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Very little attention has been paid to the idea of security in print streams. PDF and PostScript files for books and other printed matter are routinely passed over the open Internet. Some WAN providers like WAMnet provide encryption via their proprietary networks, but far more material is transferred openly.

While not about graphic arts printing specifically, this post on Slashdot shows the issues of security are beginning to surface in areas outsiede the print industry, which means yet one more thing printers are going to have to address.

Slashdot | "Ask Slashdot" - Secure Printing?
RiverWolf asks: "As a Systems Administrator (a.k.a. 'paranoid security freak') I spend much of my time tightening down systems, loading patches, and just generally making sure no one does what they're not supposed too. While tools like ssh have become a staple for file transfer and terminal sessions, I recently began looking at all the little print servers we have throughout my offices and wondered "hmm, can those things be sniffed?". Until now, my focus for printing has always been 'just get it working', but if someone can sniff the print jobs (like payroll and other confidential information) as they go across the network, then it doesn't matter how locked down eveything else is. Is there a standard for secure (encrypted transmission) network printing, or does anyone know of a way to do this? I found this document that deals with it in a round about fashion, but with dozens of printers spread throughout multiple locations, I don't see it as an option."

[Privacy Digest]