Secure operation of programmable devices

According to an embodiment, a programmable logic device includes a plurality of logic blocks, memory, a plurality of connection control elements and a logic unit. The logic blocks are grouped into one or more programmed partitions. The memory stores authentication information and partition information. The connection control elements controllably interconnect different ones of the logic blocks. The logic unit controls external access to the one or more partitions based on the authentication information, controls reprogramming of the one or more partitions based on at least some of the partition information and configures the connection control elements based on at least some of the partition information.