MFD

A combined printer, scanner, and copier that is also a network endpoint.

A multifunction device combines printing, scanning, copying, and often faxing in one networked unit, which means it runs an embedded operating system and stores documents. This makes it a frequently overlooked endpoint that can expose data on internal hard drives or leak scanned files if left with default credentials. Hardening includes changing default passwords, disabling unused services, applying firmware updates, and wiping storage before disposal. It should be treated as a managed asset on the network rather than a passive peripheral.