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As the AEC industry increasingly embraces digitisation and has started depending more on wireless networks and printers, companies must be aware of the most significant network security risks. We've identified the most frequent cybersecurity threats AEC professionals face, along with several methods to improve printing security.

Take a moment to learn about the top ten most worrisome printing security breaches your AEC firm may face — where even a single attack could leave your company struggling to recover.

What Cybersecurity Threats and Printing Security Risks Does the AEC Industry Face?

Malware

Ransomware

Phishing

Social Engineering Attacks

How Are Cyberattacks Typically Conducted?

Breaching the Company Network

Password Cracking

Insider and Third Party Threats

How Do These Threats Affect AEC Firms?

Compromising Sensitive Information

Compromising Intellectual Property

Damage to Reputation

What Are the 10 Greatest AEC Cybersecurity Printing Risks?

In no particular order, our partners in the large-format printing industry have encountered the following ten printing security threats most often.

2. Documentation Theft

1. Loss of Control Over What to Print

Gravity of the Impact on AEC Firms

Large AEC firms, in particular, possess data that's very lucrative to cybercriminals, who can sell the data to a company's rivals or interfere with the original company's operations.

Gravity of the Impact on AEC Firms

3. Denial of Service (DoS)

Gravity of the Impact on AEC Firms

4. Unauthorised Access to Print Files

Gravity of the Impact on AEC Firms

5. Unauthorised Changes to Printer Settings

Gravity of the Impact on AEC Firms

6. Compromised Printer

Gravity of the Impact on AEC Firms

7. Making Private Printing Data Public

Gravity of the Impact on AEC Firms

8. Wireless Printers Being Hacked

Gravity of the Impact on AEC Firms

9. Risk of Cloud Printing

Gravity of the Impact on AEC Firms

10. Risk of Cross-Platform Printing (Mobile)

Gravity of the Impact on AEC Firms

How to Prevent, Manage, and Mitigate Cyberattacks in the AEC Industry

Regularly Update Printer Firmware

Encrypt All Printing Data

Deploy a Firewall

Use Strong, Complex Passwords to Secure Printing Systems

Use Multi-Factor Authentication

Regularise Employee Cybersecurity Training

Secure All Print Content Storage and Jobs in Transit

Create Backup Redundancies of Print Data (Offsite)

Segregate Your Print Network to Isolate Any Cyberattacks (But Keep It Limited to One For Printing)

Reach Out to HP to Find Out More About Printing Security Risks

Printing security risks can be particularly damaging to AEC professionals, whose work entails trade secrets and data related to critical public infrastructure. While improving cybersecurity from a technical standpoint is the responsibility of an AEC firm's IT department, security threats could target any employee.

Inform your team about cybersecurity risks, and ensure your company and its stakeholders are protected by improving cybersecurity practices. Contact an HP sales expert for assistance establishing stronger technical foundations — and discover secure printing, only with HP Virtual Booth.

Download our eBook now and discover how innovation is streamlining workflows, producing prints of unmatched quality and increasing IT efficiency like never before.