Our open digital economy allows us to be more connected than ever, with hybrid work transforming businesses of all sizes. While this brings new opportunities for productivity and employee satisfaction, it also brings new levels of risk from unsecured networks and endpoint devices – leaving businesses more vulnerable to new kinds of attacks. A lack of endpoint security can result in significant disruption to any organization – affecting productivity, reputation, and the bottom line.

PCs and Printers are vulnerable endpoints – especially for small businesses

PCs and Printers are vulnerable endpoints that have unwittingly become easy gateways for cyber-criminals to get into business networks. More companies than ever are reporting that they experienced endpoint attacks that successfully compromised data and/or IT infrastructure. The Ponemon Institute initiated a research study of 671 IT security professionals who were responsible for managing their organization’s endpoint security risk, and 68% reported such incidents.(1) And if you think cybercriminals are only going after big business, think again. The Better Business Bureau recently reported that 88% of cyberattacks are targeted at small business.(2) Every business of every size needs to take action.

Technology plays they key role in a defensive security strategy, and protecting the endpoint should be the primary defensive tactic

In March 2023, HP commissioned Forrester Consulting(3) to evaluate approaches in managing endpoint devices in distributed locations. Ensuring effective oversight of laptops and other endpoint devices (printers, IoT devices) can be difficult in a hybrid work environment, particularly when faced with situations such as missing/lost devices or employee churn. Forrester conducted an online survey of 312 IT professionals and security decision-makers at companies with more than 500 employees to investigate and evaluate the impact of endpoint asset management and data security processes, and how it affects employee experience (EX), operational efficiency, and risk management.

Forrester’s research found that the increased remote/hybrid work models require significant improvements in endpoint strategies. IT must balance both productivity and security in distributed work environments, and employees working in remote locations presents new risks and complexity for IT – particularly in the area of data security. In fact, 50% of IT decision makers reported that their organization’s endpoint security solutions are inadequate, and that they struggle to protect remote and distributed devices, while 67% believe that secure communication among endpoints is a primary concern. More remote devices connecting through unsecured networks significantly increases vulnerability to cyberthreats.

Forrester’s study also revealed that most organizations view foundational security as non-negotiable. A significant 77% of respondents prioritized built-in robust security features when evaluating new computer acquisitions.

PCs built with security in mind

HP business PCs are built with that security in mind. They are designed to detect and recover from attacks wherever workers are located, keep IT departments alerted to changes, and limit the spread of breaches. If an attack gets in, your workers and your network are protected, without loss of productivity.

“Statistically speaking, employees are often the weakest link. But they’re not necessarily at fault. Employees need to be equipped with the right technology. They need built-in security on their systems to help them navigate this never ending, vast space of potential breaches and attack vectors.” – Michael Calce, aka “MafiaBoy”, Chairman of HP’s Security Advisory Board

HP PCs with HP Wolf Security provide comprehensive protection. They utilize a multi-layered defense system that secures the PCs from the ground up, beginning at the BIOS. Firmware security, particularly in the BIOS, can be vulnerable to malware and exploited by hackers. Self-healing BIOS protection can detect threats and automatically recover the BIOS from attacks or corruption, without intervention from IT.

HP Wolf Security for Business includes a portfolio of security solutions that are built into the business PC hardware such as:

• HP Sure Click ensures files, applications and web pages are opened inside micro VM containers, trapping malware so endpoints and data stay secure.
• HP Sure Start is the world’s first self-healing BIOS, automatically recovering from firmware attacks or corruption by restarting with a safe copy of the BIOS.
• HP Sure Run keeps critical security processes up and running, even if malware tries to shut them down.
• HP Sure View shields sensitive information from prying eyes with just the touch of a button.
• With HP Sure Recover, users can automatically restore their OS using only a network connection, with no IT required.
• HP Sure Admin creates a digital signature that allows IT administrators to securely manage BIOS settings over the network.
• HP Endpoint Security Controller enables users to recover their PCs from attacks with an isolated chip that acts as a control center for monitoring vulnerabilities.

Is your printer the new Trojan Horse?

