Analysts warn fractured approach to document security leads to unnecessary risks.
Research by analysts Quocirca, commissioned and endorsed by Ricoh, calls for firmer document security in businesses, following revelations that over 50 percent of UK businesses do not know who is accessing valuable documents.
22 percent of UK businesses possess no audit trail facilities to trace business critical documents, while 32 percent lose important documents. Awareness appears to be a key issue, with only 40 percent of UK organizations believing multifunction printer (MFP) security certification to be important to address.
Quocirca analysts Louella Fernandes commented: “Our research shows that an organisation’s document efficiency and security can only be as strong as its weakest link. Given the continued importance of document management among businesses, the issue of print security can no longer be overlooked. Print security demands a comprehensive approach, combining education, policy and technology, and businesses should look for a print service provider with strong security credentials to entrust with their business critical information.”
Phil Keoghan, CEO, Ricoh UK, spoke in agreement: “Just as having a relaxed approach to document security can have far-reaching negative impacts for a business, optimising business critical document processes with the right tools and training can result in a wide range of benefits beyond security. With information able to flow more easily around an organisation, businesses will enjoy improved efficiency, flexibility, employee productivity,
and client service – with the peace of mind that their information is secure.”
The shortcomings of printer security has been oft-highlighted, with Dublin University student Daniel O’Connor discovering HP’s JetDirect technology leaving the printer’s control panel access and Symantec, creator of Norton Antivirus, recently releasing information on
viruses spread through emails appearing to be sent through your printer.