In 2025, the concept of “the network perimeter” feels as useless as a castle moat in an age of drones. The modern workplace is distributed, hybrid, mobile, and cloud-connected, and that has blurred, if not erased, boundaries that once defined where enterprise data began and ended. Laptops, smartphones, multifunction printers, and other IoT-enabled office devices now function as endpoints in sprawling digital ecosystems. Each of those endpoints is both a productivity tool and a potential doorway for cyber risk.
For office technology dealers, this evolution represents both a challenge and an opportunity. As organizations of every size struggle with increasing security demands, the conversation has shifted from protecting the core to securing the edge. Endpoint security, once treated as a checkbox item, is now central to enterprise resilience, and, increasingly, to the value proposition dealers deliver.
The expanding threat surface
Endpoint security has become a primary battleground because endpoints are everywhere. The average organization today manages hundreds or thousands of connected devices. Employees use personal laptops, tablets, and mobile phones to access sensitive systems. Printers, scanners, and multifunction devices often sit on the same networks as corporate servers, sometimes with outdated firmware or weak access controls.
Attackers know this. Over the past few years, cybercriminals have increasingly targeted endpoints as the weakest link in an organization’s defenses. Depending on whose research you use, anywhere from 70% to 90% of successful breaches now originate at an endpoint. Phishing, ransomware, credential theft, and malware injection all rely on a single user’s device becoming compromised, and once inside, movement can happen fast.
For imaging dealers, this reality hits close to home. Many customers still think of printers as “dumb” devices that simply put ink or toner on paper, and while that’s true for some of the most basic devices, even consumer printers tend to be Wi-Fi enabled, and today’s MFPs are full-fledged computers, complete with operating systems, memory, and network connectivity. They store documents, credentials, and email addresses. Without proper configuration, patching, and monitoring, they can serve as open doors to an organization’s data.
From perimeter defense to zero trust
Traditional network security was perimeter-based: build a strong wall around your castle and trust what’s inside. But in the hybrid era, there is no wall. Employees connect from coffee shops, home offices, airports, and personal hotspots. Business applications run across public clouds, SaaS platforms, and on-premises environments. Even the strictest return-to-office mandates can’t contain what’s already been released.
That’s why zero trust has become the defining model. Its principle of “never trust, always verify” applies perfectly to endpoint security. Every device, user, and application must continuously authenticate and prove legitimacy before gaining access.
For dealers and MSPs, zero trust offers a framework to build layered, long-term security services. It’s not just about installing antivirus software; it’s about visibility, control, and continuous validation across every endpoint. Solutions that combine endpoint detection and response (EDR), identity management, and automated policy enforcement can dramatically reduce breach exposure.
The AI factor: smarter defenses and smarter attacks
Artificial intelligence is a double-edged sword in cybersecurity. On one side, AI-driven analytics enable faster detection and response. Machine learning algorithms can identify abnormal behavior — a printer suddenly communicating with an unfamiliar IP address, or a workstation transmitting large data volumes at odd hours — and trigger automated investigation.
On the other side, attackers are also using AI to generate malware, automate phishing campaigns, and even mimic trusted voices or writing styles in social engineering attacks. The result is an escalating arms race where speed and adaptability matter more than ever.
For providers of IT services, this dynamic reinforces the value of managed detection and response (MDR) solutions that integrate AI-assisted threat analysis with human expertise. Dealers expanding into managed IT or security offerings should emphasize that combination: AI can scale defense, but human oversight ensures context and accuracy.
Compliance, cost, and customer expectations
Endpoint security isn’t just a technical issue — it’s a business and regulatory one. Data privacy laws such as GDPR, HIPAA, and other local and state-level regulations continue to tighten enforcement and increase penalties for breaches. And increasingly, SMBs face many of the same compliance obligations and expectations as large enterprises, but without the dedicated security teams.
This creates an opening for dealers that can deliver peace of mind as part of their service stack. Proactive endpoint protection, patch management, secure configuration, and user education can all be positioned as components of a “compliance-ready” offering.
Cost is another driver. Breaches are expensive — not only in terms of remediation but also downtime, lost data, and reputational damage. The 2025 cost of a single ransomware incident averages over $5 million, according to the many “cost of a data breach/ransomware/cyberattack” reports in the market. Investing in endpoint security tools and managed services is increasingly seen as a cost-avoidance strategy rather than an expense.
