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SCADA migration to short-range wireless communications
To extend their traditional SCADA LANs, some companies elect to replace their fiber or
copper cable infrastructure with wireless communications which are more cost efficient.
Depending on the range requirements, there are numerous options including Bluetooth,
ZigBee, Wi-Fi, cellular, manufacturer-specific industrial, scientific and medical (ISM) radio
bands, and VHF/UHF (very high frequency/ultra-high frequency). VHF/UHF is used for
long-range communication up to 40 miles. In contrast, Bluetooth and Zigbee have a range
of about 300 feet. Cellular, with a range of up to five miles, is arguably the most
commonly used wireless technology for industrial applications.
App-based SCADA systems

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The newest trend for SCADA systems development are small app-based SCADA
solutions that are easier to develop and use, more efficient to run, and are budget-
friendly, particularly for SMBs for whom the cost of PLCs can be prohibitive. App-based
SCADA solutions are made possible by new app server technology that uses 900 MHz
wireless telemetry and allows for the programming and hosting of third-party applications
in the cloud. 900 MHz is an unlicensed band with a low level of congestion, used by
wireless and hybrid SCADA systems. Developers building app-based SCADA systems
can use any programming language – like Python, Java, or Node-RED – that is
compatible with a Linux kernel.
SCADA standards and guidelines
There is no single SCADA standard. Organizations adopt frameworks, guidelines,
protocols, specifications, and standards that are relevant to their industry. These
standards may or may not be mandatory for compliance with regulations in different
geographic areas or countries. According to the ISA112 standards committee, ”Different
Industries use the term ’SCADA’ to mean many different things that are specific to that
individual industry. Each of these industries is correct in how it uses the term SCADA
within its own context.”
Modern IT standards and protocols have improved the security, efficiency, and reliability
of SCADA systems monitoring critical infrastructure. There are commonly used guidelines
and specifications for all elements of a SCADA system, from the suggested terminology
used to describe a SCADA system to templates for the design of control rooms and HMIs,
requirements for serial and network protocols, specifications for hardware and software,
suggestions for alarm management, reference architectures for control levels,
recommended practices for electronic and physical security at substations, and guidelines
for regulatory compliance.

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There are numerous bodies that contribute to SCADA-related standards and guidelines,
like the American National Standards Institute/Institute of Electrical and Electronic
Engineers (ANSI/IEEE), the Electronic Industries Alliance/Telecommunications Industry
Association (EIA/TIA), the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), and the
International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC).
Notable in the industrial automation industry is the ISA112, a standards committee
developed by the International Society of Automation (ISA). Influencing the power
industry are the North American Electric Reliability Council (NERC), the Department of
Energy (DOE), and Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC). Regulatory bodies in the
water sector include the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Water Sector
Coordinating Council (WSCC), the Water Sector Government Coordinating Council
(GCC), and the Critical Infrastructure Protection Advisory Council (CIPAC). The Federal
Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) is the primary regulatory body in the electric
power, natural gas, and oil pipelines industries.