Here’s a question worth considering: when your security team last performed a full audit of your network endpoints, did they include the printers?
If the honest answer is “probably not,” you are far from alone. Printers have historically been treated as peripheral devices, something IT installs and then forgets about. But that mindset has become increasingly risky. Modern network printers are essentially computers. They store documents, process credentials, operate inside trusted network environments, and connect directly to the internet. Unlike laptops and servers, however, they are often left unpatched for months or even years.
Cybercriminals know this. HP Secure Print is HP’s solution to the growing printer security threat, and SmartPrint helps Canadian organizations deploy and manage it effectively.
The Print Security Risks Most Businesses Overlook
The security risks surrounding printers are more serious than many IT teams realize:
Documents Left on Output Trays
Unclaimed print jobs remain one of the most common causes of workplace data exposure. Sensitive HR files, financial statements, legal contracts, or patient records can easily be viewed or taken by anyone walking past the printer.
Unencrypted Print Traffic
Without encryption, print jobs traveling across the network can potentially be intercepted. For organizations handling regulated information, including healthcare, legal, and financial institutions, this creates major compliance concerns.
Outdated Printer Firmware
Printers running outdated firmware are well-known attack vectors. Once compromised, a printer can be used to capture documents, harvest credentials, or provide attackers with lateral movement across the network.
Data Stored on Multifunction Printer Hard Drives
Multifunction printers (MFPs) store scanned files, print history, and fax data on internal hard drives. Without proper management and secure disposal practices, sensitive information can remain accessible long after a device is retired.
Documents left unattended, unsecured print traffic, outdated firmware, and stored device data are all recognized security vulnerabilities. HP Secure Print was designed to address each of these threats directly.
What Is HP Secure Print?
HP Secure Print is not a single feature or standalone product. It is a comprehensive portfolio of print security technologies designed to protect your print environment from the device hardware all the way to document output.
HP Secure Print combines hardware-level protection, secure print release workflows, and centralized policy management into a complete print security strategy.
Layer 1: HP Wolf Security for Print
At the core of HP’s print security platform is HP Wolf Security for Print. What makes it unique is that protection starts directly at the hardware level.
HP Enterprise printers are the only printers capable of automatically detecting, stopping, and recovering from attacks without requiring IT intervention.
Key security features include:
HP Sure Start
HP Sure Start validates BIOS integrity every time the printer boots. If tampering is detected, the device automatically restores a secure “golden copy” of the BIOS.
Firmware Whitelisting
Only digitally signed and HP-authenticated firmware is allowed to load into memory. If unauthorized code is detected, the printer automatically reboots into a secure state.
Run-Time Intrusion Detection
This continuously monitors printer activity while connected to the network. Suspicious behavior triggers a memory-cleaning reboot.
HP Connection Inspector
HP Connection Inspector analyzes outbound network traffic for suspicious connections commonly associated with cyberattacks. If malicious activity is detected, the printer initiates a self-healing reboot.
For IT teams, this self-healing capability significantly reduces risk and minimizes the need for manual intervention. Only HP Enterprise printers and MFPs include these embedded self-repairing security capabilities.
Layer 2: Secure Print Release
Even with strong hardware protection, human error remains a challenge. HP Secure Print addresses this with secure pull printing functionality.
Here is how it works:
Users send print jobs normally, but documents are held securely in a queue rather than printing immediately. The document is only released once the authorized user authenticates directly at the device using a PIN, mobile app, QR code, or badge reader.
This approach ensures documents are never left unattended on printer trays.
Secure print release is especially valuable for organizations operating under compliance standards such as:
- PIPEDA
- HIPAA
- PCI-DSS
- SOC 2
An additional benefit is reduced print waste. Documents that are never collected are never printed, helping organizations lower paper and toner costs.
Layer 3: HP Security Manager
Enterprise organizations need consistent security policies across their entire printer fleet. HP Security Manager provides centralized policy enforcement and compliance monitoring.
With HP Security Manager, organizations can:
- Define security policies centrally
- Push configurations across all printers
- Continuously monitor device compliance
- Automatically correct policy deviations
If settings change after a reboot, firmware update, or attempted tampering, HP Security Manager automatically restores compliance.
For businesses operating under strict regulatory frameworks, this provides a more reliable and auditable print security posture.
Layer 4: Preparing for Future Cybersecurity Threats
HP is also preparing organizations for future encryption threats associated with quantum computing.
The “harvest now, decrypt later” strategy, where attackers capture encrypted data today in hopes of decrypting it later with quantum computing, is already a growing concern for organizations handling long-term sensitive information.
HP is building quantum-resistant security capabilities into its infrastructure today to help organizations prepare for tomorrow’s threats.
How SmartPrint Helps Canadian Organizations Deploy HP Secure Print
Understanding print security is one thing. Successfully deploying and managing it across an enterprise environment is another.
That is where SmartPrint comes in.
As one of HP’s leading managed print services partners in Canada and an HP Best-In-Class MPS Channel Partner, SmartPrint helps organizations:
- Assess current print security vulnerabilities
- Design the right HP Secure Print solution
- Configure secure print workflows
- Maintain firmware updates and compliance
- Monitor print infrastructure continuously
Through the SmartPrint 360 managed services model, organizations receive one comprehensive print security solution managed under a single agreement and monthly billing structure.
Benefits of HP Secure Print for IT Teams
Reduced Cybersecurity Risk
Self-healing printer hardware and continuous firmware monitoring help eliminate printers as easy attack targets.
Stronger Compliance Readiness
Automated policy enforcement and audit capabilities support compliance with privacy and security regulations.
Fewer Data Exposure Incidents
Secure print release minimizes the risk of confidential documents being viewed or taken by unauthorized individuals.
Improved Operational Efficiency
Pull printing reduces unnecessary printing, while centralized fleet management lowers IT administration overhead.
Single Vendor Accountability
With SmartPrint 360, organizations avoid fragmented support between hardware vendors, software providers, and managed service providers.
The Bottom Line
Printers have remained one of the most overlooked endpoints in enterprise cybersecurity for far too long. Yet the risks are well documented, and the consequences of ignoring them can include data breaches, compliance failures, and reputational damage.
HP Secure Print addresses these vulnerabilities through a layered security approach that protects devices, documents, workflows, and policies from end to end. Combined with SmartPrint 360, organizations gain enterprise-grade print security without increasing the burden on internal IT teams.
If you are unsure whether your print environment is secure, now is the time to find out.
To schedule a print security assessment for your organization, contact SmartPrint today at contact@smartprint.com.