Recently, your Xerox multifunction printer or other networked Xerox device might have prompted you to change the unit’s default password.
For many users, this request came out of the blue—but there’s a good reason for it, and in today’s post on the Professional Document Solutions blog, we’re going to explain exactly what happened, as well as what to expect insofar as default passwords for Xerox equipment is concerned in the future.
As it turns out, this change in default password handling was the result of some legislation over in California. Let’s learn more:
What is California State Law SB-327 and Why Does it Matter to Me, Even if I Don’t Live in California?
Lawmakers in California recently passed state law SB-327, which mandates that any manufacturer of technology which is capable of going on the internet must procure a completely unique default password for each device they sell. Since nearly all modern Xerox machines are internet-capable by design, they fall under the requirements of SB-327 if Xerox wants to continue selling those devices in California (which they do!).
The requirement to have a unique password for each individual unit is actually a smart security decision. While it may be more inconvenient for the end user—slightly, at most—the benefits are tremendous. Xerox, for the sake of simplicity, has implemented this change throughout all of their products everywhere, not just the ones being sold in California.
Consider for a moment that if you’re capable of looking up the default password for your own Xerox hardware on the internet, that anyone else is capable of doing the same thing. Using the same default password was never a good idea from a security standpoint. In fact, using unique passwords for each set of hardware is something that security professionals have been advocating for years.
How Xerox Will Handle Default Passwords From Now On
Since there won’t be a “default” default password anymore (i.e., a standardized default password that works on all units across a certain Xerox series), you must be wondering how you find out the unique password to your device.
It’s still pretty easy (and perhaps arguably even easier than before). From now on, the default password for all Xerox machines will be the serial number of that unit. Since serial numbers are printed on every device and are already completely unique from one another, this was the best solution.
Having said that, you should still always change the default password for your Xerox device—even if you work in a small office where only a handful of people use it.
Time For an Upgrade? Learn More About How Xerox Keeps Your Data Safe
The way default passwords are handled now is just one of many ways that Xerox is working to keep your data (and by extension, most likely your customer data) safe. Whether you need to do something complex like send HIPAA and GDPR compliant emails or you just want to keep your firmware updated to the latest version without a big hassle, Xerox has you covered.
If you’re ready to upgrade your work environment to the Xerox experience, we’d love to show you what it’s all about! Please feel free to contact us. If you already know what you need, you’re also welcome to request a free online quote.
