Audit a networked printer as the computer it is

applied · 70 min · Objective 3.3

Task

Treat a network printer as a networked computer and audit it accordingly, then write the hardening plan -- because a multifunction device holds documents, has a web interface and frequently ships on default credentials.

Steps

  1. Record the device in lab/printer/device.csv with header model,firmware,address,how_addressed -- where how_addressed is static, reservation or plain DHCP.
  2. Record which management services are enabled in lab/printer/services.csv with header service,enabled,needed,action -- the needed column is your judgement and action follows from it.
  3. Record in lab/printer/storage.md whether the device has internal storage, whether it retains scanned or printed documents, and what the disposal obligation would be.
  4. Write lab/printer/hardening.csv with header control,current,target,effort covering the administrative password, firmware currency, unused protocols, secure print and logging.
  5. WHERE NO DEVICE IS AVAILABLE: write lab/printer/fallback.md recording that, and complete the same four tables from a manufacturer's manual for a specific model.

Verify

ls lab/printer/device.csv lab/printer/fallback.md 2>/dev/null | wc -l
awk -F, 'NR>1 && NF>=4 {n++} END {print n+0" service(s) assessed"}' lab/printer/services.csv 2>/dev/null
awk -F, 'NR>1 && tolower($3)=="no" {n++} END {print n+0" service(s) not needed"}' lab/printer/services.csv 2>/dev/null
grep -Eic 'storage|retain|disposal' lab/printer/storage.md
awk -F, 'NR>1 && NF>=4 {n++} END {print n+0" hardening control(s)"}' lab/printer/hardening.csv

Either a real device or a documented fallback, services assessed with at least one judged unnecessary, a storage note, and five hardening controls. A device where every enabled service is judged necessary has not been looked at carefully -- printers ship with long protocol lists.

Notes

A leased multifunction device returned with its storage intact is a recurring real-world data breach. The disposal obligation belongs in the plan before the lease ends, not after.

This is an independent study companion for CompTIA A+ Core 1 220-1201 and is not produced by or endorsed by CompTIA.