Secure Cloud Printing: How to Ensure Security in your Cloud Environment

Without a doubt, Cloud printing is becoming a must in today’s enterprise work environment.

Most industries are relying more on cloud computing and its widespread adoption is causing major shifts in how companies manage and use their data.

Cloud printing is beneficial for large enterprises with many remote locations and users who bring their own mobile devices. Many of these institutions connect thousands of devices and printers, sometimes across multiple locations.

Users also no longer need to install unique drivers into the printers they use, increasing workflow and saving on operating costs.

But printing in the cloud does not come without its drawbacks.

Security is a major issue.

Printing over the public Cloud can leave your organization open to security breaches and hacks, as servers that hold your print data are shared with many other users and organizations.

So how do you prevent security breaches and ensure a secure Cloud printing environment? Below are a few ways to safely deploy printing over the Cloud.

Encryption

With public cloud computing, printing information can be tricky, as data is constantly flowing through open networks to a cloud printing provider.

To make this a safer process, it is best to ensure both the outgoing and incoming print data is encrypted.

This way, the data is protected from the moment it leaves the user station until the print document comes out from the other side of the Cloud.

Encrypting your print data is achieved using third party print software applications which use the Internet Printing Protocol to create the encrypted text.

Many print manufacturers also use print hardware solutions that facilitate encryption, where the printers can control the print job queue and all its processes.

Private Cloud

If your organization has the budget and IT resources available, implementing an in-house private cloud environment is the way to go to ensure worry-free and secure cloud printing.

This is because in a private cloud, only you have access and are in control the servers that host the data behind a secure firewall, lowering the chance of cyber-attacks.

However, having a private cloud does not come without its problems.

Consolidating printing in larger organizations that have many independent locations running on their own structure and protocols for printing requires aligning all the printers, drivers, devices and users within the network, which is something that isn’t easily done.

Interested in finding out more about how to ensure security in the cloud? Check out this free whitepaper on secure cloud printing!

Virtual Private networks

A Virtual private network is basically a point to point link using the Internet as a network, but it is protected by a firewall at both ends of the connections.

This secured loop means that an organization’s transferring data is never exposed to the public internet, creating a secure printing network that is not used by anyone else.

Because VPNs encrypts Internet traffic, it also helps keep hackers from capturing passwords and other confidential activities.

VPNs are useful for connecting multiple networks together securely. Many organizations use VPNs to share servers and other networked resources across multiple locations around the world.

Secure Pull Printing

Secure pull printing compliments a secure cloud printing strategy because it enables organizations to eliminate possible corporate espionage associated with security breaches from sensitive documents being left in the printer, or picked up and viewed by unauthorized users.

Print data is only released when end users authenticate their IDs by entering a password or tapping onto an RFID/HID authentication device.

This means no more documents will ending up in the wrong hands.

Putting it all together

As more organizations and industries migrate to the Cloud, enabling secure cloud printing into your Cloud environment is an efficient solution to ensure your users enjoy the enhanced workflow benefits of cloud printing without compromising the security of their confidential data.