Executive Summary
Multifunction products, or MFP’s, are complex network devices that require careful security consideration. Lexmark MFP’s and networking products include a wide array of security features. This document discusses the security features of Lexmark MFP’s and provides an overview of their benefits and their implementation.

Any device that is placed on a network must be evaluated with respect to security. How does the device protect itself from unauthorized access? Does the device expose the network to any form of vulnerability? What sort of information does the device process and what are the security considerations related to that data? These, and many other questions, are appropriate to ask of any networked device, including networked MFP’s.

Networked MFP’s operate independently on networks and can be a focal point for sensitive information. Securing them is in some ways comparable to securing other conventional networked devices such as computers. The need or controlled network access and the need for secure remote management are largely the same for MFP’s and workstations. In other areas, the security considerations around MFP’s are substantially different. MFP’s generally don’t run conventional operating systems, the concept of user authentication is applied differently, they do not have network file shares that need to be secured and they probably do not need or support antivirus software.

This document will define the major areas of security concerns related to MFP’s and provide an overview of the security features of Lexmark MFP’s that allow the devices to be deployed, managed and used in a secure manner.

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