---
title: "Built-in Excel security"
description: "Learn how to use Excel security features without disrupting report generation."
lang: en
languages:
  en: https://docs.vismasoftware.no/onestopreporting/create-templates/report-designer/creating-reports/built-in-excel-security/index.md
  no: https://docs.vismasoftware.no/no/onestopreporting/create-templates/report-designer/creating-reports/built-in-excel-security/index.md
lastmod: 2026-07-21
---

> Documentation index: https://docs.vismasoftware.no/onestopreporting/create-templates/report-designer/creating-reports/llms.txt


# Built-in Excel security

Last modified July 21, 2026

> Learn how to use Excel security features without disrupting report generation.

Excel has two different built-in security features:

- The first is security on the Excel *file level*. You can protect the entire file by requiring a password to open and modify the workbook. This type of security does not interact with **Report Designer** and purely restricts who can access the report definition. For more information on security on the file level, refer to the appropriate [Microsoft Excel](https://support.office.com/en-us/article/protect-an-excel-file-7359d4ae-7213-4ac2-b058-f75e9311b599?ui=en-US&rs=en-US&ad=US) documentation.
- The second type of built-in security for Excel is the *protect worksheet* or *protect workbook* feature. By using either of these features, you can *lock* the worksheet cells so that users may not modify the contents of locked cells unless the worksheet or workbook is unprotected. If this feature is used, there is a direct interaction with the **Report Designer** reading the protected report definition. Therefore, report designers *must* provide the password used to lock the worksheet/workbook in the **Report Properties** -\> **Protection** tab (see figure below). Otherwise, the report will not be generated and an error message will be shown.

![](https://docs.vismasoftware.no/onestopreporting/create-templates/report-designer/creating-reports/built-in-excel-security/img/en/Built-in-Excel-security.png)


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