Canon launches printer EDR technology for office security

SOUTH AFRICA – Canon South Africa has announced that it has developed Printer EDR technology, extending the endpoint detection and response concept to office printers to monitor and mitigate cybersecurity threats.

Endpoint detection and response systems traditionally monitor computers and servers for malicious activity, flagging unusual behaviour and enabling rapid containment. 

By applying this framework to printers, Canon aims to close a persistent gap in corporate cybersecurity, where connected devices often sit outside standard monitoring coverage.

Office printers store temporary data, hold network credentials and serve as entry points for lateral movement by attackers, making them attractive targets in enterprise environments.

Monitoring Detects Anomalous Printer Behaviour

Printer EDR technology monitors device activity for signs of compromise, including unauthorised configuration changes, irregular data transmission and suspicious firmware modifications. 

When anomalies are detected, the system can alert administrators or initiate automated responses to limit damage. 

This capability matters for organisations handling sensitive documents across legal, financial, healthcare and government sectors, where printer compromise can expose confidential information or provide attackers with footholds into wider network infrastructure.

Regulatory Pressure Elevates Device Security

Data protection regulations increasingly require organisations to secure all endpoints that process or store personal and business information. 

Printers frequently fall outside formal asset inventories or security patching schedules, creating blind spots that auditors and regulators now scrutinise. 

Embedding monitoring directly into printer firmware offers a route to consistent security coverage without deploying additional agent software on each device, simplifying management for IT teams responsible for large fleets across distributed offices.

Supply Chain and Firmware Integrity

Printer security extends beyond malware detection to firmware integrity and supply chain assurance. 

Attackers have targeted printer firmware in past campaigns, exploiting update mechanisms to install persistent backdoors. 

Printer EDR technology that validates firmware and monitors for unauthorised changes addresses this risk at the device level, complementing network segmentation and access controls. 

For South African enterprises adopting hybrid working models, where printers may sit in branch offices with limited IT oversight, embedded security capabilities reduce reliance on manual monitoring and help maintain consistent protection across dispersed infrastructure.

Canon’s development reflects broader industry movement toward securing operational technology and Internet of Things devices, categories that security teams have historically struggled to integrate into centralised monitoring frameworks.

Subscribe to our email newsletters that provide busy executives like you with the latest news insights and trends from Africa and the World. SUBSCRIBE HERE