As year-end projects pile up and holiday mailers fly, your copier/MFP (multifunction printer) can quietly become the Grinch of your network. These devices often store images of everything they scan/print, keep address books (sometimes with saved passwords), and ship with unchanged default admin credentials—a perfect gift for attackers.
Why Copiers/MFPs Are High-Risk
- Stored pages on internal drives: Many models cache scans/prints on HDD/SSD.
- Default/admin passwords: Web consoles, SNMP, and service ports are frequently left at factory settings.
- Saved credentials: “Scan to email/SMB” can store domain or mailbox passwords.
- Exposed services: Open FTP/Telnet/HTTP or legacy SNMPv1/v2c invite snooping.
- Physical risks: Sensitive output left on trays—easy pickings during busy holiday office traffic.
Your Holiday Hardening Checklist 🎄
1) Lock it down
- Change all admin/default passwords; use a unique, strong passphrase.
- Enable HTTPS/TLS for the web console; disable HTTP.
- Switch SNMP to v3 (auth+priv) and disable v1/v2c.
- Disable unused protocols: FTP, Telnet, LPD, WS-Discovery, Wi-Fi Direct, AirPrint (if not needed).
2) Control who can print/scan
- Enable user authentication (PIN/badge/sso) and secure/pull-print release.
- Use IP allowlists/VLANs so only print servers or approved subnets reach the device.
- Limit “scan to” destinations; remove personal email addresses from the address book.
3) Protect data at rest & in transit
- Turn on disk encryption and secure erase/overwrite after jobs.
- Use authenticated SMTP with TLS for scan-to-email; forbid anonymous relays.
- For scan-to-folder, require SMB over TLS (or SFTP) with least-privilege accounts.
4) Patch & monitor
- Apply the latest firmware/security updates from the manufacturer.
- Send logs to SIEM/syslog; alert on config changes, failed logins, and unusual volumes.
- Set admin email alerts for low toner/service as well—great early indicators of tampering when they suddenly change.
5) Paper trail meets clean desk
- Enable watermarks/headers on sensitive output; use locked trays for special stock.
- Train staff to collect printouts immediately—no piles on the output tray.
Before Service, Resale, or Lease Return 🎁
- Export configs, then factory reset with cryptographic wipe/overwrite of the drive.
- Remove saved address books, credentials, certificates, and keys.
- Prefer physical drive removal/shredding for highly sensitive environments.
- Obtain a certificate of destruction/sanitization—and file it with asset records.
- Repeat the process when the lease is up and a new device arrives (don’t let default passwords sneak back in).
Quick Start Template (5 Minutes)
- Change admin password → enable HTTPS only.
- Set SNMPv3; disable v1/v2c.
- Turn on disk encryption + immediate overwrite.
- Require user auth + secure print release.
- Disable unused protocols; restrict by IP/VLAN.
- Update firmware; enable logging/alerts.
Wrap up the year with a copier that’s on the nice list—locked down, monitored, and sanitized before it ever leaves the building. Need help auditing or hardening your fleet across multiple sites and models? Contact F8 Consulting for a free consultation.