Lexmark International, the printer manufacturer, today extended its technology leadership with the introduction of two new products targeted at the crucial need of businesses to protect sensitive information as it is printed and to leverage wireless technology to provide printing flexibility.
The new Lexmark PrintCryptionTM Card delivers encryption capabilities for secure printing to Lexmark network printers. This new level of printing security is ideal for many industries, including those that are commonly handling sensitive or personal information, such as financial institutions, government agencies and healthcare organisations. The company also introduced today the Lexmark 802.11b Wireless Print Adapter, an easy-to-use enhancement that frees printing from the limitations of the wired network. The PrintCryption Card and the Wireless Print Adapter can be used together to provide convenient and secure wireless printing.
The PrintCryption Card provides corporate environments with strengthened printing security. A May 2002 survey conducted by CIO Magazine underscores the importance of IT security. In fact, survey respondents recommend a 77 percent increase in security spending in 2003 compared to current levels. The new Lexmark PrintCryption Card works with software from Levi, Ray & Shoup, Inc. (LRS) to provide encrypted, end-to-end print job security between common mainframe systems and wired or wireless network printers. Software is also available from Lexmark to work with select UNIX environments.
This solution generates random and unique session keys for each print job. Similar offerings on the market today use a persistent key for each printer. This new Lexmark technology offers a level of security that is a first of its kind in the printing industry and eliminates the worry of a user's ‘key’ being compromised and used to intercept future confidential print jobs.
"Our ability to generate unique encryption keys for each and every print job greatly simplifies the effort required to provide a secure environment and avoids a major weakness in other solutions," said Jane Cronin, SMB Director, Lexmark UK. "This printing solution can benefit industries that rely on keeping their customers' information confidential, such as financial institutions, government agencies and the healthcare industry."
As an added layer of security, this new offering also permits only the specified printer to decrypt and print the data. If information is inappropriately intercepted, it remains encrypted. The Lexmark PrintCryption Card works when installed in the Lexmark T-family of laser printers to receive the encrypted data stream, decrypt it and produce the confidential document.
Wireless printing
The Lexmark 802.11b Wireless Print Adapter provides a plug-and-play solution for Ethernet-capable printers, MFPs and print servers. It is Wi-Fi certified to guarantee compatibility with IEEE 802.11b networks and supports Wireless Equivalent Privacy (WEP) using 64- and 128-bit encryption for secure transmission of print data.
"Our new print adapter is an open-standards based solution for the 802.11b wireless needs of our customers," Cronin said. "It extends the power and manageability of Lexmark products to the flexible, wireless network environment."
Pricing and availability
The Lexmark PrintCryption Card, including the software for UNIX systems, will be available later this month at an estimated street price of £162*. The software for common mainframe systems is available for purchase from LRS.
The Lexmark 802.11b Wireless Print Adapter will be available in November at an estimated street price of £148*. Both products will be available through authorised Lexmark solution providers and at www.lexmark.co.uk.
