Know-How Protection - Siemens Simatic S7-1500R System Manual

8.5

Know-how protection

Application
You can use know-how protection to protect one or more OB, FB or FC blocks as well as
global data blocks in your program from unauthorized access. Enter a password to restrict
access to a block. The password offers high-level protection against unauthorized reading
and manipulation of the block. Know-how protection does not involve the CPU (offline
access in STEP 7).
Password provider
As an alternative to manual password input, you can assign a password provider to STEP 7.
When using a password provider, you select a password from a list of available passwords.
When a protected block is opened, STEP 7 connects to the password provider and retrieves
the corresponding password.
You need to install and activate a password provider before you can connect it. A settings
file in which you define the use of a password provider is also required.
A password provider offers the following advantages:
● The password provider defines and manages the passwords. When know-how protected
blocks are opened, you work with symbolic names for passwords. For example, a
password is marked with the symbolic name "Machine_1" n the password provider. The
actual password behind "Machine1" is disclosed to you.
A password provider therefore offers optimum block protection as the users do not know
the password themselves.
● STEP 7 automatically opens know-how protected blocks without the direct entry of a
password. This saves you time.
You can find more information on connecting a password provider in the STEP 7 online help.
Readable data
If a block is know-how protected, only the following data is readable without the correct
password:
● Block title, comments and block properties
● Block parameters (INPUT, OUTPUT, IN, OUT, RETURN)
● Call structure of the program
● Global tags without information on the point of use
S7-1500R/H redundant system
System Manual, 10/2018, A5E41814787-AA
Protection
8.5 Know-how protection
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