Cyber Security Threats on Multifunctional Devices and Mitigation Techniques

The risks discussed in this document are related to smart printers/ fax/ photocopiers/ or e-mail-enabled smart devices, also known as "document centers,". These devices can be purchased outright or rented every month. When an item reaches its end of life, it is either donated to a non-profit organization or returned to the manufacturer (OEM) or supplier at the end of a lease arrangement. These network-interconnected devices have an inherent susceptibility that most IT operations teams or information security professionals are unaware of. This effort will raise awareness of the dangers of losing a company's data. This discussion will focus on reported vulnerabilities, previous discussions, and given the author's view on the potential danger. Create instructions for potential users on how to use and disassemble these devices safely to prevent losing sensitive data. Lastly, the technological structure of two potential attack vectors against a document center of an organization will be demonstrated in this study. The study was conducted in government as well as the private sector, medium-sized enterprises (300 employees of each entity) settings, outside of normal business hours, with special authorizations and engagement, limiting the scope to a minimal set of devices.

I. Introduction

Within the region, the utilization of multifunctional devices (MFDs) had vastly expanded [1]. These gadgets have the ability to email, fax, scan, convert, and duplicate data for an enterprise. Because of the wide variety of available makes and models, it is impossible to apply this analysis to all devices [2]. Instead, this study will focus on the general uses and potential risks that may or may not be relevant to specific makes and models [3].