SCADA stands for Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition; it is based on systems that monitor, control, and collect data from industrial and infrastructure processes. These are the backbones of modern operations: providing real-time visibility, reliability, and efficiency across all industries.
What is a SCADA System?
And why you can benefit from a modern SCADA Software platform.
SCADA is the name for the systems that monitor, do supervisory control, handle alarms, relay alerts and collect data from industrial processes. SCADA systems are used in many types of processes including infrastructure (gas pipelines, wind farms, water treatment, wastewater treatment, etc.), industrial processes (production, manufacturing, power generation, refining, etc.) or facility-based processes (airports, HVAC, cold storage, ships, etc).
SCADA systems all in all are not necessarily the main control system but focus more on continuous monitoring for supervisory type control. So, the SCADA software is operated at a higher level connected to the hardware (PLCs, I/O modules, dataloggers, sensors, counters, meters, etc.) that collects data from the physical processes.
SCADA frameworks can communicate with the automation hardware through industrial networks (Ethernet, DeviceNet, Modbus, ControlNet, and so on …). SCADA systems are highly scalable so the number of processed variables may vary from few to hundreds of thousands based on the complexity and extensity of the monitored technology. SCADA systems use multiple methods to gather and store data. The data stores vary from local files to proprietary process data historians (like OSISoft PI) to SQL or NoSQL database servers. Some of these data storage methods can store massive amounts of data with very high sampling frequencies.
SCADA systems are widely used in:
- Infrastructure: gas and oil pipelines, wind farms, power grids, water, and wastewater treatment.
- Industrial activities: manufacturing, refining, chemical production, energy generation.
- Facilities and Transportation – airports, HVAC systems, cold storage, ships, and much more.
Unlike a PLC or DCS, which handle local control logic, SCADA focuses on supervisory control and monitoring, with a direct connection to field hardware such as PLCs, RTUs, sensors, I/O modules, counters, and meters.
SCADA: The Evolution to Modern and Connected
The traditional SCADA system was restricted to an on-premises control center, whereas today’s modern SCADA platforms have changed.
Modern SCADA software now includes:
- Web and mobile clients for remote access
- Integration of cloud services, including Microsoft Azure and AWS
- Improved cybersecurity due to encrypted connections and role-based access
- Scalability and affordability, making SCADA viable for small and enterprise-scale projects.
These developments have made SCADA much more flexible, connected, and secure than before.
Why Companies Are Modernizing SCADA with Tatsoft’s FrameworX
Many organizations are replacing legacy SCADA systems with modern scalable solutions like Tatsoft’s FrameworX: the next-generation, open performance platform for digital transformation.
Here’s why:
1. Unlimited Scalability
FrameworX grows with your project-from a small edge system with a few I/O points to enterprise-level deployments with unlimited clients, I/O, and developers-all under one license.
2. Native SQL Integration
FrameworX includes a full-featured embedded SQL engine, offering:
- A secure location for all project configurations
- A built-in historian database for small to medium systems: up to 10GB
- Store-and-forward capability for offline data buffering
- Seamless integration with any third-party SQL/NoSQL database, including but not limited to, Microsoft SQL Server, Oracle, MySQL, PostgreSQL, etc.
3. Connective interface and operability
At the heart of FrameworX is connectivity. It supports:
- Built-in protocols for PLCs, DCSs, CNCs, and sensors
- IIoT integration with MQTT, OPC UA, WITSML, and other open standards
- Directly connect to cloud analytics platforms like Azure IoT Hub and Amazon AWS IoT
4. Designed for Reliability, Security, and Redundancy
FrameworX is designed to provide stability and high availability:
- Full redundancy and failover options
- Encrypted project files stored in SQL
- Built-in audit trails and version control that ensure secure project management.
5. Rapid Application Development (RAD)
- Build, test, and deploy faster with:
- A single IDE for all modules, scripts, and tools
- Multi-platform deployment: Windows, Linux, iOS, Android
- Support for real-time debugging and parallel development
- Support for VB.NET, C#, and Python
Build the Future of Industrial Automation with FrameworX
Whether it’s upgrading a legacy SCADA or starting a new project in automation, Tatsoft’s FrameworX offers the required flexibility, scalability, and modern technology stack to connect operations from edge to cloud. Download FrameworX – at no cost – right now and learn how FrameworX can transform your SCADA architecture into a state-of-the-art, secure, and future-ready platform.