Glossary · HMI, SCADA and operations
SCADA software
Also known as: SCADA package, SCADA platform
German: SCADA (Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition)
In industrial automation, SCADA software is the software package that implements supervisory control and data acquisition: drivers to controllers and RTUs, a tag database, graphics, alarming, historical data, scripting and client-server functions.
- HMI and SCADA
In one sentence
SCADA software provides drivers, tag database, graphics, alarms, history and client-server functions for supervisory control.
Example
The water utility replaces its old SCADA software with a new package that connects to 200 pumping stations via their RTUs and offers web clients for the on-call staff.
How it applies
- Engineering: SCADA packages differ in licensing (tags, clients, servers), redundancy, driver support and scripting. Engineering includes the tag database, graphics, alarms and security settings.
- Security and maintenance: SCADA servers run on general-purpose operating systems and often provide Remote access. Plan Patch management, user management and network segmentation.
- Documentation: Document versions of the SCADA software, operating system and drivers, the server architecture, backup and restore procedures and the tag naming convention. User documentation covers the operator functions of the specific project.
SCADA software vs. SCADA system
SCADA software is the product. The Supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) system is the installed whole: software, servers, networks, RTUs and PLCs, communication links and the configured project.