⚡ Quick Summary
- HP warns that printers are overlooked security blind spots that most SMBs exclude from cybersecurity strategies
- Modern printers are connected endpoints running full operating systems and storing sensitive data
- Outdated firmware and default credentials create easy targets for network intrusion
- SMBs should immediately update firmware, change default passwords, and segment printer networks
What Happened
HP has issued a stark warning to small and medium-sized businesses: printers are no longer dumb peripherals sitting in the corner of the office. They are connected, intelligent endpoints that represent one of the most overlooked attack surfaces in modern corporate networks. The warning, published by TechRadar on March 12, 2026, highlights a growing disconnect between how businesses perceive their printing infrastructure and the actual security risks these devices pose.
According to HP's latest security research, the majority of SMBs fail to include printers in their endpoint security strategies, treat them as outside the scope of their cybersecurity programmes, and rarely update printer firmware — even when critical vulnerabilities are disclosed. This neglect creates an exploitable gap that threat actors are increasingly targeting, using compromised printers as lateral movement vectors into otherwise well-defended networks.
The warning comes as modern office printers have evolved into sophisticated networked computing devices running full operating systems, storing sensitive documents in memory, maintaining network credentials, and connecting to cloud services. A printer with outdated firmware and default credentials is functionally equivalent to an unpatched server sitting on the corporate network — yet it receives a fraction of the security attention.
Background and Context
The printer security gap has been a known issue in enterprise cybersecurity for over a decade, but it has historically been treated as a lower-tier concern compared to servers, endpoints, and cloud infrastructure. This prioritisation made sense when printers were simple devices with limited network connectivity. The modern multifunction printer, however, is a fundamentally different beast.
Today's enterprise-class printers run embedded Linux or proprietary operating systems, feature Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity, integrate with cloud document management services, store copies of printed and scanned documents, and often retain network authentication credentials. Some models include built-in web servers for remote management — web servers that frequently run outdated software with known vulnerabilities.
The threat landscape has evolved accordingly. In 2025, several high-profile breaches were traced back to compromised printing infrastructure, including incidents where attackers used printer vulnerabilities to establish persistent network footholds that evaded endpoint detection and response (EDR) solutions focused on traditional computing devices. Businesses managing their IT infrastructure with enterprise productivity software often overlook these peripheral devices in their security audits.
Why This Matters
The significance of HP's warning lies in the scale of the exposure. Small and medium-sized businesses represent the majority of organisations worldwide and typically operate with limited IT security resources. While large enterprises may have dedicated security teams that include printing infrastructure in their threat assessments, SMBs frequently rely on a single IT administrator — or no dedicated IT staff at all — to manage their entire technology stack.
For these organisations, the printer sitting in the hallway is an afterthought. It was purchased, connected to the network, and largely forgotten until it runs out of toner. The firmware has never been updated. The default administrator password has never been changed. The device logs are never reviewed. This combination of factors creates what security professionals call a "soft target" — a device that is easy to compromise and provides access to the broader network.
The risk is compounded by the sensitive nature of the data that passes through printing infrastructure. Legal documents, financial statements, employee records, customer information, and strategic business plans are regularly printed or scanned through devices that lack the encryption, access controls, and audit trails that organisations apply to their file servers and cloud storage. A compromised printer can expose this data through stored print jobs, intercepted network traffic, or redirected scan-to-email configurations.
Industry Impact
HP's public warning serves a dual purpose: it raises genuine awareness about a real security gap, and it positions HP's own security-focused printing products — which include features like firmware integrity verification, memory protection, and automated threat detection — as the solution. This commercial motivation does not diminish the validity of the underlying concern, but it does mean that businesses should evaluate printer security solutions from multiple vendors rather than treating HP's recommendations as vendor-neutral advice.
The managed print services (MPS) industry stands to benefit from increased security awareness. MPS providers that can demonstrate robust security management — including automated firmware updates, configuration compliance monitoring, and print job encryption — have a compelling pitch to SMBs that lack the internal expertise to secure their printing infrastructure independently.
For the broader cybersecurity industry, printer security represents an expansion of the endpoint protection market. EDR and XDR vendors that extend their coverage to include printing devices will differentiate themselves in an increasingly competitive landscape. The integration of printer monitoring into security information and event management (SIEM) platforms is a logical evolution that several vendors are likely already developing.
Businesses running their operations on workstations with a genuine Windows 11 key benefit from Microsoft's built-in endpoint security features, but these protections typically do not extend to networked printers, which operate as independent network nodes with their own security posture.
Expert Perspective
The characterisation of printers as "connected, intelligent endpoints" is technically accurate and strategically important for reframing how organisations think about these devices. The language deliberately aligns printers with the endpoint security paradigm that IT professionals already understand, making the case that printers deserve the same security attention as laptops, desktops, and servers.
However, the practical challenge for SMBs is resource allocation. Adding printer security to an already stretched IT budget requires either additional investment or reallocation from other security priorities. The most effective approach for resource-constrained organisations is likely to include printers in existing patch management and configuration management workflows rather than deploying separate printer-specific security solutions.
What This Means for Businesses
Every SMB should immediately audit its printing infrastructure with three priority actions: update all printer firmware to the latest available versions, change default administrator credentials on every networked printer, and review network segmentation to ensure printers are not on the same network segment as sensitive systems. These steps require minimal investment and address the most commonly exploited vulnerabilities.
Organisations using affordable Microsoft Office licence tools for document creation should also review their print-to-cloud and scan-to-email configurations to ensure that document workflows involving printers maintain the same security standards applied to digital document sharing.
Key Takeaways
- HP warns that printers are connected, intelligent endpoints that most SMBs exclude from their cybersecurity strategies
- Modern printers run full operating systems, store sensitive data, and maintain network credentials
- Outdated firmware and default credentials make printers easy targets for network intrusion
- SMBs should immediately update printer firmware, change default passwords, and review network segmentation
- The managed print services industry is positioned to address the security gap for resource-constrained organisations
- Printer security monitoring should be integrated into existing endpoint protection and SIEM platforms
Looking Ahead
As the Internet of Things continues to expand the attack surface of business networks, printers are just one category of connected device that requires security attention. The broader lesson from HP's warning is that any networked device with processing capability, storage, and network credentials is a potential entry point — and security strategies that focus exclusively on traditional endpoints leave organisations exposed to an increasingly creative threat landscape.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why are printers a cybersecurity risk?
Modern printers run full operating systems, store sensitive documents in memory, maintain network credentials, and connect to cloud services. With outdated firmware and default passwords, they become easy entry points for attackers to access the broader network.
What should businesses do to secure their printers?
Immediately update all printer firmware, change default administrator passwords, segment printers onto separate network zones, and include printers in regular security audits and patch management workflows.
Are home office printers also at risk?
Yes. Any networked printer with default credentials and outdated firmware represents a potential security vulnerability, whether in a corporate office or a home office environment. The same basic security hygiene applies.