These instructions are straightforward. Don’t disregard them and expose your company to a data breach.

1) Wipe hard drives on a regular basis. Hackers cannot steal what is not present. Make it a practise to routinely clean your hard disc and cache.

2) Hard discs that are encrypted. Encryption gives a layer of security to your data while also assisting you in meeting tough standards such as HIPAA. Disk Image Overwrite and/or Data Encryption are standard or optional features on most Xerox copiers and printers.

3) Turn off USB ports. While a USB connection allows for easy walk-up printing and copying, an infected USB stick can introduce a virus into your network if placed into a copier. Someone may enter a USB stick into a copier that is used to copy, print, and scan confidential information (banking statements, PII, health records, etc.) and download that data to it. There are simpler ways to transfer documents than using USB.

4) Make a plan for data security. “Failing to plan is preparing to fail,” as the proverb goes. Include your networked office equipment in your security strategy. Make sure that every network-connected gadget isn’t a potential entry point for cybercriminals.

5) Maintain regular firmware updates.

6) Enforce stronger passwords and think about adding a layer of protection with a card reader or perhaps biometrics to allow device access.