An electronic computer providing a processor for executing a program stored in non-transient medium to: receive a security template stored in the non-transient medium and including: a generic control program executable by an industrial controller for implementing a generic control system in coordination with multiple different control devices connectable to actuators and sensors through I/O points, wherein the security template provides a security table with entries associated with each control device, and wherein the security template provides for each control device: (a) a device program executable by a control device for implementing a portion of the generic control system, the device program including generic names for the I/O points; (b) a security program executable by the control device for generating a security thumbprint of the control device when executing the device program, the security thumbprint providing a compression of a state of the control device when implementing the device program, the state reflecting each of: (i) operating software of the control device describing operation of control device and executable by the control device; (ii) configuration data defining a configuration of the control device, and (iii) environmental data defining an operating environment of the control device measurable by the control device; accept input from a user to link the generic names for the I/O points to hardware I/O points of a physical control system; and transfer the generic control program to the industrial controller and the device programs and security programs to the associated control devices for execution thereon. receive a security template stored in the non-transient medium and including: a generic control program executable by an industrial controller for implementing a generic control system in coordination with multiple different control devices connectable to actuators and sensors through I/O points, wherein the security template provides a security table with entries associated with each control device, and wherein the security template provides for each control device: (a) a device program executable by a control device for implementing a portion of the generic control system, the device program including generic names for the I/O points; (b) a security program executable by the control device for generating a security thumbprint of the control device when executing the device program, the security thumbprint providing a compression of a state of the control device when implementing the device program, the state reflecting each of: (i) operating software of the control device describing operation of control device and executable by the control device; (ii) configuration data defining a configuration of the control device, and (iii) environmental data defining an operating environment of the control device measurable by the control device; (a) a device program executable by a control device for implementing a portion of the generic control system, the device program including generic names for the I/O points; (b) a security program executable by the control device for generating a security thumbprint of the control device when executing the device program, the security thumbprint providing a compression of a state of the control device when implementing the device program, the state reflecting each of: (i) operating software of the control device describing operation of control device and executable by the control device; (ii) configuration data defining a configuration of the control device, and (iii) environmental data defining an operating environment of the control device measurable by the control device; (i) operating software of the control device describing operation of control device and executable by the control device; (ii) configuration data defining a configuration of the control device, and (iii) environmental data defining an operating environment of the control device measurable by the control device; accept input from a user to link the generic names for the I/O points to hardware I/O points of a physical control system; and transfer the generic control program to the industrial controller and the device programs and security programs to the associated control devices for execution thereon.