1. An apparatus comprising: at least one memory configured to store application information associated with multiple process control applications used to control an industrial process, the application information comprising multiple boundaries associated with the process control applications, each boundary set and associated with at least one of multiple hierarchical levels; at least one processing device configured to alter the association of the boundaries with the hierarchical levels independent of the process control applications, the hierarchical levels associated with different levels of criticality regarding the industrial process; and at least one interface configured to receive data from and transmit data to the process control applications.