The Simply Smarter Blog

I still remember the days when moving desks felt like moving cities.

Anytime I got moved to a different area of the office, I already knew what was coming. I’d sit down, log in, try to print something… and nothing would happen. The printer would be right there, but my computer didn’t speak its language yet. Cue the call to IT.

They’d swing by (eventually), install the right printer driver, tweak a setting or two, and suddenly everything worked again. That is, until the next time I moved.

Back then, that was just “how printing worked.” Annoying, but normal.

Fast forward to today, and it’s pretty wild that printing ever worked that way, especially when everything else has evolved so much. And that’s exactly why Microsoft is changing how printing works in Windows. Quietly, but significantly.

To better understand how people think about printer security, we surveyed our social media audience and collected some interesting feedback. More than 40% of those who took the survey admitted they could use extra guidance, which shows there's still work to do as threats evolve and new features roll out. This curiosity sets the stage for how security expectations are shifting and how organizations can stay ahead. Let's look at the results of the survey.

When summer hits and the office quiets down, many companies focus on lighter schedules, half-days and long-overdue vacations. But while employees unplug, cyber threats don’t take time off — especially when it comes to commonly overlooked devices like printers.

Printers may not seem like high-risk endpoints, but today’s cloud-connected models store data, receive remote jobs, and act as access points into broader systems. According to global leader in enterprise mobility and IoT management SOTI, the average cost of a data breach now exceeds $950,000, and containment takes nearly 277 days on average—regardless of the source. These breaches can expose highly sensitive information, including Personally Identifiable Information (PII), patient health records, payment data and internal business documentation.

As the breakroom empties and workstations go dark, now’s a good time to ensure your office printers aren’t silently opening the door to risk.

Cybercriminals are more dangerous than ever, with ransomware attacks up 49% in 2025. Small and midsize businesses face growing risks from unsecured endpoints like laptops, printers, and IoT devices. The best defense is a multi-layered cybersecurity strategy with email protection, EDR, server monitoring, MFA, and employee training. Learn how to simplify security, protect your data, and close gaps with expert support and our free cybersecurity checklist.

In today’s digital-first world, securing sensitive information is more than a best practice—it’s a business imperative. As cyber threats evolve and consumer awareness around data protection grows, global security certifications like Common Criteria (CC) have become essential. But what exactly does Common Criteria certification mean, and why should it matter to your organization? Let’s break it down.

Copiers and printers have become increasingly crucial technology in small to medium-sized business (SMB) environments, managing everything from invoices and contracts to sensitive client data. The “State of SMB Cybersecurity in 2024” by ConnectWise revealed that 94% of SMBs have experienced at least one cyberattack, with a growing number of incidents traced back to overlooked endpoints—printers included. This data point is just one of many printer security statistics that show why securing printers should be a top priority in 2025.

Multifunction printers (MFPs) play a fundamental role in offices worldwide. However, it is critical to recognize that these devices can pose significant security risks if not correctly protected. With cybercriminals and malicious hackers constantly seeking vulnerabilities to exploit, it is necessary to understand the conventional attack methods they employ and implement robust security measures to mitigate these risks. Below, we address a few common printer vulnerabilities and best practices to identify and avoid them.

In the rush to ensure laptops, servers and mobile devices are installed with top level security measures, printers rarely make the cybersecurity highlight reel. After all, they’re just there to spit out paper, right? Think again. In today’s digital age, printers are more like tiny data vaults on your network, and if left unprotected, they can quickly become a hacker’s dream come true. Although SMBs should be on high alert, don’t worry—it’s not all doom and gloom. Protecting your printers can be straightforward if you know where to start. Here are five essential steps to protect your business from unexpected printer vulnerabilities.

Roughly six in ten U.S. organizations (approximately 61%) have experienced data loss due to unsecure printing. Modern multi-functional printers (MFPs) offer a wide array of advanced productivity features to keep employees engaged and connect them to various business applications. Given their strategic importance in today’s workplace, how can we ensure MFPs have proper security measures in place so that they avoid becoming weak points that open doors to bad actors? Following are some steps Sharp has taken to address this.

Often overlooked as a gateway into your network, your copier is the most unsuspecting way cybercriminals gain access to your company information. Printer security is often lower on the security agenda than say email or cloud platforms. Which is why with the recent launch of our new BP line of copiers, we decided to layer on the ultimate cybersecurity tools to keep customers one step ahead.

Sharp and Bitdefender recently entered a new partnership, one that strengthens cybersecurity threat prevention in our new range of business MFPs at a time when cybercriminals are increasingly targeting endpoint devices – including printers – to plant malware, steal intellectual property, and launch espionage campaigns. 

Bitdefender is a recognized industry leader in threat prevention, detection and response, with its antimalware detection technology consistently achieving top performance results in independent, third-party tests.

Sharp sat down with George Yunaev, Senior Software Developer at Bitdefender to discuss the partnership and why it is so important to protect all endpoints of any network – regardless of business size.

You’ve heard countless messages about the importance of data security.  In recent years, bad actors have stepped up their activity and are using more sophisticated techniques to take advantage of distributed and remote work environments. In today’s widespread threat landscape, a well-balanced, multi-layered security strategy is needed to help ensure your copiers and printers keep your information safe from malicious intruders. Read on to learn about some features that can keep your copier on lockdown.

Cybersecurity awareness is essential year-round. Data breaches continue to have a significant financial impact on organizations worldwide, highlighting the importance of strong cybersecurity.

If your organization isn’t taking security seriously, it’s only a matter of time before you become a target. Every device on your network and every person with access to those devices is a potential attack vector — and yes, that includes copiers and multifunction printers (MFPs).

Just picture this— you’re a new employee diligently working, and out of the blue, your CEO e-mails you, asking for 10 Amazon gift cards. She says it’s for an important project she’s working on and she needs the gift cards ASAP! The pressure is on and you take a break from your hectic to-do list, and begin ordering the gift cards, until you realize… the person emailing is not your boss after all, but rather, a sneaky cybercriminal. And just like that, you are the newest victim of a phishing scam. How mortifying, right? Well luckily, there are steps that can be taken in order to avoid such embarrassing catastrophes.