
The copier in the office gets a real workout on a typical day. That’s why it should be included in all security measures so that the data that goes to and from the machine isn’t compromised.
The Hard Drive
The hard drive on the company copier is much like the hard drive on the network’s computers. The hard drive stores data and much of that data is likely sensitive information that isn’t for public consumption. The hard drive should, therefore, be wiped occasionally to keep it from storing too much company data. Even more important is to either take out or erase the hard drive before the copier is gotten rid of when it’s time to upgrade your machine. Leaving an intact hard drive allows anyone who gets the machine next to access everything that was stored there.
The Data Streams
The data streams that go to and from the copier are much like the streams going between computers and other office equipment. They may be vulnerable to attack, causing a data breach, if they are not secured properly. The best way to secure them is to get a copier that has encryption from end to end. This encodes the data stream completely from the time it is sent until the time it is received by the machine. End-to-end encryption renders the data stream completely useless should anyone hack into it and try to take the data.
Updates
Much like the computers in the office, there are updates to the software used by printers and copiers that should be installed and used. If your company is like most, sometimes those updates get postponed until a more convenient time. However, this leaves the copier vulnerable to being attacked for its data. Always do updates as soon as they are available to close any windows of opportunity that are created by software issues.

