A system for actuation of an aircraft system via a virtual guarded switch, VGS, comprising: an aircraft flight deck touch screen display onboard an aircraft; a controller operatively coupled with the aircraft flight deck touch screen display; a tangible, non-transitory memory configured to communicate with the controller, the tangible, non-transitory memory having instructions stored therein that, in response to execution by the controller, cause the controller to: receive a command to present the VGS, the VGS including a virtual guard in a closed position inhibiting a function of the VGS, the VGS function associated with at least one aircraft system onboard the aircraft; present the VGS on the aircraft flight deck touch screen display; receive a depress indication of the VGS; and characterized by causing the controller to present an open delay timer proximal with the VGS during the depress indication and during an open delay time; a magnitude of an open delay time associated with the open delay timer is proportional to a criticality of the at least one aircraft system, the open delay timer indicating a time remaining until the VGS changes from the closed position to an open position, the weight on wheels indication and a mission status of the aircraft functioning as additional inputs for the controller to determine the open delay time; open (312, 314) the virtual guard to the open position if the depress indication continued during the open delay time; start a guard auto close timer when the virtual guard reaches the open position receive a removal indication; receive an actuation indication if the VGS is depressed before an expiration of the guard auto close timer; actuate the function of the at least one aircraft system upon receipt of the actuation indication; present an actuated status on the VGS upon a confirmation the aircraft system has actuated; close the virtual guard to the closed position after presenting the actuated indication and close the virtual guard to the closed position over an unactuated VGS upon an expiration of the guard auto close timer with no receipt of the actuation indication. an aircraft flight deck touch screen display onboard an aircraft; a controller operatively coupled with the aircraft flight deck touch screen display; a tangible, non-transitory memory configured to communicate with the controller, the tangible, non-transitory memory having instructions stored therein that, in response to execution by the controller, cause the controller to: receive a command to present the VGS, the VGS including a virtual guard in a closed position inhibiting a function of the VGS, the VGS function associated with at least one aircraft system onboard the aircraft; present the VGS on the aircraft flight deck touch screen display; receive a depress indication of the VGS; and characterized by causing the controller to present an open delay timer proximal with the VGS during the depress indication and during an open delay time; a magnitude of an open delay time associated with the open delay timer is proportional to a criticality of the at least one aircraft system, the open delay timer indicating a time remaining until the VGS changes from the closed position to an open position, the weight on wheels indication and a mission status of the aircraft functioning as additional inputs for the controller to determine the open delay time; open (312, 314) the virtual guard to the open position if the depress indication continued during the open delay time; start a guard auto close timer when the virtual guard reaches the open position receive a removal indication; receive an actuation indication if the VGS is depressed before an expiration of the guard auto close timer; actuate the function of the at least one aircraft system upon receipt of the actuation indication; present an actuated status on the VGS upon a confirmation the aircraft system has actuated; close the virtual guard to the closed position after presenting the actuated indication and close the virtual guard to the closed position over an unactuated VGS upon an expiration of the guard auto close timer with no receipt of the actuation indication.