6 Questions Your Customers Need You to Ask About Their Document Security

By Brad Allan – When it comes to document security, most customers underestimate the risks that could potentially compromise their data. Those that do recognize the importance of securing their information are often looking for leaks in all the wrong places. Recent threats like the Ransomware cyberattack, which attacked businesses across the globe, have motivated small and midsize businesses (SMBs) to prioritize document security, but without help from an expert it’s all worry and no action.

Here are 6 questions you need to ask your customers to ensure that they are taking the right steps to protect one of their most delicate and critical –business asset: their data.

Do they know the risks? While channel partners such as yourself are likely to know how prevalent cybercrime is, and how vital it is to defend your business against it, a 2016 study carried out by Cyber Streetwise and KPMG shocked researchers and industry professionals by revealing that less than 25% of small businesses perceived cybercrime as a threat. In order to assure that your customers have a sound plan to protect their businesses, you first must ensure that they understand the seriousness of the threat.
Are they protecting their printers as well as their computers? Those customers who do have security plans in place are usually focused on their computers, unaware of the threats posed by their smart printers. A comprehensive printer protection plan considers not only external attacks but also protects against the spread of malware and unauthorized access to the printer, so that information is protected as it passes both in and out.
Are they protected against internal threats as well as external? Not all breaches are malicious. Leaks are just as likely to be caused by simple, avoidable mistakes made by honest, well-meaning employees. Some of the most common are asking a teammate to print for them; leaving documents in the printer tray; sending sensitive documents to the wrong person; and leaving data on the printer’s hard drive.