When you think about the biggest cybersecurity threats to your business, your mind probably goes to phishing emails, weak passwords, or outdated software. Those are all real concerns, but there’s one often-overlooked device that could quietly be putting your entire network at risk: the office printer.

These everyday machines may seem harmless enough, but left unsecured, they can act as an easy entry point for cybercriminals.

Why Office Printers Are Easy to Overlook

Many business owners don’t think twice about their printers. They see them as simple tools; devices that sit quietly in the corner, printing documents and scanning forms. But today’s printers are much more than that. With smart features, internal storage, and network connectivity, they function more like computers than traditional machines.

And like computers, they can be vulnerable if they aren’t protected. The problem is that printers often fall outside the scope of normal IT maintenance. They’re not updated regularly, their settings are left wide open, and their default passwords are never changed. These gaps might seem small, but they can give attackers an open door into your systems.

The Real Dangers of an Unsecured Printer

If someone gains access to your printer, they may be able to see everything it handles and much more. That could mean confidential employee paperwork, sensitive contracts, or detailed financial records.

A compromised printer doesn’t just affect the machine itself. It can act as a bridge between your internal documents and your full network. From there, attackers could access servers, endpoints, and even cloud storage if everything is connected and unprotected.

Printers are also connected to print servers, which, if tampered with, can be used to spread malware, stop workflows, or cause data to be rerouted without anyone knowing.

Why Printer Firmware Shouldn’t Be Ignored

One of the most common issues with printer security is outdated firmware. According to findings from HP Wolf Security, fewer than half of businesses consistently apply firmware updates to their printers right away.

Skipping these updates leaves familiar holes open for attackers to exploit. Once a vulnerability is known, hackers don’t need to create new strategies; they just wait for opportunities where businesses haven’t patched the problem.

Keeping firmware current may seem like a small step, but it can make a major difference in stopping threats before they start.

Make Your Printer Part of Your Security Plan

If you haven’t included your office printer in your cybersecurity conversations, now is the time to start. You can take a few simple precautions that will go a long way in limiting your risk.

Start by making sure firmware updates are installed regularly. Many printers allow you to schedule updates or turn on automatic installations to keep this from falling through the cracks.

Take a moment to change default login credentials as well. Default settings are widely known and easy to exploit. Strong, custom passwords help to lock out unauthorized users.

You can also restrict remote access and monitor printer activity. Unusual printing patterns or strange network behavior may be signs of tampering. And as always, bring your IT team into the loop. Office printers should be treated the same as any other connected device when it comes to your overall security strategy.

Don’t Let Your Printer Become a Vulnerability

Printers may feel like a low priority, but they deserve just as much attention as anything else in your network. With the right steps, you can make sure this helpful piece of office equipment does its job without becoming a doorway for threats.

Staying secure starts with awareness. Give your printer the same care you give your laptops, phones, and servers, and you’ll be one step ahead of the next cyberattack.