With research showing that cybersecurity is a top business priority and area of investment for U.S. companies, it’s clear that many organizations acknowledge the threat that hackers, malicious individuals, and even careless employees pose to their systems and assets. This blog post will discuss several angles from which organizations can improve cybersecurity, including the security of digital documents.
This time next year, which areas do you expect will be most important for your organization to invest in?
Information security in the home more important than ever
As more people work from home, businesses must ensure home-office environments are secure. In addition to providing employees with new devices (e.g., printers, MFPs, scanners, and PCs) that integrate the latest security features, they can (and should) focus on ensuring the strength and impenetrability of VPN networks and providing policies and employee education around safe practices.
Best practices for home-based employees include refraining from clicking on suspicious or unfamiliar links in e-mails, improving their passwords (e.g., 15 character minimum passphrases including uppercase letters, numbers, and symbols), preventing others from using the device, only using vetted devices and applications, continually updating device firmware/software, as well as using separate Wi-Fi networks for work and home activities.
Opportunity to secure cloud-based business processes
Companies are increasingly moving their business processes to the cloud (not just their storage); with this, they are seeking out zero-trust solutions. With a zero-trust security architecture, cloud solutions support the reauthentication and encryption of every connection and interaction (each is assumed malicious), reducing the possibility of a security breach.
Ways to secure print devices
Companies often overlook the security of their print devices, for whatever reason, but the truth is these machines are susceptible to security breaches like other office technology. This is especially the case with the existence of hard drives and Internet connectivity on many new models. The following security features should be explored when purchasing a new printer or MFP:
- User authentication capabilities
- Hard drive protection, including data encryption, data overwrite, and end-of-lease data wiping
- System operating system protection
- System BIOS protection
- Anti-malware protection
- SIEM system integration
Conclusion
It’s clear that cybersecurity, including information and document security, are important to today’s companies—with this a top area of investment. Possible areas to secure include traditional and home-based offices, cloud-based applications, and print devices. For more information on a comprehensive security plan, speak with your office technology partner today.