Shaheed Cajee, Product Manager
8 min read
Recent trends in cyber security suggest that crypto crime and ransomware attacks are the fastest-growing incidents today. These alone will cost the global economy $265 billion per year by 2031. For companies, they will need to continue to fortify their IT infrastructure and be cautious when implementing new innovations.
Companies continuously face challenges that test their infrastructure’s security posture. Malware, breaches, and DDoS are just a small portion of today’s wide-reaching range of vulnerabilities.
Given the current threat landscape, the estimated cost of global cybercrime will reach $15.6 trillion by 2029. Your company's best attempt to ward off these threats hinges on its ability to build greater resilience and mitigate risks.
Eight cyber security trends prevail in the 2025-2030 timeframe. CISOs and IT/security teams need to ground future decisions with an understanding of trends such as secure-by-default environments, privacy protections, zero-trust programs, growing protection and compliance demands, and cloud security.
Where remote work used to be the security nightmare (concerns inherent to flexible work, like data breaches, document security, and IT systems), technology enhancements pose new risks.
In this article, we’ll delve into the role of printing infrastructure in IT security and the print security trends that define the 2025-2030 quinquennium 👇🏽
1. Secure-by-Default Environments are a Top Priority
Trends suggest that IT decision-makers' confidence in the security of their print infrastructure is declining. According to Quocirca’s 2024 Print Security Landscape report, only 16% are confident in their print infrastructure’s security—a 3% drop from the year before.
Why it matters:
Printer manufacturers and system providers constantly search for new ways to increase infrastructure security and customers’ confidence in it. They’re in search of ways to reach and maintain secure-by-default environments.
In October 2024, Microsoft initiated a first shot at driving secure-by-default environments for printers. They introduced Windows Protected Print (WPP).
This platform is the biggest change to the Windows print stack in +20 years. It tackles various security challenges and sets a new standard for other providers and manufacturers, one much closer to the secure-by-default goal.
The new mode addresses the following security challenges:
- Driver attacks like Print Nightmare (Windows spooler vulnerability)
- Compatibility concerns for modern security mitigations
- Removes dependability on third-party providers
📖 Dig deeper: How WPP Future-Proofs Secure Printing
Because of this launch, we’re certain to see a rise in WPP utilization as well as other solution providers making “by-default” a top priority.
2. Privacy Protection and Identity Management Will Make and Break Trust
95% of organizations state that the benefits of data privacy investments surpass costs. Given that a full 94% of organizations are confident that customers will stop buying from them if they do not protect data properly, it’s clear that state-of-the-art, privacy-by-default safekeeping will become pivotal in the years ahead.
This hypothesis is not unwarranted, as 48% of users have cut ties with a company over privacy concerns. To address users’ growing concerns, the regulatory landscape is set to evolve significantly over the next five years (source: NordCloud).
Privacy protection is key–and solutions in the cloud offer (to some, surprisingly) a vast security blanket that covers users, business data, and growth opportunities—from start to finish. Taking SAFEQ Cloud as an example, here are a few ways it keeps data safe:
- MFA, cloud authentication, and single sign-on (SSO)
- Pull printing capabilities
- Configurable end-to-end data encryption
- Incident Management and Major Incident Management Procedure
- Data separation
- Zero trust architecture (more on that later...)
📖 Dig deeper: High-Security Printing & Scanning with SAFEQ Cloud
3. The Integration of Mature and Measurable Zero-Trust Programs will Rise
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Zero-trust programs have become the cornerstone of modern cyber security. We’ve seen an increase in the adoption of the zero-trust security framework for several years, from 55% in 2022, 61% in 2023, to 63% in 2024.
The zero-trust philosophy has also become a linchpin of print security. In a report from Quocirca, 37% of their respondents had conducted formal print security assessments, and 35% had implemented a zero-trust architecture for their printers.
