risk/Business Interruption
Perhaps, the most underestimated aspect of effective print fleet cyber security is the high risk of outage and business interruption from businesses using random automatic printer update settings or untrained operators of printer-OEM device management software to attempt to harden their printers. Lack of testing of security controls and firmware before implementing, lack of change control caused outages and business interruption and inability to identify or match periods of non-usage. The more printers that comprise the print fleet, the more the risk of outages and interruptions.
Fact: This is the primary reason that printers in print fleets have not been hardened and updated, historically.
The Stakes are Highest: Healthcare
The following is an illustrative list of how printer outages caused by lack of or inadequate testing can cascade across various departments, disrupting workflows, delaying patient care, and endangering patient safety. The following departments, each critical to the delivery of patient care, if interrupted:
- Admissions/Registration Department
Impact: Delays in patient check-ins due to the inability to print registration forms, patient wristbands, or consent documents.
Consequence: Slower patient flow, reduced patient satisfaction, and increased workload for staff managing manual processes. - Nursing Units
Impact: Inability to print critical patient information summaries, medication administration records (MARs), or wristbands.
Consequence: Miscommunication during handoffs, delays in medication administration, and increased risk of patient misidentification. - Pharmacy
Impact: Printer outages prevent the creation of medication labels and prescription documents.
Consequence: Increased medication errors, slower dispensing, and potential delays in treatment. - Laboratory
Impact: Failure to print lab orders and specimen labels.
Consequence: Increased risk of specimen mislabeling or rejection, leading to delays in diagnostics and repeat sample collection. - Imaging/Radiology
Impact: Inability to print diagnostic orders or patient instructions.
Consequence: Delays in performing imaging tests and disruptions in patient workflow. - Patient Discharge
Impact: Failure to print discharge summaries, follow-up care instructions, or prescriptions.
Consequence: Prolonged discharge processes and compromised patient understanding of post-discharge care plans. - Information Technology (IT)
Impact: IT resources are diverted to troubleshooting printer issues and managing fragmented OEM software.
Consequence: Slower response times for other critical IT functions and higher operational costs due to inefficient management. - Billing and Financial Services
Impact: Disruption in printing billing forms or financial statements.
Consequence: Delays in billing, insurance claims processing, and revenue collection. - Emergency Department
Impact: Inability to print wristbands, orders, or patient summaries in high-pressure situations.
Consequence: Increased risk of misidentification and treatment delays in critical situations. - Operating Rooms (ORs)
Impact: Failure to print pre-op checklists, surgical schedules, or patient consent forms.
Consequence: Delays in surgical procedures and potential safety risks. - Administrative Departments
Impact: Disruptions in printing compliance reports, internal communications, and operational documents.
Consequence: Reduced administrative efficiency and increased operational risks. - Outpatient Clinics
Impact: Inability to print prescriptions, visit summaries, or diagnostic orders.
Consequence: Frustration for patients and delays in outpatient workflows.
Symphion’s Print Fleet Cyber Security as a Service™ includes directed planning, proven processes to minimize outage/interruption risk such as extensive testing and change control and intelligence to identify periods of quiet, for every printer in your fleet.
