What does SCADA stand for? Scada means Supervisory Control And Data Acquisition and it is used to control infrastructures such as water or waste treatments, but if they are facility based the processes includes airports and space stations. Lastly, if it is an industrial structure the process will include manufacturing and production (SCADA Systems, n.d). SCADA systems are known to be very helpful to business and organizations. However, with any system there will be pros and cons.
Some of the pros include Improved Efficiency and Productivity. This process allows the system to quickly identify and resolve problems in real-time (Pros and Cons of SCADA, n.d). Another pro is that the system will improve safety and dependability. It does this by showing early warning signs of problems which will help to reduce the risk of equipment damage. The next pro is the enhancements to data management and analysis. This step collects data and identifies trends and detects problems (Pros and Cons of SCADA, n.d). Lastly, remote monitoring and control is highly beneficial for organizations because it enables centralized management and control. Also, remote monitoring can also facilitate automatic adjustments based on real-time data inputs ( Pros and Cons of SCADA, n.d.).
Some of the cons are complex, cybersecurity dangers, upfront cost, integration problems and maintenance demands. The complexity of the system requires those with specialized knowledge and since it’s not common knowledge it can make it difficult to put this system in place (Pros and Cons of SCADA, n.d). There are also cyber security dangers linked to this system which include data breaches, and possible operational disruptions which require higher security standards. Of course with a specialized system the upfront cost can be a lot. Before using this system, it is important to weigh whether it is beneficial or not for your organization
(Pros and Cons of SCADA, n.d ).Another con with the SCADA systems is there can be problems with integration with other technologies. So, it is imperative to make sure that using this system doesn’t interrupt communication relations. Lastly, the SCADA system requires regular updating of software, and someone who is trained in how to maintain and operate the system effectively (Pros and Cons of SCADA, n.d).
There SCADA systems are classified into three categories and they are monolithic, distributed and networked. The monolithic system was referred to as the first generation system because they did not have any connection to any other systems so they were considered independent ( SCADA Systems, n.d). The distributed is referred to as the second generation where information was shared between multiple stations in real time. However, since the protocols were proprietary it caused many security issues (SCADA Systems, n.d). Lastly, you have the networked which is the third generation which is widely used today. The system uses communication done with WAN protocols and the internet which can make the system more vulnerable but due to improved security measures these can be applied to the SCADA systems (SCADA Systems, n.d).
In conclusion the SCADA systems are widely used and have improvements that need to be made. These systems often run interference with network vulnerabilities, and they are consistently being developed to help prevent any unauthorized changes (SCADA Systems, n.d.).