To ensure that records are protected at their point of creation and to reduce the need for procedurally based service modes, the field panel firmware has multiple technical elements to maximize compliance, including:
- Field Panel Password Expiration and “Three Strikes” – A Field Panel User Account password can be set to “never expire” or expire every xx days, in which “xx” can be anywhere from 1 to 365 days. Additionally, with expiration enabled, users have only three tries to enter a correct password prior to being locked out. A lockout requires a reset by an administrator.
- Trend Sample Synchronization – Time-based trend samples can all be synchronized to the same time interval, providing better cause and effect analysis.
- Network Time Synchronization – The field panel network time is automatically synchronized to the Desigo CC Server’s time. In the event that the server is not on the network, the field panel network time synchronization uses the time of the first panel on the network as the time source.
- Buffering – Trend buffering helps to prevent data loss:
- Firmware provides up to 2500 samples within the panel. This buffer minimizes the possibility of trend data loss during a network outage.
- Field panels with BACnet firmware should always be connected to a dedicated secure network that prevents the possibility of unauthorized users or devices from making changes to APOGEE field panel databases using standard BACnet services.