System and method to detect smart device configuration changes against a reference in process control systems

An apparatus comprising:

• a memory configured to store a master golden record;
• and
• a processing device coupled to the memory and configured to:
• receive the master golden record for a device of a plurality of devices in an industrial automation system, wherein the master golden record includes one or more parameter values for the device for a mode of the industrial automation system;
• identify an active mode for the industrial automation system;
• responsive to a triggering of a comparison, compare current parameter values of the device with the one or more parameter values of the master golden record for the active mode;
• and
• generate a report comprising differences between the one or more parameters values of the master golden record and the current parameter values of the device.

A non-transitory computer readable medium embodying a computer program, the computer program comprising computer readable program code for:

• receiving a master golden record for a device of a plurality of devices in an industrial automation system, wherein the master golden record includes one or more parameter values for the device for a mode of the industrial automation system;
• identifying an active mode for the industrial automation system;
• responsive to a triggering of a comparison, comparing current parameter values of the device with the one or more parameter values of the master golden record for the active mode;
• and
• generating a report comprising differences between the one or more parameters values of the master golden record and the current parameter values of the device.