How AI is Changing Print Security Risks

AI is giving cybercriminals new ways to exploit print infrastructure, increasing pressure on organisations to prioritise print security. Attackers are leveraging AI to scan networks, gather intelligence, and bypass detection, creating new challenges for printer security across connected environments. Yet only 36% of companies update printer software on time, leaving devices exposed to evolving AI security concerns.

With long refresh cycles and limited visibility, printers and scanners are becoming an increasingly accessible entry point for AI-driven attacks.

According to Quocirca’s Print Security Landscape 2025 report, the average cost of a print-related data breach now stands at £820,000, highlighting the growing importance of effective print security strategies. With AI threat detection becoming more critical as attacks grow more targeted and harder to detect, it’s no surprise that 83% of organisations plan to increase their print security investment this year.

To stay ahead, IT leaders must rethink how they approach printer security, embedding AI threat detection into their wider print security strategy to address emerging risks.

If AI is part of the threat, it can also be part of the solution for strengthening print security. As cyberattacks become more automated and evasive, organisations need intelligent defences that can keep pace. In fact, Quocirca’s research shows 87% of IT decision-makers believe it's important for vendors to use AI and machine learning to identify security threats and cyberattacks.

Investing in AI-enhanced infrastructure is key for organisations looking to improve printer security and address growing AI security concerns. For example, imageFORCE multifunction printers use AI-powered firmware to analyse network environments and recommend optimal security settings.

By integrating AI into their print environment, organisations can move beyond passive protection and adopt adaptive print security strategies that evolve alongside emerging threats.

Even as threats evolve, strong cyber hygiene remains essential for maintaining print security and preventing AI-enabled attackers from exploiting everyday behaviours and overlooked settings.

To strengthen printer security and reduce exposure to AI-driven risks, IT leaders should prioritise high-impact practices:

- Prioritise multi-factor authentication: A proven defence against AI-driven credential attacks, multi-factor authentication helps secure access to print systems without adding friction for users.

- Maintain a consistent firmware update cycle: Regular updates for print and scan devices help reduce vulnerabilities that AI threat detection tools are increasingly designed to uncover and exploit.

- Secure remote and mobile printing workflows: Ensure cloud and mobile print services are encrypted and authenticated, particularly in hybrid environments where AI security concerns and endpoint risks are greater.

- Raise awareness of AI-generated fakes: Train staff to recognise and report suspicious documents that mimic internal communications or trusted templates.

Embedding these practices into everyday workflows is a practical way to strengthen print security, reduce risk, and improve resilience across your print infrastructure.

Printers are connected, data-rich devices that can be exploited if left unprotected, making print security a critical priority for modern organisations. Applying zero trust principles to print environments strengthens printer security by reducing risk, limiting exposure, and ensuring consistent protection across the entire IT estate.

This includes practices such as securely configuring devices during onboarding, segmenting networks to limit lateral movement, and monitoring activity in real time to support effective AI threat detection and identify unusual behaviour. Our information security solutions are designed to support these principles, helping organisations enforce access controls at the hardware level and respond quickly to emerging AI security concerns.

In a threat landscape shaped by automation and AI, adopting a zero-trust approach is essential to maintaining resilient print security and protecting the entire print infrastructure.

AI is transforming how attackers operate, introducing a new wave of cyber threats that makes it essential to strengthen print security across every part of the IT estate, including print and scan environments.

To stay ahead, IT leaders should prioritise AI threat detection, strong cyber hygiene, and zero trust principles to improve printer security and address emerging AI security concerns.

At Canon, we help organisations protect their data through advanced information security solutions, including imageFORCE multifunction devices and secure print and scan management software. However, implementing new technology as part of a wider print security strategy is critical. With the right approach, organisations can build a resilient print security posture that is prepared for both current and future threats.

Explore more of our security solutions:

Our award-winning uniFLOW Online extends this capability with secure, centralised print and scan management from the cloud. It enables secure print release, user authentication, encrypted document handling, and real-time cost tracking without the need for on-premise servers. Whether managing multiple locations or supporting hybrid workforces, uniFLOW Online helps IT teams maintain visibility and control while strengthening printer security within zero trust environments where every access point must be verified.