Office equipment security issues raised

Office equipment that is shared among many employees in one workplace may introduce security concerns for companies, it has been suggested.

An IDC survey for Canon stated that 40 per cent of employees pick up sensitive documents from office machines, CRN reports.

Some 72 per cent of staff say that have picked up their colleagues emails from office machines at work, while 18 per cent admit they have run across personal data left in printers.

Other private and potentially sensitive documents found in office machines include CVs, job applications and bank statements.

"Our findings appear to be shocking, especially in terms of today’s compliance-driven business environment," research director at IDC Matt Marshall commented to the news provider.

"Many companies could unknowingly be breaking legislation and commercial agreements in terms of sensitive client and employee data such as company financials and personal information."

IDC cautioned firms that printing sensitive documents from office machines could put them at risk of violating privacy legislation, such as the Data Protection Act.

Recently, a Lexmark study revealed that monochrome printing was common among healthcare workers who used office machines.

At Paperstone we can supply your firm with a wide selection of printer supplies.