Customers are more aware as well, as the rise of cyber insurance requirements has forced even small businesses to document their endpoint security controls before obtaining or renewing coverage. Dealers that can help clients meet those standards will strengthen retention and open new revenue channels.
The imaging channel’s hidden advantage
Dealers and MSPs already touch many of the endpoints organizations depend on daily. They install, monitor, and maintain MFPs, scanners, and software that connect directly to corporate networks. That visibility gives them an edge in extending security conversations beyond print and into broader IT ecosystems.
For instance, when performing routine device maintenance, a technician can also verify firmware updates, check for open ports, or ensure encrypted connections are active. Managed print services (MPS) contracts can evolve into comprehensive endpoint security offerings, monitoring print devices, user authentication, and data as it flows from the device to the cloud.
Some dealers have already made this transition by bundling MPS with managed IT or managed security services. The model creates predictable recurring revenue while deepening customer relationships. The next phase, for many, will be to adopt unified endpoint management (UEM) frameworks that oversee everything from PCs to printers to IoT devices under a single policy structure.
Emerging trends
Several trends are shaping the next wave of endpoint security strategies:
- Convergence of IT and OT security. As organizations adopt smarter buildings, connected manufacturing systems, and IoT sensors, the line between IT (information technology) and OT (operational technology) is blurring. Dealers servicing industrial or logistics customers should recognize that securing an endpoint could mean protecting a sensor or camera as much as a workstation or printer.
- Identity-centric protection and role-based access control (RBAC). As is true of so many things, humans are the weakest link in security. Identity and access management (IAM) is merging with endpoint security to create unified risk scoring and adaptive authentication. That means users logging in from unusual locations or devices may face additional verification layers. Within this framework, role-based access control (RBAC) provides structure and consistency by assigning permissions according to job function rather than individual credentials. RBAC reduces privilege sprawl, simplifies onboarding and offboarding, and helps enforce least-privilege principles across complex environments. Expect IAM and RBAC to continue converging within unified endpoint management platforms, giving IT teams centralized control over who can access what, and from where.
- Automated response and remediation. The volume of threats is too massive for manual intervention alone. Automated playbooks — isolating a compromised device, revoking credentials, or triggering a ticket in a service desk platform, for example — are now essential to endpoint resilience. Automation will be key to mature security practices going forward.
- Secure-by-design devices. Manufacturers are increasingly embedding security at the firmware and component levels. For imaging hardware, that includes encrypted hard drives, automatic firmware validation, and support for secure printing processes. Dealers who understand and communicate these capabilities can position themselves as trusted advisors in risk-conscious purchasing decisions.
Building a culture of security
Technology alone isn’t enough. The human factor remains the single largest vulnerability in endpoint protection. Phishing and credential theft continue to account for most breaches. A comprehensive endpoint strategy must therefore include user awareness training, password hygiene, and clear incident-reporting processes.
Dealers can help by reinforcing good security habits during onboarding, device delivery, or routine maintenance visits. Small gestures, like reminding a customer to lock an MFP’s admin panel or enable multifactor authentication, build trust and reinforce a shared sense of responsibility.
What’s good for the customer is good for the reseller, and dealers expanding into managed security services have to apply the same rigor to their own environments. A breach at the service provider level can have cascading effects across customer networks. Establishing internal zero trust principles, regular security audits, and vendor risk management practices is essential to credibility.
The business imperative
Endpoint security is not just a niche concern; it’s foundational to business continuity. Today, data is the lifeblood of nearly every organization, and endpoints are critical to the flow of that data. Protecting them means protecting revenue, reputation, and customer confidence.
For the office technology industry, embracing endpoint security isn’t about moving away from the core product lineup, but rather, about expanding it. The print device was the first endpoint dealers learned to secure; the next step is extending that expertise to every connected asset their customers rely on.
As cyberthreats grow more sophisticated and digital transformation accelerates, dealers who can bridge the gap between device management and security strategy will find themselves at the forefront of a critical evolution. Endpoint protection is not just a technical priority. It’s a key component of trust in today’s digital workplace.
Amy Weiss is a technology-focused writer and editor with more than two decades of experience in the office technology industry, including print and imaging, workflow automation, software, digital transformation, document management, and cybersecurity.