Security control apparatus, security control method, and storage medium

A security control method comprising:

• a first step of, when a preset transition time has elapsed, executing transition to a first state of a security mode in which function use by normal operation of an instrument is disallowed;
• a second step of, in the security mode, requesting an input of authorization information that is used for authorization to permit the function use;
• and
• a third step of, when a preset re-transition time that is shorter than the transition time has elapsed while a second state of waiting for the input of the authorization information still exists, restoring the first state of the security mode.

A storage medium that executes on a computer, comprising:

• a first procedure in which, when a preset transition time has elapsed, executing transition to a first state of a security mode in which function use by normal operation of an instrument is disallowed;
• a second procedure in which, in the security mode, requesting an input of authorization information that is used for authorization to permit the function use;
• and
• a third procedure in which, when a preset re-transition time that is shorter than the transition time has elapsed while a second state of waiting for the input of the authorization information still exists, restoring the first state of the security mode.