The zero-trust realm is expanding, and for good reason. Gartner forecasts that 10% of large enterprises will have comprehensive, mature, and measurable zero-trust programs established by 2026. From a printing POV, the need for zero-trust in print environments becomes increasingly urgent as remote workforce models and IoT-connected printers bring about new security challenges.
Why it matters:
- Minimized threat surface on your print environment
- Full visibility into all network user activity
- Maximized authority of authentication (access control)
- Limited risks of information exfiltration
- Higher protection against printer vulnerabilities
- Less reliance on manual threat activity prevention
📖 Dig deeper: Protect your Data with a Zero-Trust Printing Approach
4. Organizations will Struggle to Keep up with Print Security Demands
Print security demands are growing, and it’s getting harder for IT professionals to keep up. 39% of IT admins state that keeping up with these demands is becoming more difficult, rising to 50% in the midmarket (500–999 employees). The top three concerns include:
- Ensuring print management software is up to date (35%)
- Protecting sensitive and confidential records from being printed (34%)
- Securing printing in the remote/home environment (31%)
Like many other factors, when it comes to security, print solution providers like Y Soft are rethinking their delivery models to remove the burden of security management for CSOs, CIOs, security admins, and IT teams.
With SAFEQ Cloud, we can take proper preventative measures, releasing dynamic security updates (I.e., always up to date), conducting regular penetration tests, and frequently performing vulnerability scanning for the entire infrastructure, regardless of locations.
With print roaming (pull printing) and print authentication (like Auth0 authorization or PingID), a SAFEQ Cloud system within your IT infrastructure ensures no confidential documents are printed before the user authenticates at the printer.
5. We'll see more Compliance Demands in the Cloud
Cloud solutions have taken the print industry by storm. And with cloud comes compliance. Cloud security trends first and foremost centers around data residency and sovereignty (alignment between jurisdictions and local regulations) and compliance with data protection laws.
According to CSA (Cloud Security Alliance), 65% of IT management professionals label cloud security as a top concern in their work. They find that 72% believe that this concern will only grow stronger in the future.
A large focus within cloud security trends is making sure the solutions are compliant and safe. This includes strict adherence to cloud computing regulations—which are projected to become stricter and carry higher stakes in the future. Organizations need to navigate various compliance requirements and regulations, like CIS, ISO, GDPR, CCPA, FedRAMP, and more to uphold their security promises and maintain trust among customers.
At Y Soft, we are not only in compliance with ISO 27001:2014. Our native-cloud solution, SAFEQ Cloud, complies with OWASP, the Cloud Security Association (CAIQ), and SOC-2 trust principles. We operate under the Zero Trust principle using the broadest range of on-prem and cloud authentication methods, end-to-end encryption of data (in transit and at rest), and are a member of the Zero Critical Club.
6. Cybersecurity Threats Continue to Loom Over IT Teams
On average, every year sees a total of 800,000 cyber attacks. 51% of IT professionals are under the impression that managing privacy and security has become more complex and will continue to do so, while 62% of IT decision-makers are concerned that AI poses new security threats.
Recent trends in cyber security indicate that AI and machine learning can be used to alter malicious code in real time. Technology of this kind enables malware to exacerbate its installation and adapt to endpoint defenses.
The continually accelerated distributed workforce, sometimes referred to as an “Everywhere Enterprise Strategy” (an approach to work which ensures that workers aren’t bound by proximity or physical space), also contribute to a widened attack surface.
Employee security training remains a viable way to educate printer operators on vulnerabilities and document security. Yet, it has become more difficult for IT teams to monitor activity, document security, and endpoint security closely.
The main reason for this is the increase in Bring Your Own Device policies, which allow remote workers to engage their personal printers in work tasks.
This means that IT leaders have had to find creative ways to protect their companies from security breaches. One method is to use integrated secure print services that allow devices to be managed across various locations.
7. Companies Need to Take a Layered, not Singular, Approach to Print Security
There’s no question that print suppliers need to consider multiple security protections to build a resilient security posture, and demand is an undeniable part of the reason. 84% of users are more loyal to vendors that maintain strong security controls.
