Digital Copier Security – There’s More to Overcome Than Just the Hard Drive
The CBS Evening news recently broadcast a story called "Copy Machines a Security Risk?" The information presented in the story was alarming to say the least but CBS only scratched the surface of the topic. For companies who rely on securing confidential and proprietary information from competitors or hackers, there's much more you need to know about the inconspicuous digital copier. In this article we'll look at five areas where confidential information may be compromised.
If you haven't seen the CBS story please click on this link at the bottom of this page and view the five minute broadcast before you continue with this article.
In addition to the risks presented by the CBS story here are 5 additional areas where copiers can compromise your security.
1. Many digital copiers are also network printers that store network information such as IP addresses, subnet masks and gateway IP's. These settings are not stored on the hard drive and are not cleared by the digital copier "Purge" feature. Network settings must be manually cleared. Security experts will tell you to keep your network configuration private. You don't want competitors or hackers to know your internal network configuration. The more information about your network infrastructure that's accessible to hackers the less they have to figure out on their own and the sooner they can compromise your network.
2. Many digital copiers store the IP addresses of your DNS servers and/or Domain controllers. Depending on the type and model of your copier, this information may not be cleared by your copier "purge" function. You definitely don't want competitors or hackers knowing the IP addresses of your Name Servers or Domain Controllers.
3. Many digital copiers store email addresses and some even download your entire Email Global Address List to the copier. Again, you don't want this to be accessible to those outside your company.
4. The "purge" function used by older digital copy machines doesn't delete any data from the copier hard drive. It only renders the data inaccessible to the copier software. It either deletes a file we techies would call a "file allocation table" or it will use other tactics to render the data unreadable to the copier software. The "Purge" button merely gives an allusion the disk has been cleaned. However, the data is still there and can be removed as shown on the CBS story. Most copier security policies rely on this built-in Purge function and think their data is cleared. It is not cleared. It can still be accessed with free scanning tools available on the internet.
5. If your copier has a fax capability, the copier also stores all the phone numbers it dialed and numbers that dialed it along with any information you provided in your Fax phone book. Again, the "Purge" function will not clear this information.
One of the biggest obstacles surrounding this whole issue of Copier Security is the apathy and ignorance of the Manufacturers. Most copier technicians today still believe the built-in Purge function deletes all information on the copier. To make matters worse, most copier technicians don't know where the different type of information is stored. Some data is stored on the hard drive, some data in flash memory, and some data is stored in firmware. Sensitive information is stored in different places depending on the manufacturer and model of copier. Just when you think it can't get worse. Let me drop the final shoe. There are no utilities that will scan a copier and certify that it has been completely purged for older digital copy machines.
As I mentioned earlier, this CBS news story only scratched the surface of the real risks associated with digital Copier Security. The Copier Security pioneers who were interviewed in the CBS story, Digital Copier Security inc., have done extensive research on these security risks and are working to provide services and resources to help companies thoroughly purge their older copy machines. I applaud Digital Copier Security for bringing this issue to the attention of Corporate America and for working diligently to address this significant security hole.
I encourage the Copier industry to take responsibility for ensuring new copiers have the capability to purge themselves of all sensitive information and to provide a certification report indicating what has been purged. This should be a standard feature on all Digital Copiers and not an add-on feature that comes at an additional cost. Additionally copier technicians should be trained to thoroughly purge all Digital Copiers.
Until such a time, Corporate America must take necessary steps to ensure their own safety. They must ensure they are not exposing themselves to unnecessary security risks or even breaking Privacy Laws. Digital copiers must have processes defined (and documented) that ensure appropriate actions are taken before copiers are released to third parties.
Here's the link to the CBS Story
www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=6412572n&tag=api
John Bagdanov
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Ricoh Aficio 2238c Copier Review
The Aficio 2238c is another good quality copier from Ricoh, aimed squarely at the larger business or workgroup. It offers affordability and features of much larger and more expensive machines and is robust enough to be able to service most needs.
The controls are simple but effective. They are simple enough to be able to service most needs and the helpful LCD screen is easy to read. The screen is colored a friendly blue and is bright enough to be seen clearly.
The paper drawers are a large pair at 500 sheets, which is upgradeable to 1050 if needed. There is a multi-purpose feeder at the top too which is fully duplexed adding further functionality.
Out of the box, the Aficio 2238c is quick and easy to install and configure. The toners are long lasting and the memory is large enough at 768Mb for even the most demanding of offices. The printer can be connected via USB, parallel or Ethernet. The drivers are comprehensive and include PCL and PostScript drivers for all operating systems. The bundled software contains most features an office would need to print a whole host of documents and images.
