Abstract: A method and system for confidentially providing a software component which is encrypted using a secret cryptographic key of a software component manufacturer, and the key is then encrypted using a first cryptographic system key, wherein the encrypted software component and the encrypted key are transported by the software component manufacturer to a destination system device. After decrypting the transported encrypted key using a second cryptographic system key, the transported encrypted software component is decrypted using the decrypted key, wherein the decrypted software component is provided for execution on the destination system device. The method can be used to protect source codes or object codes of a developed software component from access by a third party and still allows for processing using standard tools.