The Hidden Risk in Print Security: Print Systems Left Unpatched

Let’s be honest: No one ignores updates on purpose.

Teams are busy, print systems “just work,” and upgrades feel risky when downtime isn’t an option. But over time, postponed system updates quietly increase exposure, especially for systems that connect users, documents, and networks. This is one of the most common security patterns we see in real customer environments.

What happens when critical infrastructure goes untouched for over a year? The number one hidden security risk creeps in... In places nobody expected.

Overlooked Printing Security Risks

The biggest print security blind spot many organizations face (without realizing it) is outdated software. But why is this risk so critical?

Because unpatched systems remain a top attack vector and a leading cause of data breaches. Attackers routinely scan for outdated software and find ways to exploit known vulnerabilities inside it. Because of that, delayed updates increase system risk exponentially the longer your system stays outdated.

Experience tells us that once a vulnerability is public, the window between disclosure and exploitation is often short. This is especially true for internet-connected services. According to DeepStrike, roughly 28% of observed exploits were launched just one day after the vulnerability was disclosed.

So, while many organizations assume that they’re operating a secure print system, those who fail to keep their print stack up to date leave the infrastructure increasingly vulnerable to severe attacks.

What Telemetry Data Reveals About On-Prem Print Stacks

Telemetry data shows that on-premise print infrastructure is frequently under-maintained. According to Y Soft’s 2026 State of Printing report, about 84% of on-prem installations had not been updated for more than 12 months.

This isn’t negligence; it reflects end-customers' operational reality. Manual updates get postponed far too easily and are hard to prioritize.

The reality is that for many IT teams, manually going in and updating software that is working well in their day-to-day isn't a priority... But this “we’ll update later” approach eventually turns into a security problem. Manual patching does not scale reliably, and it leaves print systems more vulnerable.

Ultimately, security is all about timing, not intent. ⏱️

Vulnerabilities don’t wait for maintenance windows. The longer your print stack remains unpatched, the more likely it is to fall behind multiple security fixes, compounding exposure with each delay.

These printing security risks build up quietly, not suddenly.

How Cloud-Managed Services Change the Equation

With cloud services, organizations can take advantage of a modern, automated print stack. And with automation, they eliminate the human dependency factor in security maintenance.

Take the YSoft SAFEQ Cloud portfolio, for instance. In SAFEQ Cloud, we deploy updates centrally, regularly, and automatically every two weeks. Deployments, verifications, potential rollbacks, and monitoring are all handled by your service operator.

Cloud print services help Sysadmins maintain a secure print system over time without having to schedule or remember security updates. Native automation capabilities reduce print security risk by design, not by afterthought.

The Shift Isn’t About Infrastructure, It’s About Responsibility

It’s tempting to assume that the changes trace back to infrastructure. Cloud versus on-prem. But really, it's about responsibility: The real risk lies in who owns ongoing security.

On-premises systems place responsibility on local IT teams already managing countless priorities. With managed cloud services, we shift that responsibility to dedicated security operations, reducing the risk of long-term drift.

Security improves when ownership is explicit. With clear accountability and intelligent automation, organizations can keep attackers at bay, minimize any network printer security risk, and avoid damaging exploits.

📖 Read on → Real Cloud Print Security Is About Owning the Risk

Final Points

Most security incidents don’t start with sophisticated attacks. They start with systems that fall behind.

Telemetry shows that delayed updates are common in on-prem print environments, not because teams don’t care, but because manual security doesn’t scale. And it can’t keep up with a modern threat landscape.

Printing security risks emerge little by little, and security fails when you least expect it. Automation is one of the most effective ways to prevent that failure and maintain a secure print system.