Security Features
Phaser 7500 Color Printer
System Administrator Guide
39
Before using HTTPS, you must set up a certificate and select when to use SSL to encrypt data. You can
set the printer to use SSL either to secure Web pages that use passwords or to secure all Web pages.
See also:
Certificates
on page 39
Managing Certificates
on page 42
Configuring SSL
on page 43
Certificates
A certificate is an electronic message containing information about the printer and a digital signature.
Before configuring passwords, set up a certificate and then configure SSL to encrypt data, including
passwords, for maximum security. You can set up a self-signed certificate or download a root-signed
certificate, depending on your requirements.
Device Certificates
A device certificate is stored in the printer and is used to validate the identity of the printer to clients
and network servers and to allow encrypted communication. If you do not install a device certificate
signed by a Certificate Authority (CA), a default self-signed device certificate is automatically
established on the printer when it is needed. A CA signed device certificate is needed to log into the
network when using 802.1X EAP authentication with TLS.
Self-Signed Certificates
Setting up a self-signed certificate is a quick and easy way to establish a certificate on the printer. The
printer automatically generates a default self-signed certificate when the printer is turned on for the
first time. To modify the certificate so it is specific to your printer, use CentreWare IS to enter
information about the location of the printer.
While self-signed certificates are safe for most applications and allow data encryption, they do not ensure
valid authentication. Self-signed certificates are not necessarily secure because the certificate owner is
only confirming his own identify instead of verification by a trusted third party. Although self-signed
certificates encrypt the data that is exchanged, they do not prevent man-in-the-middle attacks.
If you want to use HTTPS, each printer must have a unique certificate that is accepted by each browser
used to access the printer. This allows the printer Web server to use HTTPS and encrypt data between
the Web browser and the printer. In addition, because each printer’s certificate is unique, you must
load a different certificate into the browser for each printer the browser will access.
