This topic describes the risks and recommendations for securing
printers and printer output.
Once information starts printing, system security cannot control who sees
it. To minimize the threat of someone seeing sensitive business information,
you should secure printers and printer output. You should also create a policy
that deals with printing confidential business information.
Risks associated with printers and printer output
When you plan security for printers, keep the following risks in mind:
- Printer location. A printer located in a public place might give unauthorized
people access to confidential information.
- Printer output. Printer output left lying on a desk might reveal information.
- Confidential printer output. Employees might be printing out confidential
information such as paychecks or product specifications.
What to do to keep printers and output secure
The following recommendations can help you diminish security risks that
are associated with printers and their output:
- Emphasize to system users the importance of protecting confidential printer
output. Include plans for protecting printers and output in your security
policy.
- Avoid locating printers in public places. Consider placing the printers
in a locked room.
- Schedule the printing of highly confidential output and have an authorized
person stay at the printer while it prints, or require employees to pick up
confidential output within a specific time interval.