Systems and methods for authenticating industrial automation components

An input/output (I/O) system of an industrial automation system, comprising:

• a rail or plate;
• a first backplane switch coupled to the rail or plate;
• a network adapter base coupled to the first backplane switch, wherein the network adapter base comprises a first electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM) storing first data identifying the network adapter base, wherein the first backplane switch is configured to read the first data from the first EEPROM to authenticate the network adapter base;
• a second backplane switch coupled to the rail, wherein the second backplane switch is disposed adjacent to the first backplane switch;
• and
• an I/O bank, comprising:
• an I/O base coupled to the second backplane switch, wherein the I/O base comprises a second EEPROM storing second data identifying the I/O base, wherein the second backplane switch is configured to read the second data from the second EEPROM to authenticate the I/O base;
• an I/O component coupled to the I/O base and configured to perform an industrial automation input/output function associated with a component of the industrial automation system;
• and
• a terminal block coupled to the I/O base and configured to communicatively couple to the component of the industrial automation system, wherein the terminal block comprises a third EEPROM storing third data identifying the terminal block, wherein the I/O component is configured to read the third data from the third EEPROM to authenticate the terminal block.