Cyber security is firmly established as a board-level concern. Yet one critical risk area is still frequently underestimated: print security.
Printers and multifunction devices are often treated as operational tools rather than connected endpoints. In reality, they sit at the intersection of people, data and networks, processing sensitive information daily and connecting directly to corporate IT environments. As regulatory pressure increases and attacks grow more sophisticated, print security needs executive ownership and board oversight, not just IT management.
The Hidden Risk in Plain Sight
Modern print environments are complex: devices are network-connected, often cloud-enabled, and embedded in workflows across finance, HR, legal, healthcare and customer operations. If not properly secured, each device becomes a potential entry point for cyber threats.
Unsecured printers can lead to data leakage via unattended output, unauthorised access to stored files, or interception of data in transit. They can also be used as a gateway into broader networks, bypassing perimeter controls focused on servers, endpoints and applications.
Despite this, print infrastructure is often excluded from cyber risk assessments and security investment decisions, creating a board-level blind spot in the organisation’s risk profile.
Regulatory and Compliance Implications
Across Australia and globally, privacy laws, industry regulations and cyber resilience expectations are increasing accountability for protecting personal and sensitive information across its lifecycle.
Breaches linked to print workflows can trigger investigations, fines, mandatory disclosures and reputational damage. Regulators and insurers are also scrutinising governance practices, and boards are expected to show active oversight of cyber risk management, including non-traditional IT assets like printers.
Print security failures are no longer seen as technical oversights; they are treated as governance failures.
Why Print Security Belongs on the Board Agenda
There are three reasons print security belongs in the boardroom.
First, impact: a print-related breach can expose sensitive data, disrupt operations and damage customer trust. These are strategic risks, not operational inconveniences.
Second, interconnected risk: printers sit within ecosystems spanning cloud services, identity and workflow automation. Weak controls here can undermine security investments elsewhere.
Third, accountability: boards are increasingly responsible for ensuring appropriate controls, policies and assurance mechanisms exist across all cyber risk domains.
Treating print security as a board priority reinforces security by design and aligns print controls with enterprise risk management.
Key Questions Boards Should Be Asking
Boards don’t need to be technical experts, but they should ask the right questions:
- Do we have visibility over our entire print environment, including devices, locations and data flows?
- Are printers included in cyber risk assessments, penetration testing and incident response planning?
- How are access controls managed where sensitive documents are printed or stored?
- Are we meeting regulatory and contractual obligations for data handling across print workflows?
- What assurance do we have that third-party managed print providers meet our security standards?
Clear answers help bridge the gap between technology risk and governance responsibility.
Building a Secure Print Strategy
An effective print security approach combines people, process and technology.
Key controls include device authentication, secure print release, encryption (at rest and in transit), continuous monitoring and timely patching.
Organisations should also embed print security into policies, audits and risk reporting, including cyber maturity assessments, compliance reviews and business continuity planning.
Ownership should be clear across IT, security, procurement and executive leadership, with reporting lines reaching the board or a delegated risk committee.
A Strategic Opportunity, Not Just Risk Mitigation
Done well, print security supports broader objectives: secure document workflows improve efficiency, reduce waste and strengthen customer trust. It also enables safer adoption of cloud platforms, automation and hybrid working.
Boards that take this strategic view can better balance innovation with risk while demonstrating strong governance to regulators, customers and shareholders.
The Bottom Line
Print security is no longer a niche technical issue. It is a governance concern with clear financial, legal and reputational implications.
As threats evolve and accountability increases, boards must scrutinise print infrastructure like any other critical system. Elevating print security to a board-level priority is not only prudent risk management. It is essential to building resilient, trustworthy and compliant organisations.
bizhub MFPs come with multiple security features built in. With bizhub SECURE Services, your devices are installed and configured with the appropriate security measures in place guarding your bizhub with the right level of security. The optional anti-virus engine of Bitdefender adds a further layer of security by scanning all files transmitted through the MFPs without disrupting your daily workflows. Together, these capabilities help organisations strengthen control over sensitive information, reduce the risk of data breaches, and maintain compliance with evolving regulatory requirements – supporting a secure, seamless and resilient print environment.
