Episode 341 The Hidden Cyber Threats in Printers and IoT Devices

Summary

Printers aren’t harmless office tools—they’re one of the most overlooked cybersecurity threats in your network. Dr. Darren welcomes IoT security expert Jim LaRoe to expose how these “benign” devices quietly hold admin credentials, store sensitive data, and open doors to attackers. What seems mundane

Why Your “Harmless” Printer Is a Cybersecurity Threat

Printers are quietly becoming one of the most dangerous cybersecurity risks in modern enterprises. What looks like a simple office device is actually a powerful IoT endpoint—often unmanaged, unmonitored, and wide open to attack.

Dr. Darren sits down with cybersecurity expert Jim LaRoe to unpack a surprising reality: printers aren’t just peripherals—they’re full-fledged network systems. For technologists and business leaders, understanding this blind spot could mean the difference between resilience and a costly breach.

The Overlooked Reality of Printer Security

Printers Are Not Passive Devices

Most organizations still treat printers like basic hardware, but they function more like servers. They store data, run services, and communicate across networks.

A modern printer often includes a web server, email server, FTP services, and a hard drive. Yet despite this complexity, they are rarely governed by the same security standards as other endpoints.

This disconnect creates a dangerous gap. While laptops and servers are tightly controlled, printers remain exposed—often sitting in public or semi-public spaces.

Key Takeaways

  • Printers can represent 20% of enterprise endpoints

  • Many operate with default configurations and weak security controls

  • They are often excluded from endpoint security strategies

A 360-Degree Attack Surface

How Printers Become Entry Points for Cyber Attacks

Unlike traditional endpoints, printers present a multi-directional attack surface. Threats can come from external networks, internal users, or even physical access.

Attackers can exploit open ports, outdated firmware, or unsecured USB access. Once compromised, a printer can act as a pivot point to infiltrate the broader network.

Even more concerning, printers frequently store administrator-level credentials to communicate with other systems. This makes them a goldmine for attackers seeking lateral movement.

Key Risks

  • Credential harvesting from stored admin access

  • Man-in-the-middle attacks via printer communication paths

  • Data theft from stored or processed documents

  • Unauthorized remote control of network-connected devices

The Cultural Problem Behind the Security Gap

Why Organizations Ignore Printer Risks

The issue isn’t just technical—it’s organizational. Printers are typically procured and managed outside of IT or security teams.

They fall into operational silos like procurement or facilities, where the focus is on uptime and cost—not cybersecurity. This leads to a “set it and forget it” mindset that persists across industries.

Additionally, legacy practices—like resetting devices to factory defaults during maintenance—undo any security hardening that may have been applied.

What Needs to Change

  • Assign clear ownership of printer security risk

  • Allocate budget and accountability for management

  • Enforce standards and auditing practices

Securing Printer and IoT Environments at Scale

From Blind Spot to Strategic Control Point

Addressing printer security requires a shift from reactive fixes to proactive management. Organizations must treat printers as critical infrastructure within their cybersecurity strategy.

This includes inventory management, password enforcement, certificate lifecycle management, and continuous monitoring. Automation plays a key role in managing diverse fleets across manufacturers and device types.

A scalable approach reduces operational burden while improving security posture—turning a long-ignored vulnerability into a controlled asset.

Practical Steps

  • Conduct a full inventory of all printer endpoints

  • Replace default credentials and enforce password policies

  • Implement certificate-based authentication

  • Continuously monitor and update firmware

  • Integrate printers into zero-trust architecture

Take the Next Step Toward Securing Your Environment

If printers and IoT devices aren’t part of your cybersecurity strategy, you’re leaving a critical gap wide open. Start by assessing your current environment, identifying unmanaged endpoints, and bringing them under governance. For a deeper dive into real-world risks and solutions, explore the full conversation and begin strengthening your organization’s security posture today.