01732 759725 40 uses it, and what data moves through it. From there, we build a practical security strategy. We don’t treat encryption, user authentication, and regular firmware updates as optional extras – they are the baseline. We also deploy management platforms that flag unusual activity, such as a sudden spike in print volumes or out-of-hours usage. This allows organisations to move away from reactive fixes and start spotting risks before they escalate. John Green, Managing Director, Commerce Business Systems: So often print is an area people forget about when they’re thinking about security; and that’s why we step in to make sure it’s included. We start by showing customers where the risks actually are, in plain terms. That might be devices that aren’t locked down properly, no user controls, or documents left unattended on output trays. Once customers understand how important it is, the conversation becomes much easier. From there, we put the right measures in place; secure configurations, user authentication, and make sure print is installed properly within their wider IT setup because at the end of the day, it’s a part of the network and it needs treating with the same importance as other devices. Paul Kamlesh, Technical Director, Copybox Document Systems: We take a very practical approach to print security. For a lot of customers, particularly schools and SMEs, we feel it’s really users on best practice, because even the best technology can’t compensate for someone accidentally sending sensitive data to a personal email address or leaving documents exposed. And because threats evolve quickly, we build regular security updates into our onsite visits and remote sessions so customers always know where they stand. The aim is to give them a true managed service that’s backed by real insight. David Lees, Director, ABS: At ABS, we recognise that print environments are often an overlooked entry point within an organisation’s wider cybersecurity posture. As cyber threats continue to evolve, we help customers move beyond assumption and towards a clearer, evidence-based understanding of their print-related risk exposure. Working as part of our contracted managed print and IT service agreements, we conduct structured assessments across print infrastructures to quantify risk in practical, businessrelevant terms. This typically focuses on three key areas: document handling behaviour, device security, and network exposure. The aim is to translate what is often an unseen vulnerability into measurable insight that can be aligned with wider cyber risk frameworks and compliance requirements. From a mitigation perspective, we embed secure print management technologies such as pull-print authentication, encrypted data transmission, device hardening, and automated firmware patching. Increasingly, we also align print environments with broader IT security controls, including identity and access management, endpoint protection, and continuous monitoring through our service desk and security capability. This approach ensures print is not treated as a peripheral function, but as a fully governed endpoint within the customer’s wider security architecture. It is supported, monitored, and continuously improved as part of an ongoing service relationship. Daniel Maddox, Managing Director, Evolve Document Solutions: Most businesses still see the office printer as a peripheral rather than a portal, and they underestimate the risk accordingly. Our starting point is a thorough print audit. This isn’t a sales exercise; it’s a detailed review of every device, who where data is stored, transmitted and potentially exposed. From there, print is aligned into the wider security model. Devices are treated as endpoints, not peripherals. That means hardening firmware, controlling access, encrypting data in transit and at rest, and ensuring activity is monitored alongside the rest of the estate. We have also expanded our capabilities around secure print management, cloud-based control, and integration into broader security frameworks such as SOC visibility. This allows customers to manage print risk with the same level of control as the rest of their infrastructure. Daniel Gilbert, Managing Director, Key Digital: We’re giving our customers more insight with the help of our account management team to explore what’s actually being printed, who’s printing it and whether their current devices are still fit for purpose. A lot of organisations are still running legacy hardware or replacing like‑for‑like, off the shelf, without realising they’re carrying old vulnerabilities forward, so part of our job is to highlight where updated specifications or tighter controls are needed. Access control plays a big role too – strong user authentication, function restrictions and full audit logs make it far easier to spot misuse or unusual behaviour, whether it’s coming from inside the organisation or from an external threat. We also spend time educating endVOX POP …continued continued... Daniel Gilbert John Green
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