Security holes can be opened by all network-attached peripherals, warned ICSA’s Labs’ Kevin Brown in a recent interview with Information Week. That group of devices includes, but is not limited to, printers and copiers.

Said Brown: “Any device that you attach to your network has the potential to be at risk,” including postage machines, Uninterruptible Power Supply systems, Point-of-Sales systems, digital signs, security cameras, facility management systems and alarms, among other things.

Those devices run software, and software can be vulnerable to hackers. Brown’s advice: “Treat every device on your network like you would any other PC, workstation or server, as much as you reasonably can.”

That includes factoring security into purchasing decisions, and possibly paying extra for encryption and other security features.

ICSA, an independent division of Verizon Business, recently announced the new Network Attached Peripheral Security (NAPS) certification, which will help manufacturers identify and fix potential security vulnerabilities in existing and planned products.

Businesses will also be offered a service called NAPS assessment, in which ICSA will test devices to make sure they’re installed properly.

Xerox also recently announced the development of security certification for printers and MFPs.