Quocirca Print 2025 Spotlight Report highlights the challenges of print security and compliance in the IoT era
A growing threat environment and stricter privacy regulations drive tighter focus on print security but fewer than half of enterprises are currently protecting Personal Identifiable Information specifically relating to printing-based processes
22nd May 2018: Analyst Group Quocirca today released its latest Print 2025 Spotlight Report, examining the trends, challenges and opportunities surrounding print security in the Internet of Things (IoT) era. It examines how the evolving cyber threat environment, where networked MFPs are vulnerable endpoints in a growing attack surface, plus compliance with the General Data Privacy Regulation (GDPR) are exerting pressure on enterprises to protect their print infrastructure from cyberattack and physical compromise.
With 64% of organisations expecting to remain reliant on printing in the workplace, the inherent risks of poor print security cannot be ignored. Not only can printed documents fall into unauthorised hands without the correct controls, but today’s advanced MFPs are increasingly a target for external hackers using them as a foothold to access corporate networks. In today’s growing age of compliance, with GDPR forcing organisations to tackle data privacy issues, they cannot afford to be complacent. Yet fewer than half of those surveyed are currently protecting personally identifiable information (PII) specifically relating to the printing environment.
Research Director Louella Fernandes comments: “Networked MFPs are critical endpoints in today’s ever-expanding threat landscape. From malicious external cyberattack to sensitive documents being left on a shared device, networked MFPs have a variety of vulnerabilities. Securing them and the processes in which they’re involved is a multi-layered exercise that must be a critical element in any organisation’s compliance programme. It’s therefore surprising that we didn’t find more enterprises protecting data in the print environment.
“There is a tendency to focus on data privacy as if it’s predominantly a digital issue, but there’s a risk that, by focusing on the digital threat organisations overlook the more mundane, but no less potentially damaging risk from poor control of print-reliant processes and working culture.”
Quocirca’s Print 2025 Print Security Spotlight report examines the ways print vendors need to develop their offerings to meet the growing security demands of customers. 46% of businesses see the need for security to be built-in to devices by 2025 and the same percentage want to see vendors apply machine learning to printers and MFPs to enable them to identify and recover from security breaches. Customers will also seek out specialist expertise to oversee print security as part of a continuing shift towards managed services. This will require both print vendors and current managed service providers to develop greater proficiency and pursue innovation in all aspects of print security in a race to maintain as large a share of print budgets as possible.
Louella Fernandes concludes: “As the IoT era evolves and the impact of data privacy regulation is felt, we’ll see increasing focus on securing data on endpoints such as MFPs. The successful vendors will be those who can demonstrate that security expertise is at the heart of their provision and who actively help organisations limit risk and demonstrate compliance.”
Quocirca’s Print 2025 Print Security Spotlight report offers strategic recommendations for enterprises and print manufacturers that will enable them to thrive in the era of GDPR and the Internet of Things.
Find out more about the research findings
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About Global Print 2025
Global Print 2025 is a global market insight study delivered by leading analyst firm Quocirca, led by Research Director and industry expert Louella Fernandes. Quocirca produces independent research and thought leadership on a broad spectrum of IT trends. Through primary research across Europe, the US and Asia Pacific Quocirca delivers strategic insight to technology vendors across the globe.
Research Director Louella Fernandes is globally recognised as a leading authority on market trends in the print, imaging and managed services industry. With 25 years’ experience in the sector, she provides an unparalleled insight into the evolution of print in the digital age and is a highly respected authority on digital disruption in the print industry.
A valued source of market intelligence and strategic insight for print manufacturers, channel partners and ISVs, Louella’s expertise is widely sought on issues concerning the future of the print hardware, software and managed services sector.
Global Print 2025 brings together international primary research, in-depth analysis and market-leading sector expertise to deliver the definitive insight into the global future of print in the digital workplace.
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