A Printer. A Door Lock. A Way Into Your Business.

Your office printer, security cameras, and electronic door locks could have more in common than you think. They may all connect to your business network—and that connection could create cybersecurity risks you haven't considered.

Most business owners know to protect their computers, email, and sensitive company data. But what about the technology operating quietly in the background?

A printer. A security camera. An electronic access control system.

These devices may seem harmless on their own. But if one is compromised, it could potentially give an attacker a path to other systems on your network.

As businesses connect more devices to their infrastructure, understanding how those devices communicate—and what they can access—is becoming an important part of business network security.

How Connected Devices Create Cybersecurity Risks

Businesses increasingly rely on connected technology to keep their offices running efficiently. This includes everything from network printers and surveillance cameras to heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) controls.

Many of these devices communicate over the same network infrastructure used by employees' computers, business applications, and servers.

This brings two areas of technology together: information technology (IT) and operational technology (OT).

• Information technology (IT) includes computers, servers, email, business applications, and systems that process and store information.
• Operational technology (OT) includes systems that monitor or control physical equipment, such as building automation, HVAC controls, and certain security systems.

Connecting IT and OT can improve efficiency and visibility. However, it also creates a need to manage how these systems interact.

If a connected device has outdated software, weak credentials, or inadequate security controls, an attacker may be able to exploit that weakness. Depending on the network configuration, the attacker could then attempt to access other systems.

The device itself may not contain your most valuable business information. The greater risk could be what the device can reach.

The Hidden Risk of a Flat Business Network

One important cybersecurity concern is a network that allows too much communication between connected devices and business systems.

In a flat network, devices may have broader access to one another than they actually need. If an attacker compromises a vulnerable device, that access could make it easier to move laterally through the network.

Consider a simple example.

Your business has security cameras, office printers, employee computers, and financial applications connected to its network. If a camera is compromised, the potential impact depends on its access permissions, the network design, and the security controls protecting other systems.

If the network has inadequate separation, the attacker may have opportunities to reach additional devices or sensitive resources.

This doesn't mean every connected device creates a direct path to your business data. It means that the way your network is designed can determine whether one compromised device remains an isolated problem or becomes a much larger security incident.

For a small or midsize business, that distinction matters. A cybersecurity incident could disrupt operations, expose confidential information, and create unexpected recovery costs.

Network Segmentation: An Important Layer of Cybersecurity

One way to reduce these risks is through network segmentation.

Network segmentation divides a network into separate sections and controls the traffic allowed between them. Instead of giving every connected device broad access, businesses can restrict communication according to what each device actually needs.

Think of it like an office building.

Employees may need access to certain rooms to do their jobs, but that doesn't mean everyone should have access to the server room, records storage, or building controls.

Network segmentation applies a similar principle to digital systems.

For example, a business might separate:

• Employee computers and business applications.
• Security cameras and electronic access control systems.
• Printers and other connected office equipment.
• Building management and operational technology systems.

The specific design depends on the business, its equipment, and its operational requirements. Devices that need to communicate with one another can still do so through appropriately configured rules.

The objective is to limit unnecessary access and make it harder for an attacker to move from one part of the network to another.

Network segmentation isn't a complete cybersecurity solution on its own. It works best alongside other safeguards, including software updates, strong authentication, access controls, network monitoring, and a clear understanding of which devices are connected.

Three Ways to Strengthen Your Business Network Security

You don't need to be a cybersecurity expert to start asking the right questions. Here are three practical steps business owners can take with their IT teams or technology partners.

1. Identify Every Device Connected to Your Network

You can't effectively protect devices you don't know exist.

Create and maintain an inventory of the technology connected to your network. Include computers, printers, security cameras, access control systems, and building automation equipment.

Record who manages each device, what it does, and whether it still receives security updates.

This inventory provides a starting point for identifying outdated equipment, unknown devices, and potential security gaps.

2. Review Which Devices Can Access Other Systems

Not every device needs to communicate with every other device.

Review your network configuration to determine whether printers, cameras, building systems, and other connected equipment have more access than necessary.

Appropriate network segmentation and access restrictions can help reduce unnecessary connections and limit the potential impact of a compromised device.

The goal isn't to prevent technology from working together. It's to make sure those connections are intentional and appropriately secured.

3. Address Outdated Devices and Unclear Ownership

Some connected devices remain in service for years. During that time, their software may become outdated, security updates may stop, or responsibility for maintaining them may become unclear.

Work with your IT team and relevant equipment vendors to identify devices that need updates, stronger security controls, isolation, or replacement.

It's also important to clarify who is responsible for securing each system. IT teams, building managers, security providers, and other vendors may all have a role.

When responsibility is unclear, security issues can fall through the cracks.

Why IT and OT Security Matters to Business Owners

Cybersecurity is often treated as a problem involving computers, email, and online threats. But protecting a modern business requires a broader view.

Connected devices can support productivity, improve building management, and make everyday operations more convenient. The challenge is managing the risks that come with that connectivity.

Business leaders don't need to understand every technical detail. They do need confidence that their technology environment has been evaluated as a whole.

That means asking whether critical systems are appropriately separated, whether devices are being maintained, and whether the business has a plan for responding to security incidents.

At Chief Second, we believe effective IT management starts with understanding how technology supports your business—not simply whether individual devices are working.

For small and midsize businesses, a proactive approach to network security can help identify weaknesses before they become more disruptive and expensive problems.

Further Reading: IT/OT Convergence and Network Segmentation

This article was inspired by BizTech Magazine's article on IT/OT convergence, security, and network segmentation.

The article explores the security challenges that emerge as business IT and operational technology become increasingly connected, including the importance of network segmentation in managing risk.

It's a useful resource for business leaders who want to understand why protecting connected devices requires more than securing individual computers.

Is Your Business Network More Connected Than You Realize?

Your office printer might not seem like a significant cybersecurity concern. Neither might a security camera or an electronic door lock.

But the important question isn't just whether each device is secure. It's what that device can access—and what could happen if an attacker compromises it.

If one connected device were compromised tomorrow, how much of your business network could be affected?

At Chief Second, we help New York City businesses take a proactive approach to IT management, network security, and business resilience.

If you're unsure how your connected devices interact or whether your network has the right security boundaries, visit Chief Second to learn more about our approach to technology management.

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