Use Control Expert software to set passwords that help secure your project. The following passwords can be set:

  • Application password, with or without file encryption

  • Safe area password

  • Firmware upgrade password

  • Program unit, section, and subroutine password

  • Data storage/web password

Application Password

Control Expert provides a password mechanism to help guard against unauthorized access to the application. Control Expert uses the password when you:

  • Open the application in Control Expert.

  • Connect to the PAC in Control Expert.

Application protection by a password helps prevent unwanted application modification, download, or opening of application files. The password is stored encrypted in the application.

In addition to the password protection you can encrypt the .STU, .STA and .ZEF files. The file encryption feature in Control Expert helps prevent modifications by any malicious person and reinforces protection against theft of intellectual property. The file encryption option is protected by a password mechanism.

NOTE: When a controller is managed as part of a system project, the application password and file encryption are disabled in Control Expert editor and need to be managed by using the Topology Manager.

For information on how to set and use application passwords, refer to the Application Protection topic in the EcoStruxure™ Control Expert Operating Modes manual.

Safe Area Password

Safety CPUs include a safe area password protection function, which is accessible from the Properties screen of the project. This function is used to help protect project elements located within the safe area of the safety project.

When the safe area password protection function is active, the safe parts of the application cannot be modified.

For information on how to set and use safe area passwords, refer to the Safe Area Password Protection topic in the EcoStruxure™ Control Expert Operating Modes manual.

Firmware Upgrade Password

Firmware protection by a password helps prevent unwanted access to the module firmware via FTP.

For information on how to set and use firmware passwords, refer to the Firmware Protection topic in the EcoStruxure™ Control Expert Operating Modes manual.

Program Unit, Section, and Subroutine Password

The program unit, section, and subroutine protection function — when enabled — uses a password to help protect these program elements. This function can be set and accessed from the Properties screen of the project in offline mode.

For information on how to set and use program unit, section, and subrouting passwords, refer to the Program Unit, Section, and Subroutine Protection topic in the EcoStruxure™ Control Expert Operating Modes manual.

Data Storage/Web Password

For Modicon M580 CPUs in a project created by Control Expert with version:

  • Earlier than version 15.1, you can provide password protection for data storage access.

  • Version 15.1 or later, you can provide password protection for both web diagnostics and data storage access.

Protection by a password helps prevent unwanted access to the data storage zone of the SD memory card (if a valid card is inserted in the CPU).

For information on how to set and use data storage/web passwords, refer to the Data Storage/Web Protection topic in the EcoStruxure™ Control Expert Operating Modes manual.