Kyocera develops revolutionary security technology

While all businesses are very well-aware of the need for security with electronic documents, there remains a challenge in the area of hard copy, which can be simulated or copied. This presents just as much of a threat as any unauthorised access to the electronic data storage systems.

Kyocera has achieved an equally powerful way to prevent unauthorised access and distribution of paper documents. This watermark technology places an overlay of toner over any specified print copy so it cannot be copied or scanned.

"The text in the security overlay is invisible to the naked eye, but it will block any attempt to copy the document," says Michael Powell, product manager for corporate enterprise at Kyocera Mita South Africa.

"When the security watermark is selected in the printer driver, a tint is embedded in the document which is printed in the background. When the document is copied, the tint will be decoded and the output will show "custom text" in the background; for example, copy or confidential."

Technology has been developed to protect information, such as the powerful file encryption systems that most companies use as a matter of normal security procedures.

"Customers we have dealt with in providing this solution have shown us figures that are quite remarkable," says Powell. "Without watermark security, improper copies of real documents can quickly result in staggering financial losses. Then there are the usual security risks involved in cases where a company's intellectual property falls into the wrong hands."

"The watermark solution Kyocera has developed effectively blocks any unauthorised copying of documents and can save a business from experiencing significant losses, while also improving general security."

There is a small increase in toner usage - typically about 10% - but customers are happy to accept this cost to prevent much more expensive risks.

In any context where copies of official documents pose a risk, the Kyocera watermark technology provides a security solution equal to the challenge. Quite apart from the obvious risk of documents - such as tender or researched and developed (R&D) information being copied and given to competitors - there are simple security issues, such as the duplication of invoices, delivery notes or waybills that can be used to circumvent physical security at a manufacturing facility's gates.

"The software to watermark documents is a free download which upgrades the Kyocera KX Driver," says Powell. "It is just another example of how we strive to give our customers value-added technology that gives them even better results from their investment in Kyocera equipment."

Kyocera watermark technology is a software solution which can be used on the smallest office printers all the way to the large MFPs for the corporate market. What really makes it valuable is that it provides enterprise-level security for any size or type of business.