Are Your Office’s Smart Thermostats and Printers a Security Risk?
Article summary: Smart thermostats and networked printers are common in today’s office, but most small businesses treat them as background appliances rather than network-connected devices that need security attention. Small business IoT security requires the same habits as any other endpoint: updated firmware, strong passwords, and network separation. A few consistent steps protect your data, reduce your attack surface, and prevent these “invisible” devices from becoming an easy entry point into your network.
Most people don’t think twice about the thermostat on the wall or the printer down the hall.
They set the temperature, hit print, and move on.
But here’s the reality: both of those devices are computers on your network. And that makes them part of your cybersecurity picture, whether you’ve planned for it or not.
Small business Internet of Things (IoT) security often falls through the cracks because these devices are easy to overlook. They’re not laptops or servers. But they’re connected, they have IP addresses, and for attackers, that’s enough.
Getting network security services properly configured is one of the most effective ways to keep these overlooked devices from becoming a liability, especially in a small office environment where every device tends to share the same network.
Why Smart Office Devices Are an Overlooked Security Risk
IoT stands for “Internet of Things.” It’s the umbrella term for any physical device that connects to a network to send or receive data.
In an office, that includes smart thermostats, networked printers, IP cameras, smart speakers, and connected displays.
Each one is a potential entry point
In 2025, attackers launched an average of 820,000 IoT attacks per day globally.
According to Varonis, that’s how frequently IoT devices were targeted in 2025. Attackers often go after smaller, less-monitored networks specifically because the security posture is easier to exploit.
The reason smart office devices make such attractive targets is straightforward: they’re trusted, always on, and rarely updated.
Once an attacker gets control of a printer or thermostat, they can use it as a foothold to move deeper into your network, toward files, email, and financial systems.
What Can Actually Go Wrong with Smart Device Security?
It’s worth being specific, because “my thermostat could be hacked” sounds abstract until you understand what it actually means for your business.
Printers store more than you think
Modern networked printers are miniature computers.
They have internal hard drives, they store copies of every document they process, and they connect directly to your network, usually with minimal security controls out of the box.
61% of companies experienced print-related data loss within a 12-month period. Attackers can intercept print jobs in transit, access documents stored on the printer’s hard drive, or use the printer as a pivot point to reach other systems on your network.
Most offices have no idea this risk exists.
Smart thermostats are a door, not just a dial
A smart thermostat connected to the same network as your business systems isn’t just a climate tool. It’s a connected device that can be exploited.
One of the most-cited real-world examples of this risk involved attackers who entered a network through a connected fish tank sensor and accessed a private database. The device wasn’t the target. It was the door.
Small offices face the same dynamic.
A thermostat with default credentials sitting on the same Wi-Fi as your accounting software is a liability. For more on how attackers use unexpected access points to compromise networks, take a look at this overview of network security fundamentals.
A Practical IoT Security Checklist for Small Businesses
Good small business IoT security doesn’t require a major overhaul. It requires a few consistent habits, applied across every connected device in your office.
1. Inventory every connected device
Start by listing every device connected to your network: printers, thermostats, cameras, smart displays, and anything else with a network connection.
CISA, the federal cybersecurity agency, recommends evaluating the security settings of every internet-enabled device, especially when new devices are added or firmware updates change their configuration. That starts with knowing what’s there.
2. Change default passwords immediately
Most smart devices ship with default login credentials, often something like “admin/admin” or a generic PIN printed on the device. Those defaults are publicly listed online.
If you haven’t changed them, you’ve left the door unlocked.
Strong, unique passwords for every device are non-negotiable. Our post on password spraying attacks explains how attackers systematically exploit weak credentials at scale, including on devices most businesses aren’t watching.
3. Keep firmware updated
Firmware is the built-in software that controls your device. When manufacturers discover security flaws, they release firmware updates to patch them.
But only you can apply those updates.
Many offices go months or years without updating printer and thermostat firmware. Schedule a regular check, assign a clear owner, and treat it like any other software patching task.
4. Separate IoT devices onto their own network
This is the single most impactful step for office IoT security.
When smart devices share a network with your business systems, a compromised device can reach everything else. Network segmentation, which means placing IoT devices on a dedicated Wi-Fi network or VLAN, limits what a compromised device can access.
Think of it like a guest Wi-Fi. Visitors can use the internet, but they can’t see your internal files. The same principle applies to your printer and thermostat.
5. Disable features you don’t use
Many smart devices come with remote access ports, cloud sync, and guest access enabled by default.
Every active feature is a potential attack surface.
Go through the settings on each device and turn off anything your team doesn’t actively need. Less exposure means fewer ways in.
Is Your Office Network Protecting the Devices in the Background?
Smart office devices are convenient. They’re also connected, and that means they’re part of your security posture, whether you’ve addressed them or not.
The good news is that IoT security for small businesses doesn’t require new technology or a large project.
It requires a clear inventory, consistent maintenance habits, and a network setup that limits how far a problem can spread.
Contact Sound Computers to schedule a consultation. We’ll help you identify every connected device on your network, tighten your segmentation, and put a simple maintenance process in place that your team can stick with. Call us at (860) 577-8060, reach us online, or email info@soundcomputers.net.
Article FAQs
What is small business IoT security?
Small business IoT security is the practice of protecting internet-connected office devices from unauthorized access. This includes printers, thermostats, cameras, and smart appliances.
Are office printers really a cybersecurity risk?
Yes. Networked printers store documents, have internal hard drives, and connect to your business network. If a printer is running default credentials or outdated firmware, attackers can intercept print jobs, access stored data, or use the printer as a gateway to reach other systems.
How do I secure a smart thermostat at my office?
Start by changing the default password and keeping its firmware updated. Then place it on a separate network segment so it cannot communicate directly with your business systems, even if it is compromised. Disable any remote access or cloud features your team does not actively use.
What is network segmentation, and why does it matter for IoT devices?
Network segmentation divides your network into separate sections so devices in one section cannot directly communicate with devices in another. For IoT devices, this means a compromised printer or thermostat cannot reach your file storage, email, or financial systems, significantly limiting the damage if one of those devices is ever exploited.
