choose the right SCADA software

Do you want to acquire this kind of tool, but you do not know how to choose? To help you, here are some criteria you should consider: compatibility, cost, included drivers, performance and security of SCADA.

Besides that, you should also pay attention to the technical service that accompanies your software and its possibilities of adaptation with the technological tools of the future. In any case, you should always bet on the ease of deployment and use of your SCADA system.

Compatibility

Your SCADA system must be compatible with any operating system.

So you can run it on Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows Server Editions Mac or Linux, etc.

The drivers included in the SCADA system

Drivers should be considered an important aspect of your SCADA software. The system must have the right drivers that allow it to communicate with the various PLCs available on the market, regardless of the manufacturer.

And again, this requires system compatibility with existing or future operating systems.

Cost: a decisive choice criterion

Of course, like any other software, the cost of acquiring, deploying, maintaining and upgrading it is critical.

Its price must therefore include all these elements. This way, you will avoid purchasing additional functions, for example, to be able to add them to your system.

Technical support

This element is often what differentiates one SCADA system from another.

Data collection and analysis software, even if it comes at low prices, that does not offer good support will never be able to compete with others.

Choose a scalable solution

Your SCADA system must be very versatile in order for it to operate in different environments. If you are responsible for choosing a SCADA system for your business, you should consider how your needs will change over the next 15 years — the average life cycle of SCADA systems.

All of this seems easier said than done. Here is why, if in doubt, you should call in a specialist in the field.

This is another question that coaxes out your experience with working within the SCADA system framework. There are five different levels of the SCADA system:

· Field level devices/instruments, such as sensors

· Remote Terminal Units, or RTUs

· Main control station

· Communication system between RTUs and the main control station

· Computer systems to process data to be displayed to the SCADA operator

SCADA Companies

This is a bit of a trick question. For one, you already have named the SCADA systems you have experience working with, and for two, this question seems to try to further gauge your familiarity with SCADA as a whole. Below are the leading SCADA companies:

· Siemens WinCC

· Invensys Wonderware InTouch

· Intellution iFix

· Allen Bradley RS View

· Rockwell

· GE Fanuc Simplicity

Different Communication Configurations

There are two different configurations in SCADA — the Master/Slave system and the Interrupted system. In the Master/Slave system, the master is in complete control of communications and regularly sends and receives data to the slaves. In the interrupted system, each slave transfers data to the master if the