There are hardware upgrades that can be made such as a fax kit, stapler and sorter and more paper trays. The machine itself feels solid and dependable. The trays are made of stiff plastic, not the flimsy stuff that many other manufacturers favor. This should enhance the life of the device no end.
Reproduction is very good, with text appearing clean and fresh. Images looked a little on the dark side, which is actually good for presentations. Color is rendered accurately and graphs and photos appeared vivid and sharp. The Aficio 2238c also offers different finishing options in order to allow you to produce leaflets, booklets and other higher quality documents.
With a print speed of 35 pages per minute for monochrome and 28 pages for color, it is a quick mover for such an affordable machine. Overall, the Aficio 2238c is a good, value for money office device with a rich enough repertoire to satisfy most busy office needs. It's strength is its versatility and cost effectiveness.
Replacement consumables are readily available and good value, while robust enough to last the test of time.
Those in the market for a good, solid color copier that can do other things too would be advised to check out the Aficio 2238c.
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Connecting Your Copier Machine to Your Personal Computer
Copying document is one daily task that you will have in your daily business and any other commercial activities. It is one advanced technology that will let you to duplicate your data by using a piece of electronic equipment. There are lot choices of products and also types that you can purchase in the market. All of them will give you all the benefits of having a digital copier machine in the paper copier process. You need to choose the right products by determining the ideal types and also features that you needs. This machine will help you to get the simplest process in managing your data. In the daily operation, you need to connect this device to your personal computer to make it work for you. In making the connection, you can follow some simple process below to get the proper method of operation.
First, you will need to prepare the USB cable that will help you to connect the computer to the copier machine. You will need to make sure that you have been located the USB cable into the copier machine. This plug in is usually located near the power control or the control panel of the machine. After finishing this step, you also need to plug the USB device into your computer to make it connect. If it is your first connection process, you will need to install the copier driver in your computer to support the connection. The driver is usually packaged along with your copier products. After both of them are connected, you need to restart them and you will find that both of them are already connected.
Getting the bets understanding and also method on how to connect your copier machine and also your personal computer will give you all the benefits of having best performance of copier machine. if you want to learn more you can learn more on http://copiersforsale.org in which you can also find the best deal of color copier machine that you needs.
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Analog Copier and the Digital Copier – What’s the Difference?
There are so many different new technologies on the market today and they are hard to choose from. Technology has changed the way we do business today; things are a lot faster and efficient. One of the main things an office needs is a copier and the copier can make a business run smoothly. The process of the copier has changed significantly. You might be wondering what copier would be best for your business and this would mean choosing between an analog copier and a digital copier. The analog copier is considered to be the older between the two but it is still considered to have good qualities. The digital copier also has strong characteristics and negative aspects.
The older copier is considered to be the analog copier. The good thing about an analog copier is that they are reliable and reasonably priced. If you decide that you are more inclined to purchasing an analog copier you should consider the time it takes to warm up and the quality of the scanned or printed documents.
The reason for considering the time is because in an office there are probably a large number of people that would like to utilize the copier and if the machine takes long this will cause frustration in the office and reduce productivity.
A digital copier works differently. We are currently bordering the digital age and therefore it is only understandable that all analog technology has to be changed into digital technology. These are machines such as photo cameras, video cameras, etc. With all new technological systems there are always benefits but there are also negative aspects that need to be taken into consideration. There are in fact, great advantages of a digital printer. One of the most important is that many digital copiers are multi-functional. It's amazing how technology has evolved now with the digital copier documents can be sent to emails, fax machines or even text. This will reduce steps in the office to maximize productivity. It does take away from the effort and time to mail hard copies of a document to different physical sites. It will therefore increase productivity in the work place.
The down side of digital technology is that it uses more power that analog copiers and it therefore produces more heat. Compared to an analog copier; the digital copier is a lot pricier.
Regardless of whether you choose a digital or an analog copier you must always do some research on the specific product you are considering to purchase. There is always someone who has used the product before you have and there are usually blogs or reviews on the product, you should read them to get the perspective of the customer. It is important to listen to the sales representative but it is also good to get second opinions. You can also ask other companies what their experience was with the copier. Choosing the right copier is hard but if you know what you need you will eliminate the search.
