Konica Minolta has been positioned as a Leader in Quocirca’s assessment of the Print Security 2026 Landscape, for a fifth consecutive year. Quocirca attributes this ranking to three key factors: “greater independent assurance of device security, a clearer shift to continuous cloud-based governance of fleet security, and closer alignment with Microsoft’s evolving cloud print architecture”.
The annual report includes a study for which Quocirca surveyed 400 IT decision-makers from France, Germany, the UK, and the United States, representing companies of various sizes and across different industries.
Printing Infrastructures Remain an Underestimated Security Risk
The findings of the study are cause for concern. While approximately 80% of the organizations surveyed stated that they continue to rely heavily on printing, only 31% view their printing infrastructure as a significant security risk, ranking it only seventh behind more general IT security concerns such as the cloud, AI, and email.
This discrepancy poses risks: The number of printing-related data breaches has risen significantly compared to the previous year, from 56% to 67%. Particularly alarming: 43% of companies have even experienced multiple security incidents. Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are especially hard hit. More than seven in ten companies (71%) reported at least one printing-related data breach last year.
At the same time, the study’s findings reveal a clear correlation between security investments and lower rates of data loss. Companies with comprehensive security measures experienced printing-related data loss significantly less frequently than less well-secured companies (56% of frontrunners vs. 73% of laggards).
Growing Concerns About AI-Powered Cyber Threats
Artificial intelligence is increasingly emerging as a new risk factor for print security. According to Quocirca, with 31% AI-based cyberattacks are now among the biggest security challenges for print infrastructures, ranking first among the risks cited. At the same time, 54% are very or extremely concerned that attackers could use AI to develop increasingly sophisticated and harder-to-detect threats to printing and document environments. This represents an increase from 2025, when only 40% expressed this concern.
Firmware and Hardware Vulnerabilities Rank Among the Greatest Security Risks
Alongside AI-based cyberattacks, with 29% vulnerabilities in firmware and hardware rank second among the greatest challenges to the security of printing infrastructures. Quocirca also points out that multi-vendor fleets, in particular, pose a higher risk. Due to inconsistent security configurations, varying firmware update cycles, and fragmented management tools, they often introduce additional vulnerabilities. Quocirca therefore recommends that companies continuously monitor the security status of their printing infrastructure. This includes, among other things, device configurations, firmware versions, and other security-related factors.
In the ‘Print Security Landscape, 2026’ report Quocirca has identified three core themes that it considers to be strengths of Konica Minolta:
#1: Enhanced Security Through Independent Certifications and External Validation
Quocirca cites the expansion of independent security validation across the Konica Minolta portfolio as one of the key reasons for the company’s renewed positioning as a Leader. Particular emphasis is placed on the growing “number of bizhub i-Series devices certified under NIAP/Common Criteria (HCD-PP v1.0), providing a stronger assurance baseline for regulated environments where formal certification is frequently a prerequisite”.
In addition, Quocirca points to independent penetration and security tests that Konica Minolta uses to strengthen the verifiable security of its systems.
#2: Cloud-based Security Governance Ensures consistent Security Standards
Quocirca highlights the shift from traditional device security functions to continuous, cloud-based security governance as another reason for Konica Minolta’s continued leadership position. At the heart of this is Konica Minolta’s Shield Guard platform, which enables companies to manage security policies across multiple locations, monitor compliance with regulatory requirements, and automatically detect and resolve configuration deviations, such as those caused by local changes or firmware updates. According to Quocirca, this approach addresses one of the greatest challenges in modern printing environments: ensuring a consistent level of security across distributed device fleets, which are often operated across multiple locations or managed by different service providers.
In addition, Shield Guard helps organizations defend against the growing wave of AI-assisted cyber threats such as ransomware, malware, exploit abuse, and password cracking. It recognizes those AI threads through continuous security monitoring. Besides, it helps minimize risks through automated password renewal, compliance verification, and proactive identification of device vulnerabilities.
Further, Quocirca mentions the cloud based CS Remote Care remote management tool, which enables firmware updates and device settings to be applied remotely and centrally.
#3: Secure Cloud Print with Microsoft Technologies
Quocirca also commends Konica Minolta’s consistent focus on Microsoft’s modern cloud print architecture, as customers are increasingly using cloud printing services and modern Windows print paths to reduce their reliance on outdated print servers and traditional printer drivers. The company supports Microsoft’s cloud print solution Universal Print (including Universal Print Anywhere and Microsoft Entra ID) and offers its own Print Support Application, which serves as the successor to traditional printer drivers. Quocirca notes that Konica Minolta thereby supports secure cloud printing, for example, through strong identity and policy controls.