Although IT departments are more likely to apply security measures to individual computers and the network, printing and imaging devices are often overlooked, leaving them unsecured and at risk for a cyber-attack.

Firewalls are not enough. Deploying printers behind a firewall is a good security practice but it doesn’t eliminate risks entirely. Most risks are accidental, employee negligence, or a business process failure.(5) Hardening your printers inside the firewall can help avoid internal threats, whether unintended or malicious.

External threats on networked printers are real. In a security landscape report from research firm Quocirca, more than two-thirds of respondents reported suffering print-data losses due to printer vulnerabilities.(6)

Critical gaps can occur at multiple points within a print environment including the following:

• Unauthorized access to printed documents – A data breach can happen when someone accesses confidential documents on a printer that belong to someone else.
• Malware risks – Imitation cartridges can be reprogrammed and introduce malware into a network.
• Print job re-routing – With some minor configuration changes, cybercriminals can redirect print jobs to their own printers.
• Data manipulation – When a printer is compromised, attackers can replace or insert content into print jobs.
• Data disclosure – Print data can be disclosed if an attacker has access to the printer’s memory or file system, or physically from hard drives of decommissioned printers.
• Wireless printing risks – Attackers can get into printers with wi-fi capabilities, connect to an unauthorized network and execute malicious code.

Leaving printing and imaging devices unsecured is risky. If confidential information is jeopardized, the impacts can be serious – including identity theft, compromised competitive information, hits to a company’s reputation, litigation, and even heavy fines in the case of regulatory noncompliance.

The best place to start is with printers that have security built-in.

HP Managed and Enterprise LaserJet and Multifunction printers are always on guard, continually detecting and stopping threats while adapting to new ones. With HP business printers, you can automate device, data, and document protections with a broad portfolio of solutions and services. Print security experts can help you develop and deploy an end-to-end printing and imaging security strategy—based on the most comprehensive printer security that’s rooted in Zero Trust principles. HP delivers layered security defenses that start at the hardware level and extend across software and services, providing extensive print security from start-up protection to ongoing detection.

HP Wolf Security for Business includes a portfolio of security solutions that are built into the business print hardware such as:

• HP Sure Start – If any version of the BIOS is detected as compromised during power-up, HP Sure Start will restart the printer with a safe “golden copy” of the BIOS.
• Whitelisting –Common Criteria Certified, HP Whitelisting ensures the firmware is digitally signed by HP. Any evidence of tampering or altering triggers the printer to reboot to a secure state.
• Run-time Intrusion Detection – functions during the riskiest time – and that’s when the printer is on and connected to the network. Suspicious activity results in a memory-cleaning reboot.
• HP Connection Inspector – inspects the printer’s outbound data for packets often accessed and used by hackers. Any unusual data request will trigger a self-healing reboot.
• Secure Cartridges – Only HP Original office cartridges have built-in security including tamper-resistant chips, firmware and packaging.

Avinext is your best endpoint security solutions partner

Defending your endpoints is critical to your overall security strategy, but it doesn’t have to be disruptive for your workers, or for your IT department.

Avinext takes the time to understand your business and your security needs. For over 35 years, we’ve been in the IT and computer consulting business assisting small- to medium-sized businesses with support, data management, and information security strategies. We recommend solutions that are right for your company and your budget.

When you pair HP devices with Wolf Security built-in and Avinext services and expertise, your business can get more done, with the peace of mind knowing it’s secure.

Get the Infographic.

Don’t let your endpoints become your breach points. Contact us today.

_{(1) Ponemon Institute, The Third Annual Study on the State of Endpoint Security Risk, Jan 2020
(2) Better Business Bureau, BBB Business Tip: The top 5 cybersecurity practices every small business needs to do now, Jan 26, 2023.
(3) Forrester Research, Mastering Endpoint Security In A Hybrid World, Sept. 2023
(4) Small Business Cybersecurity Statistics you should know. Feb 7, 2023
(5) Ponemon Institute, “2015 Global Cost of a Data Breach Study,” October 2015.
(6) Quocirca – Print security landscape, November 2021}