While adopting a Managed Print Service (MPS) is a great way to negate the risks associated with printing, many organizations will find that they need to arm their print services from different angles.
Often called a “multi-layered approach”, this involves technology suppliers adapting several security mechanisms to protect against the risks associated with hybrid work, AI, and sophisticated hacking.
Here’s a look at some of the security mechanisms that help safeguard a cloud print environment:
📖 Read on → 10 Ways to Maintain a Secure Cloud Print Environment
While frequent reporting and analysis of print systems can be effective, many organizations that are serious about offering security features will have to adopt a zero-trust approach to printing.
Some of the most powerful lines of defense that would be at home in a multi-layered approach to print security include:
- Secure pull printing
- BYOD policies
- Threat scanning and detection tools
- Continual security monitoring
- Regular in-depth risk assessments
- Strategic (frequent) prevention activities
8. Machine Learning and AI Will Infiltrate Print Environments
Artificial intelligence (AI) is everywhere, and 84% of organizations plan to increase their AI expenditures in the coming years. As 73% of companies plan to refresh their print infrastructure at the same time, it’s not unlikely that we’ll see more AI immersed in print solutions.
What’s unique about AI is that it is equally a security challenge and an opportunity for businesses to bolster their print security controls.
Recent trends in cyber security reveal that zero-day attacks, enabled using automation tools, are the most urgent concerns in today’s threat landscape. On the other hand, AI enhancements can support IT professionals in recognizing complex data patterns and automating risk detection and mitigation.
According to Darktrace, nearly three-quarters (71%) of security experts believe AI-driven security protocols will significantly strengthen their resilience against AI-powered threat actors. Even more, 96% of stakeholders anticipate that AI enhancements will elevate their organization's defensive capabilities.
How SAFEQ Cloud Mitigates Print Security Risk
If a powerful line of defense seems like a hefty undertaking for your IT team, help is available. By relying on a cloud printing solution like SAFEQ Cloud, you can alleviate the burden on your IT teams so you can enjoy the peace of mind that comes with operating a well-protected print infrastructure.
SAFEQ Cloud provides constant monitoring of your print system, ensuring that your systems are always up-to-date, and your documents and sensitive data are always protected. If you’re in the process of optimizing your print infrastructure to protect against the dangers of operating in a remote environment in the modern world, SAFEQ Cloud is a great place to start.
FAQs on Print Security
Q1) Can you be Hacked Through your Printer?
Commercial and privately owned printers can be hacked both physically and remotely. With access through an unprotected Wi-Fi connection, hackers and ransomware attackers make unauthorized changes to settings that allow them inside the hardware, where they can launch attacks, upload malware, send malicious data, or install ransomware.
Printers have vulnerabilities that hackers can exploit. However, with MPS and proper software security systems, you can prevent attacks and keep your devices and data safe.
Q2) Are Printers a Security Risk?
Printers can pose a security risk, however, it’s by no means inevitable. As mentioned in the article, there is an extended attack surface with online printers, even more so with hybrid work and BYOD. With adequate print security hygiene and advanced protection measures (zero-trust, encryption, etc.), businesses’ print infrastructure can become resilient and all-out protected for both data and users, respectively.
Final Points
This concludes our rundown of cyber and print security trends for 2025-2030.
Printers’ increasingly connected status means securing them should be a priority for any IT admin. Addressing the predictions above and setting your print infrastructure up for cyber security success is an inevitable process for any office trying to avoid data leakage or print vulnerabilities crashing their print ecosystem, even temporarily.
While bumping into new security challenges seems inevitable, supplier-managed solutions help ensure your IT environment is:
- Always up-to-date
- Properly scanned for vulnerabilities
- Enhanced with security features as soon as they hit the market
We hope these critical security trends and predictions help you elevate and secure your print infrastructure and management strategy.
Want to learn more about how cloud technology helps ensure a secure print ecosystem for your business?🔒 Are you looking to leverage the cloud but not sure what considerations you need to make? Then check out the blog below:
