Secure Printing for Remote Workers: Don't Leave Sensitive Data on Printers (2026)

2 min read

The Printer Security Problem

Printers are computers with hard drives, network connections, and memory — but they rarely get security attention. For remote workers who print at home, co-working spaces, or hotel business centers, printers represent a real but often overlooked security risk.

Risks by Location

Home Printer

Lower risk — you control the device
Still important: Change default admin password, update firmware, disable remote access
Network exposure: Your printer is on your network. If compromised, it could be a foothold for attacks

Co-Working Space Printer

Medium risk — shared among many users
Print jobs may be stored in the printer's memory or queue
Other users could access your printed documents if left in the tray
Network printer may log job metadata (who printed what, when)

Hotel Business Center

High risk — shared with strangers on a public network
NEVER print sensitive documents at hotel business centers
Print queues may be accessible to others
Public computers used for printing may have keyloggers or malware

Secure Printing Practices

Delete print jobs from the printer queue after printing
Collect documents immediately — don't leave printouts in the tray
Use "secure print" if your printer supports it (requires PIN to release job at printer)
Encrypt print jobs — some enterprise printers support encrypted transmission
Print sensitive documents only on your personal printer at home
Shred printed documents you no longer need
Check printer memory — some printers store all print jobs on internal storage. Clear periodically
Update printer firmware — printers are computers and need security updates too