Lost Password? Why Modern Security Comes with New Rules

For many years, accessing industrial devices was surprisingly simple. A standard password, often identical across entire product series, was enough to access web servers, configurations, and diagnostics. What was convenient from a user perspective is, from today’s point of view, a significant security risk.

With increasing connectivity and the growing threat of cyberattacks, this understanding has fundamentally changed. Standards and regulations such as IEC 62443 or current European requirements now demand a much higher level of security. One direct consequence is the elimination of uniform default passwords.

Instead, each device is assigned an individual access password. This is typically linked to the serial number and is intended to be changed by the user during first access. What initially seems like a minor adjustment has noticeable practical implications — especially when a password is lost or no longer works as expected after a firmware update.

In such cases, an important principle of modern security concepts becomes clear: there is deliberately no backdoor. Manufacturers cannot read out or reset a previously assigned user password. This is not a service limitation, but an intentional security mechanism. If such a possibility existed, the entire security concept would be vulnerable.

For users, this means that handling access credentials becomes their own responsibility. Passwords must be documented, securely stored, and properly managed within organizations. If a password is still lost, the only remaining option is a factory reset. This restores the device to its original state but also deletes all individual settings.

Especially in industrial environments where systems operate for many years, this is an important aspect not to be underestimated. Effective password management is now just as important as the technical commissioning itself.

Ultimately, this reflects a fundamental shift: security is no longer an optional feature but an integral part of modern automation. What was once considered convenience would today be regarded as a vulnerability. The slightly higher effort in handling passwords is therefore the price for a significantly higher level of protection.