Connected 3D printers help Australian product businesses prototype, customise parts and test ideas quickly. They also connect design files, workshop devices, software accounts, suppliers and intellectual property.
Know what the printer connects
Keep an inventory of printers, firmware, slicing software, design repositories, cloud dashboards, support accounts and workshop computers. Record who owns each service and what data it can access.
Protect designs and production access
Use individual administrator accounts, strong authentication and prompt access removal. Limit remote monitoring and supplier support to the people and time periods that actually need it. Keep CAD files and customer designs in controlled storage with backups.
Separate workshop and office systems
Where practical, separate production devices from general office systems. Review printer network access, connected applications, USB use and firmware updates so a compromised workshop device cannot become an easy path into business files.
Prepare for recovery
Test backups of design files and production settings. Keep a manual or offline process for urgent work if the printer, cloud service or network is unavailable. Treat a prototype, customer design or supplier file as valuable business information, not just another attachment.
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