HP Brings Secure Printers For Secure Business

HP introduced a series of printers and scanners with built-in self healing security features

IT managers look for holistic security solutions to protect their enterprises from cyber attacks. Computers and servers are the most vulnerable devices for any attacker; therefore, enterprises make substantial investment in the security of these mission critical systems. However, the security of hardcopy peripherals which is also the critical and more prone to attack or data breach, are generally not considered in security strategy. Today, printers are no longer a peripheral to PC and they have got computing powers. Therefore, hardware and software of hardcopy peripherals are vulnerable to attack.

According to the Ponemon Institute, 56 percent of enterprises ignore printers in their endpoint security strategy. At the same time, 64 percent of IT managers believe that their printers are likely affected by malware. Therefore, hardcopy peripheral security has gained a lot of significance. Instead of adding one more layer of security for printers, enterprises are looking for printing solutions that have in-built security features. Considering these security needs of enterprises, HP has launched a series of Laser Jet Printers and Scanners with built in security features. The new series of hardcopy peripherals based on the Jet Intelligence technology comes with unique self-healing security features that secure the devices against malicious attacks.

Leong Han Kong, vice president, Printing Systems, HP Asia Pacific and Japan unveiled the new series of Laser Jet Printers and Scanners in the global launch event held in China recently. HP introduced eight printing and scanning solutions in the event namely: HP Color LaserJet Enterprise MFP M577, HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP M477, HP LaserJet Enterprise MFP M527, HP LaserJet Enterprise M506, HP LaserJet Pro MFP M426, HP LaserJet Pro MFP M427, HP ScanJet Pro 2500f1 and HP ScanJet Pro 3500f1. The new set of offerings comes with industry leading security features such as HP SureStart, Whitelisting and Intrusion detection mechanism.

Leong Han Kong said the new set of offerings would be the game changer for HP worldwide, including emerging economies like India. “In India, we are in the leading position in the Laser printer market segment and the new offering will further enhance our position in the county. This launch will be a game changer for HP not only in India but in the entire Asia Pacific region”, Leong Han Kong said.

According to IDC Worldwide quarterly hardcopy peripheral market tracker 2014, the Inkjet printer market share was estimated at 59.7 percent. Whereas, color Laser Jet printer segment grew at around 10 percent in Q 2, 2014. The HCP market in India grew marginally at 1.5 percent in Q1 in 2014 to reach 8.01 lakh units in terms of shipment. According to the estimation of IDC, HP had the lead in the hardcopy peripheral segment with 48.3 percent share, followed by Canon with 16.4 percent share, Epson with 10.5 percent share, Ricoh with 5.7 percent share and Samsung with 5.3 percent market share.

With the new offerings with future smart technology, HP aims to further enhance its market share, especially in the enterprise and SMB segment. HP SureStart enables detection of and self-healing, recovery from malicious BIOS attacks. Whitelisting ensures execution of good firmware on a printer. The Run-time intrusion detection feature provides in device memory monitoring for malicious attacks. HP has also expanded the innovation of original HP Toner cartridges with Jet Intelligence technology. The anti-fraud technology built into Jet Intelligence toner cartridges, easily identifies counterfeit cartridges and enforces user-initiated anti-theft and office-wide printing policies to manage cost and quality standards.

Leong Han Kong said that the new offering would enable the enterprises to ensure security of data and at the same time it will help the companies to achieve higher productivity at a lower cost. “We are reinventing the chemistry of printing with the launch of new HP Laser Jet series of MFPs. We will continue to focus on security for its printing portfolio by delivering market leading security technology foe new and existing printers, helping customers better protect their device, data and documents”, Leong Han Kong said.

The company said that the offerings based on its Jet Intelligence innovations would give HP an edge over the competitors. “These products are designed with keeping the customers needs in mind. We developed the Jet Intelligence technology to allow us to have a major breakthrough in what the customers are expecting from us. Some of the key break through what Jet Intelligence technology allows us to do is speed, both sided printing, space, competitive pricing”, Leong Han Kong said.

Leong Han Kong said that the new offerings would be available in the market in the month of October at very competitive price and its existing set of partners along with internal sales force would be responsible for the right pitch for the product in the market. HP also held partner training at the event where the company invited its prominent partners in the Asia Pacific region.

HP has announced plans to separate into two new publicly traded Fortune 50 companies in the month of November: one comprising HP’s market-leading enterprise technology infrastructure, software and services businesses, which will do business as Hewlett-Packard Enterprise, and one that will comprise HP’s market-leading personal systems and printing businesses, which will do business as HP Inc. and retain the current logo. Leong Han Kong said that the split would help the company to strengthen its printing business.

“With the restructuring and split, we will have flexible and more intense focus on business. We will be investing in new technology to give us new markets. Along with that we are looking for new innovations in 3D printing”, Leong Han Kong said.