Steve Tetluck manages a site specializing in digital office automation products such as a copier. For more information visit http://www.pananet.co.za
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Document Scanning – A Solution For Organizing Office Documents
Documented files are considered one of the most important resources in any company. Documented files including items such as meeting notes and company reports are often needed for future reference. As office files are mostly written with pen and paper, as time passes they contribute to the garbage looming inside the office. Eventually they begin to junk up the filing cabinets, and it becomes almost impossible to locate a specific sheet of paper.
As document mess has become a primary issue for many companies that wish to keep their offices environment-friendly, digitally storing and retrieving data has become a common practice. Due to high demands to fix the mess produced by daily file documentation, many technological devices are made available in the market to address such issue. Document scanning is one of the most popularly used solutions by companies.
Document scanning is a process through which written records from papers are transferred to the computer with the use of a scanner that looks more like a mini photocopier. The scanner eventually copies the provided images and places it into a computer. In addition, the scanner also converts a document in text format into text characters recognized by computers. Once the conversion is done, the converted document becomes a search-able text file that looks just like the original copy and lets you preserve signatures and handwritten notes but at the same time allows you to edit the document.
This computer application provides many benefits, thereby making it a permanent fixture for many companies. First, organizing and managing information become easier and faster. It also facilitates accessible transferring of information from one network to another. Offices are also able to save space because storing files can be done with the use of digital data storage.
As the main of goal of any business is to become profitable, working inefficiently often results in losses. Relying too much on traditional file management costs time and money that could have been saved for more important projects. In addition, with document scanning, information can be made available to clients even in remote locations, satisfying their needs and making the company more profitable.
Lastly, allowing files to be scanned curtails the need for paper, which is one definitive way to maintain a "green" office. By taking into consideration the assistance and possible profits that can be acquired with the use of document scanning, it can be concluded that it is the best solution for paper build up problems that have long been plaguing companies. Its adoption is also one visible way of showing that the company is advocating greener and environmentally friendly offices.
To learn more about office solutions including document scanning services, visit Scantronix.
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The Sharp SF 6600 Printer – Innovative New Products by Sharp
The Sharp SF 6600 Printer is but one of the many products available from Sharp. Of the many office and home electronic equipment offered this one is an excellent option. Sharp has many multifunction printers with combinations of copiers and printers, copiers and faxes, or faxes and copiers. All of the multifunction printers from Sharp are designed for small businesses and produce high quality printouts at high speeds.
Sharp printers use ink jet and digital laser technology depending on the printer. There are many features included with the Sharp printers including an automatic document feeding tray, single increment zoom function, bypass tray, and a photo exposure mode option. The machines can connect directly to a computer or to several computers through a network. The majority of the printers need a USB connection.
The multifunction copier and fax combination is also an excellent option for offices, particularly if you do not use the fax that often but still have need of a fax machine. The memory on the copier and fax machine is quite large so you can store many documents, you will never have to worry about losing a fax. Any of the multifunction machines offered by sharp can print on a variety of different sized media as well as several different types of media.
There are also machines that combine printing, scanning and copying and are the perfect answer to your printing needs if you need to maximize the space you have. These machines all use laser technology and produce high resolution printouts. The scan modes also have very high resolution which can be an issue. Many times scanned images are not as crisp and clear as desired.
The Sharp machines are all 'green" machines and very environmentally friendly. All of the Sharp products incorporate the newest technology to produce the best printouts possible. The Sharp toner cartridges and drum units can be found at local office supply stores and one cartridge was made to fit several different types of printers. Many companies also offer some of the older and harder to find Sharp consumables if you are still using an older machine.
Ink jet printers are still a popular printer source particularly for home or personal use. Ink jet printers tend to be less expensive even though you will use more ink then a laser printer. It is possible to find black and white ink jet printers as well as color ink jet printers. The ink jet printers do have some limitations as they can only print on standard plain paper and the quality of the printing is not as good as laser printing. The images and text will not be as sharp or crisp when compared to a laser printout.
Sharp products focus specifically on equipment that fills the gap between business printers and home printers. They were made to make you more productive while keeping expenditures low. Sharp offers products for businesses, individuals, homes and families. You can feel safe when shipping your Sharp products as they have the highest security rating, ensuring that your products are safe.
Of the many products offered from Sharp the Sharp SF 6600 Printer is but one. This printer uses Sharp SF 6600 toner that is recyclable and can be refilled. You will not have a problem finding a product for your printing or copying needs when shopping for Sharp toner.
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The Features of the HP OfficeJet 4500
Although multifunction printers can replace multiple devices saving valuable space and money, they can still end up being costly especially if you expect a few extra bells and whistles. Large businesses should not have a problem when it comes to the cost of an office printer, but smaller businesses may have to go for a budget solution that offers lesser functionality. Now HP has a more affordable solution, which is the HP OfficeJet 4500 that is packed with high end features but at a cost that is far from prohibitive.
