After the close call with the phishing email (see last week's blog to learn about Phishing emails), our fictional owner, Lisa at Velcor Consulting, knew cybersecurity had to go deeper than just protecting people.
It was time to examine the devices they used every day, and that's when the next hidden threat surfaced: Their office printer.
It sounds almost ridiculous that something as harmless as a printer could be a serious cybersecurity risk.
Lisa was also surprised until she learned what was happening behind the scenes.
How Printers Open the Door to Cyberattacks
- Printers Store Sensitive Data
Every time you print, scan, or copy a document, the printer can save a digital copy.
Payroll records, tax documents, and client financials quietly sit inside the machine. - Default Passwords Make It Easy
Many printers still have factory default logins like "admin/admin."
If they aren’t changed, anyone could easily get in. - Unsecured Printers Are an Open Gateway
Printers are connected to your network.
If a hacker breaks into a printer, they can often move straight into your main business systems. - Intercepted Print Jobs
Without proper settings, someone outside your company could actually intercept sensitive documents before they ever reach your printer. - Forgotten Firmware Updates
Printers need security updates, too.
Many businesses never check, leaving old vulnerabilities wide open for attack.
What Velcor Consulting Discovered
When Lisa’s cybersecurity review looked beyond just computers, the team found:
- The main office printer still had the default password.
- It hadn’t been updated in over two years.
- It was storing hundreds of old, sensitive client documents.
Velcor quickly took action:
- Changing passwords.
- Turning on encryption for print jobs.
- Updating printer software.
- Monitoring printer activity, like any other important device.
Lisa realized: true cybersecurity means closing every door, even the ones you forgot were open.
Why Secure Printer Setup Takes More Than Plugging It In
Setting up a printer safely isn’t just a quick "plug it in and go" job.
It takes real expertise to make sure a new device doesn’t accidentally create a big security hole.
At 10D Tech, we handle printers with the same care as servers, laptops, and firewalls.
That means:
- Keeping printers separate from sensitive systems on the network.
- Change default passwords and use strong protections.
- Updating printer software to fix known weaknesses.
- Watching printer activity for anything unusual could signal a problem.
- Turning off risky features that aren’t needed.
Most office managers and even many IT generalists skip these steps without realizing how much they matter.
Lisa didn’t bring in outside help because she didn’t know the printers needed attention.
She brought in help because she knew protecting her clients and business was too important to leave to chance.
Don’t Let Overlooked Devices Put Your Business at Risk
If your computers are protected but your printers, routers, and office equipment are ignored, your cybersecurity plan isn’t complete — it’s exposed.
Hackers look for the easy way in; forgotten devices are often the front door.
Our free 15-minute Security Assessment checks more than just your software; it examines your entire environment to find and fix hidden risks before they become costly problems.
👉 Schedule your FREE Security Assessment. 15-Minute Discovery Call | 10D Tech ( https://www.10dtech.com/discoverycall/ )
Because protecting your business means protecting everything that touches your network, not just the obvious stuff.
