The invention relates to an access control device for a laboratory instrument serving for the instrument-controlled treatment of a laboratory sample and this laboratory instrument, and also to a method for controlling the access to functions of the laboratory instrument by means of the access control device, wherein the access control device comprises: a first interface apparatus and a second interface apparatus; and a control apparatus wherein the control apparatus is configured: a) to establish one or more first data connections to one or more user interface apparatuses via the first interface apparatus; b) to establish a second data connection to the laboratory instrument via the second interface apparatus; and c) to control authorizations and/or access permissions for user access to functions of the laboratory instrument via the first and second data connections.