PLCnext roles and rights list

User roles and their assigned access permissions in the various applications

The following overview shows the user roles implemented in the firmware and their access permission for different purposes. Some user roles have been introduced only with recent firmware updates.

Note: User roles that are not mentioned in a table do not have any access permission in the regarding context. 

Web-based Management 2 (WBM 2)

Note: Visibility of WBM 2 pages depends on the device and firmware release in use.
In addition, some WBM 2 pages could have been deactivated by settings in the System Services WBM 2 page.
WBM 2 pages Page and tab access: User role
Admin SecurityEngineer SecurityAuditor CertificateManager UserManager Engineer Commissioner Service DataViewer DataChanger Viewer
Overview ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓
Device section General Data ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓
Diagnostics section PROFINET
[r] read-only access 		Other tabs ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓
NetNames ✓ ✓ ✓ [r] [r] ✓ ✓ ✓ [r] [r] [r]
Notifications ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓
Axioline ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓
INTERBUS ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓
Configuration section Network
[r] read-only access
[r|s] read access and 
reset statstics 		IP configuration ✓ ✓ [r|s]     [r|s] [r|s] [r|s]      
Netload limiter ✓ ✓ [r|s]       [r] [r]      
Web Services ✓ ✓                  
PLCnext Store ✓ ✓                  
Proficloud ✓ ✓                  
Date and Time ✓ ✓                  
SPLC ✓ ✓       ✓   ✓      
Fan Control ✓ ✓                  
RPLC (from firmware 2025.6) ✓ ✓       ✓          
Security
section		 SD card ✓ ✓                  
Firewall ✓ ✓                  
Syslog ✓ ✓                  
Project integrity 
[r] read-only access 		✓ ✓       [r]          
Certificate management ✓ ✓   ✓              
User management ✓ ✓     ✓            
User policies ✓ ✓                  
LDAP configuration ✓ ✓     ✓            
Security Profile ✓ ✓                  
System
section		 Device maintenance
[c] can only change the user password
[nr] cannot reboot oder reset the device 		✓ ✓ ✓ [c] [c] [nr] [nr] [nr] [c] [c] [c]
App management ✓ ✓       ✓          
System services ✓ ✓                  
Backup & restore ✓ ✓                  
License management ✓ ✓                  
Update ✓ ✓                  

PLCnext Engineer

All roles not reported in this table do not have access permissions for features in PLCnext Engineer.

PLCnext Engineer Access permission for: User role
Admin SecurityEngineer CertificateManager UserManager Engineer Commissioner Service DataViewer DataChanger Viewer EHmiViewer EHmiChanger SafetyEngineer
PLCnext Engineer 
user interface		 View values in the cockpit (e.g., utilization) ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓      
Transfer a project to the controller ✓       ✓ ✓              
Start (cold/warm restart) or stop the controller ✓       ✓ ✓ ✓            
Restart the controller (reboot) ✓                        
Reset the controller to default setting type 1 ✓                        
View online variable values ✓ ✓     ✓   ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓      
Overwrite variables ✓       ✓   ✓            
Set and delete breakpoints ✓       ✓   ✓            
Download safety-related programs to the controller ✓       ✓
[1] 		              ✓
[2]
Start or stop safety-related programs ✓       ✓
[1] 		              ✓
[2]
Debug safety-related programs  ✓       ✓
[1] 		              ✓
[2]
PLCnext Engineer
HMI application		 View online variable values ✓ ✓                 ✓ ✓  
Overwrite variables ✓                     ✓  
  1. As of firmware 2023.0 LTS, safety permissions for the Engineer user role are always enabled. As of the firmware 2023.0.1 LTS hotfix: if the Security Profile is enabled, safety permissions for the Engineer user role are disabled. If needed, use the SafetyEngineer user role in addition. See detailed description of combined safety user roles.
  2. Do not use this user role alone. This role is designed for use as an add-on to other user roles, e.g. Engineer. See detailed description of combined safety user roles.

Applications and services

All roles not reported in this table do not have access permissions for the mentioned applications and services.

Note: Additional roles may be necessary, e.g. for use with the Device and Update Management.
Application or
service		 Access permission for: User role
Admin SecurityEngineer Engineer Service DataViewer DataChanger Viewer FileReader FileWriter SoftwareUpdate SafetyUpdater
SD card,
parameterization memory		 SFTP access to the file system with an SFTP client
[3] 		✓                    
Shell SSH access to the shell
[3] 		✓                    
By means of dedicated tools Update safety-related firmware on the controller ✓                   ✓
OPC UA® access by means of a client application View online variable values ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓        
Overwrite variables ✓   ✓ ✓   ✓          
Read files
(OPC UA file transfer must be enabled via PLCnext Engineer) 		✓             ✓      
Write files
(OPC UA file transfer must be enabled via PLCnext Engineer) 		✓               ✓    
Update firmware on the controller ✓                 ✓  
Device and Update Management (DaUM) Update firmware, software and projects ✓                    
  1. Authentication with a user name and password is always required for SSH or SFTP access, even if user authentication is disabled.

 

 

• Published/reviewed: 2025-08-12 • Revision 019 •