Multifunction Versatility
Productivity is guaranteed with this new HP OfficeJet printer since it has printing, scanning, and faxing features. The combined scanning and printing features make the HP OfficeJet 4500 work as a copier as well. It also features quick functions that make it an independent device. This means that you do not need to hook it up to a computer if you want to use the HP OfficeJet 4500 as a basic walk-up copier machine or fax machine.
Network Convenience
The HP OfficeJet 4500 is one of the most affordable devices that have built-in Wi-Fi functionality. Connect the OfficeJet 4500 to a wireless router and all computers and laptops hooked to the router can access the printer. Ethernet connectivity is also available if you need a wired connection.
Professional Quality
The standard-size black ink is a bit pricier than other models, but it does a professional job in producing clear documents and detailed photos. The black ink quality is comparable to outputs produced by laser printers. It is also good in printing documents meant for long-term archiving. Whether it is pollution, moisture, heat, or light, the printed ink remains new. Documents can last several years without the ink showing any signs of fading. The overall value is still good per print cartridge as it can print up to 700 pages before the cartridge needs replacement.
Colour ink quality is good too thanks to the dual-drop-volume technology which makes sure graphics and images are finely detailed especially when the maximum 4800 by 1200-optimized dpi setting is used. Colour accuracy is decent and the gradations are smooth. The ink formulations are unique for better fade resistance and longer print head life.
Fine Extras
The HP OfficeJet 4500 is a great photo printer capable of printing all kinds of brochures and photos leaving no edge unprinted without depending on special photo paper. It can also print posters by taking a single page document and enlarging it up to 25 times expanding the print job to multiple sheets. Booklet layouts can also be made using the "Booklet Printing" option where pages are automatically resized so a booklet is formed when folded.
The only downside of this complete printer is the slightly slower printing and scanning speeds. Still, the HP OfficeJet 4500 is a solid entry-level printer that all kinds of businesses can rely on. The buttons on the printer are easy to operate and the driver is easy to install. Once set up, one or more computers can use printer for maximum productivity.
Vincent Rogers is a freelance writer who writes for a number of UK businesses. For a wide range of printers and products by brand, he recommends Printware Ltd, a leading provider of the HP OfficeJet 4500.
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The Sharp FO 880 Printer – Multi-Tasking Done Right
The Sharp FO 880 Printer is just one of many models with the FO label that deliver a wide variety of functions beyond printing. The 880 is also capable of sending faxes and is best used in private settings without a computer network, there are other laser FO models that come packed with many other useful features.
It is amazing how many office functions are now being collected into single pieces of ultra functional equipment. While it used to be that a printer was just a printer, the printers that top companies like Sharp are now making blow that out of the water.
For example, there is one FO model from Sharp that actually serves as a laser printer, a copier, a scanner, and a copier. Yes, all of those features in one compact machine! Imagine the value of including that into your office or home.
Purchasing a printer today requires first determining which features you want included beyond basic printing duties, as well as selecting between ink jet and laser functioning. Ultimately, which model is chosen depends largely on the purpose for which that printer will be used.
So, what exactly is the difference between ink jet and laser? A laser printer puts grooves in the paper to map out the design to be filled in by powdered toner. Ink jet uses liquid ink which simply squirts onto the paper to form the appropriate shapes and patterns.
While may people prefer an ink jet set up for printing photographs because the ink can go on heavier and create more striking colors, you also have to take into consideration the occurrence of smears since the ink is often wet when it comes out of the printer.
On the other hand, laser printers are more compatible with business computer networks, yet again making ink jets more suitable to private home use. Laser printers can be more precise when it comes to small details as well as presenting less of a threat for smeared up messes.
This is where the wide availability of drivers comes into play. Replacement parts, toner cartridges, and now drivers are widely available to Sharp printer owners to ensure that they continue functioning long term and that any computer system you may switch to can be made compatible with your printer.
The FO printers offer both ink jet and laser jet printers, as well as wide array of different functions that come already combined on single machines. Whatever your intentions for purchasing a printer may be, there is something from this line up that will fit all your needs, maybe even plus more.
If multi-tasking is central to your business operations, then an FO printer is likely to be a great option. Remember that Sharp FO 880 toner cartridges are widely available and they tend to last longer than messy ink jet cartridges. It's time to pick which functions you want your next printer to perform and discover the appropriate Sharp toner that will deliver exactly what you need.
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