Research Note: Securing the Future of Enterprise Printing, A Strategic Outlook
As organizations navigate an increasingly complex threat landscape and grapple with evolving data protection regulations, the security of their printing infrastructure has become a top strategic priority. The enterprise printer market, dominated by industry leaders like Canon, Lexmark, and HP, is poised for significant transformation, driven by the changing security requirements of CIOs and IT decision-makers.
At the hardware layer, the demand for robust security features is on the rise. According to our analysis, by 2026, at least 80% of enterprise printer purchases will require the integration of a Trusted Platform Module (TPM) and secure BIOS to establish a trusted computing foundation and prevent unauthorized access. Vendors that fail to implement these hardware-level safeguards risk losing market share to more security-focused competitors.
Moving up the Layered Security Architecture framework, the firmware layer will be a critical area of focus. Enterprises will increasingly demand that 100% of printer firmware be digitally signed and verified to mitigate the risk of unauthorized modifications. Automated firmware update mechanisms that rapidly address known vulnerabilities will also become table stakes, with 65% of enterprises requiring this capability by 2027, as organizations seek to stay ahead of evolving threats.
The network layer will also play a pivotal role in enterprise printer security. Advanced firewall rules and encrypted network protocols will be mandatory features for 90% of enterprise printer purchases, as organizations seek to safeguard against network-based attacks. Vendors that do not integrate seamless wireless security, including support for the latest WPA3 standard, may be excluded from 60% of enterprise RFPs by 2025.
Authentication and access control will be another area of emphasis, with multi-factor authentication, including support for corporate identity providers, becoming a requirement for 75% of enterprise printer deployments. Role-based access policies that granularly restrict printer functions and settings will also be mandated by 65% of enterprises to prevent unauthorized access to sensitive information.
At the data protection and document security layers, the trends are equally clear. End-to-end data encryption for print jobs, both in transit and at rest, will be a baseline requirement for 85% of enterprise printer purchases, as organizations seek to safeguard sensitive information. Integrated document security features, such as digital signatures and watermarking, will also be sought by 70% of enterprises to ensure the integrity and origin of printed materials.
These strategic planning assumptions, grounded in the Layered Security Architecture framework, underscore the evolving security landscape that will shape the enterprise printer market in the years ahead. Vendors that can align their product roadmaps and go-to-market strategies to address these shifting requirements will be well-positioned to capture market share and cement their position as trusted partners for enterprise customers.
As organizations continue to prioritize the security of their printing infrastructure, the ability to deliver comprehensive, defense-in-depth security across the hardware, firmware, network, authentication, and data protection layers will be a critical differentiator. The enterprises that can seamlessly integrate these security capabilities into their printing environments will be better equipped to safeguard sensitive information, ensure compliance, and maintain the resilience of their operations in the face of an ever-evolving threat landscape.
10 Strategic Planning Assumptions: Enterprise Printer Market
Hardware Layer Assumptions
1. As hardware-level security becomes a top priority, at least 80% of enterprise printer purchases will require the integration of a Trusted Platform Module (TPM) and secure BIOS by 2026. (Probability 0.85)
2. Printer vendors that fail to implement robust tamper-evident designs and self-healing firmware capabilities will lose market share to more security-focused competitors. (Probability 0.78)
Firmware Layer Assumptions
3. Enterprises will demand 100% of their printer firmware be digitally signed and verified to prevent unauthorized modifications, driving vendors to enhance their firmware integrity controls. (Probability 0.90)
4. Automated firmware update mechanisms that rapidly address known vulnerabilities will become table stakes, with 65% of enterprises requiring this capability by 2027. (Probability 0.82)
Network Layer Assumptions
5. Advanced firewall rules and encrypted network protocols will be mandatory security features for 90% of enterprise printer purchases, as organizations seek to mitigate network-based threats. (Probability 0.88)
6. Printer vendors that fail to integrate seamless wireless security, including support for WPA3, will be excluded from 60% of enterprise RFPs by 2025. (Probability 0.75)
Authentication and Access Control Assumptions
7. Multi-factor authentication, including support for corporate identity providers, will be required for 75% of enterprise printer deployments to enhance access control and user accountability. (Probability 0.83)
8. Role-based access policies that granularly restrict printer functions and settings will be mandated by 65% of enterprises to prevent unauthorized access to sensitive information. (Probability 0.80)
Data Protection and Document Security Assumptions
9. End-to-end data encryption for print jobs, both in transit and at rest, will be a baseline requirement for 85% of enterprise printer purchases to safeguard sensitive information. (Probability 0.88)
10. Integrated document security features, such as digital signatures and watermarking, will be sought by 70% of enterprises to ensure the integrity and origin of printed materials. (Probability 0.76)