The OPC Security specification enables OPC applications to apply security that is over and above the security available in DCOM. DCOM security enables OPC Servers to allow or deny specific users or groups from launching or accessing an OPC Server. OPC Security enables the OPC Server administrator to further allow access to some items and deny access to others. This enables corporations to control client access to servers to protect sensitive information and guard against unauthorized modification of system parameters.

The OPC Foundation (www.opcfoundation.org) is responsible for defining and maintaining the OPC Security specification.