A method for authenticating communication between an industrial control device and an external control system, comprising: storing, by a key storing module, an authentication key coupled to a matching key of an external control system; calculating, by a processor, an authenticity indication of communication between an industrial control device and the external control system using the authentication key; providing, by a connection module, the authenticity indication to the industrial control device via an input and output (I/O) port of the industrial control device, the connection module is physically and electronically connected to the I/O port.