Securing Your Office’s Smart Thermostats and Printers

Article summary: Smart thermostats, networked printers, and other connected office devices are full computers on your network. Most businesses treat them as background appliances that need no security attention. Small business IoT security requires the same basics as any other endpoint: changed default credentials, updated firmware, and network separation. A few consistent habits prevent these overlooked devices from becoming the easiest entry point in your office.

A smart thermostat doesn’t look like a cybersecurity problem. Neither does a wireless printer or a networked projector. 

But to an attacker, they look exactly like what they are: internet-connected computers sitting on your network, probably running factory-default credentials and firmware from two years ago, almost certainly unmonitored.

Small business IoT security is the practice of securing every internet-connected device on your network. It’s one of the most commonly skipped steps in a security checklist. According to managed IT security, every device that joins your network is a potential entry point.

The Risk Nobody Is Watching

In 2017, attackers breached a North American casino by compromising a smart thermostat connected to a decorative fish tank. 

The thermostat had default credentials and sat on the same network as the casino’s high-roller database. Attackers used it as a pivot point and exfiltrated 10 gigabytes of sensitive data. The rest of the network was secured. The thermostat was not.

That case has become a cybersecurity textbook example. Less dramatic versions play out every day.

According to Verizon’s 2025 Data Breach Investigations Report, one in three data breaches now involves an IoT device.

These devices are attractive targets because they’re forgotten. Firmware stays unpatched for years. Passwords remain at “admin.” No one monitors them. For an attacker who just needs one foothold, a neglected printer or thermostat is a reliable first step.

Why These Devices Are Hard to Defend

The challenge isn’t technical. It’s visibility. 

Most businesses maintain a rough inventory of their computers, servers, and phones. They don’t have the same list for smart HVAC controllers, networked projectors, security cameras, or the Wi-Fi-enabled coffee machine someone plugged in last year.

These devices get installed and forgotten. That means they commonly go years without a firmware update, months without anyone checking their settings, and indefinitely with no logging or monitoring in place.

Research from the IoT Security Foundation found that 60% of IoT-related breaches stem from outdated firmware or unpatched vulnerabilities. Many of these are weaknesses that have been publicly documented for years.

Manufacturers frequently ship devices with known flaws and provide infrequent updates, leaving businesses continuously exposed long after a fix becomes available.

Four Habits That Protect These Devices

Good small business IoT security doesn’t require new tools. Apply the same habits you’d use for any endpoint, without exception.

Change default credentials immediately

Every device ships with factory usernames and passwords. Attackers maintain lists of these defaults and try them automatically. 

Changing credentials at installation takes five minutes and closes one of the most reliably exploited entry points.

Keep firmware updated

Most devices allow firmware checks in their admin interface. Where automatic updates are available, enable them. 

Where they aren’t, schedule a quarterly check. Outdated firmware is the single most common reason IoT devices get compromised.

Put IoT devices on a separate network segment

Network segmentation means creating a VLAN for IoT devices. A printer on its own segment can’t reach your file server even if fully compromised. 

Apply this to smart thermostats, cameras, and anything else that doesn’t need access to your core business systems.

Audit what’s connected

Your router’s device list shows everything currently connected. Run a scan at minimum once a year and any time a new device is added. You can’t protect devices you don’t know about.

The Culture Problem

The harder part of IoT security is informal additions. 

An employee brings in a smart speaker. Facilities install a new thermostat without flagging IT. A vendor leaves a networked device with default settings. Each represents a potential gap that nobody’s watching.

As our post on stopping ransomware before it spreads explains, attackers use automated tools that scan for exposed devices continuously. A forgotten printer with default credentials can be found and exploited within minutes of going online. 

A simple policy works: new devices must be registered, credentials must be changed, and network placement must be approved before anything goes online. That catches most gaps before they become incidents.

For a deeper look at how to manage trust across your network overall, our post on ongoing security monitoring explains the principles that apply here.

Don’t Know What’s on Your Network?

If you don’t have a clear picture of every device connected to your business network, that’s the starting point. A network audit surfaces forgotten devices, flags outdated firmware, and identifies misconfigurations before anyone else finds them.

Unbound Digital provides remote monitoring and network auditing to help businesses understand exactly what’s connected and whether it’s secured correctly. Call us at 423-467-7777 or contact us online to schedule a consultation.

Article FAQs

Are smart thermostats and printers really a cybersecurity risk?

Yes. These devices are full computers connected to your network. If they run default credentials or outdated firmware, they can be exploited as an entry point. An unpatched workstation is no different.

What is network segmentation and why does it matter for IoT devices?

Network segmentation places devices on a separate network so they can’t communicate directly with your core business systems. A compromised printer on its own segment can’t reach your file server or email. It’s one of the highest-impact controls available.

How do I find out what IoT devices are on my network?

Your router’s admin interface shows connected devices. An IT provider can run a more thorough scan. Look for anything that isn’t a computer, phone, or server. Those are your IoT devices and the ones most likely to be unsecured.

How often should I check and update these devices?

At minimum, check firmware quarterly and run a full device audit once a year. Also check any time a new device is installed. Building these checks into a regular schedule prevents the drift that attackers rely on.