Our CEO Jim LaRoe joined Louella Fernandes of Quocirca to talk about a risk most enterprises still underestimate: unprotected printer endpoints and adjacent IoT.
5 key topics discussed:
1. Risk, Amplified by AI Enablement
Printers are 20% of the endpoints on most networks; 99% are unprotected. Attackers don’t need to “break in” anymore—they look for the softest place to log in. Add AI-enabled criminals and it’s gasoline on the fire.
2. Complacency, anonymized real-world examples
Printer endpoint security redlined out of a 15,000‑printer deal by GPOs
Info security running PC‑style vuln scans on printers, failing them, then throwing the problem to IT with no guidance
A print fleet audit failing thousands of printers, stalling for a year on “who pays,” and only implementing password management on other protection
An org hacked through a printer that still waited 2 years to act, waiting to tie it to a 5‑year managed print contract
3. What must change
First step: Ownership and budget for printer protection, plus policy and enforcement across supply, IT, and IS. Awareness alone isn’t enough.
4. What Symphion is doing
To help organizations move into action, two new Symphion offerings are available, designed to take complacency head on:
Symphion’s Enterprise Assessment: This 20-point assessment of up to 500 printers includes electronically examining against the 10 riskiest configuration items, plus an interview on the 10 processes that affect print-fleet protection the most. A scored, board‑ready report is provided that leaders can understand and use to get buy‑in and budget. For fleets of 3,000 printers, it’s offered at no charge; others get a nominal fee credited against a full program if purchased within 60 days.
PFCSAAS Lite: A scaled‑down version of our total Print Fleet Cyber Security as a Service™ program focuses on 2 essential cyber hygiene disciplines: evergreen inventory/ITAM and password management. Hourly‑refreshed inventory (including identifying newly added, unsupported and end‑of‑support devices) and a program of fleet‑wide password discipline. Lite isn’t a replacement for the total program, but it’s a lower‑price, high‑visibility quick win.
5. Printer‑adjacent IoT (IP cameras and more)
Also covered: The risk associated with print adjacent IoT risk and Symphion’s total program model for them. With reports citing IP cameras and printers as the #1 and #2 most hacked IoT endpoints, Symphion’s IoT Cyber Security as a Service™ applies the same disciplines—evergreen inventory, configuration management, monitoring and remediation, firmware management, enforcement, and executive reporting—at a per‑device affordable inclusive price.
🎧 Listen to the full conversation: Symphion – Why Complacency is the Biggest Print Security Risk