Zakaria El Intissar

I've spent 13 years in power system automation, electrical protection, and SCADA communication, as an automation and industrial computing engineer. ScadaProtocols.com is where I turn what I've learned on site into plain guides and working tools — so other engineers can decode, analyze, and troubleshoot industrial communication protocols without the guesswork.

Author Archives: Zakaria El Intissar

4 Best IEC 61850 Test Software for GOOSE & MMS (Engineers’ Guide)

61850 Test Software is essential for validating communication, interoperability, and correct behavior in modern digital substations. From GOOSE messaging and MMS communication to multivendor interoperability checks, the right testing tools help engineers verify that protection, control, and automation systems operate safely and reliably before and after commissioning. This article reviews some of the most widely used IEC 61850… Read More: 4 Best IEC 61850 Test Software for GOOSE & MMS… »

IEC 61850 MMS Port Number Explained: Why TCP Port 102 Is Used

IEC 61850 has become the global standard for substation communication systems, enabling interoperability between protection relays, bay controllers, SCADA systems, and engineering tools. At the heart of IEC 61850 client/server communication is MMS (Manufacturing Message Specification)—and one of the most searched questions is: What port number does IEC 61850 MMS use? This article provides a complete explanation of… Read More: IEC 61850 MMS Port Number Explained: Why TCP Port 102… »

IEC 60870-5-104 Port Numbers Explained: TCP 2404, TLS 19998, and Firewall Configuration

IEC 60870-5-104 runs over TCP/IP. The port number defines where the controlled station (RTU or IED) listens for incoming connections from the controlling station (SCADA master). Two ports are used in practice: Getting the port wrong means no connection. Leaving it unprotected means your SCADA system is exposed. This guide covers everything about IEC 104 ports — from… Read More: IEC 60870-5-104 Port Numbers Explained: TCP 2404, TLS 19998, and… »

IACS Cybersecurity – Protecting SCADA and Industrial Control Systems

IACS Cybersecurity focuses on protecting Industrial Automation and Control Systems (IACS) such as SCADA, PLCs, RTUs, DCS, IEDs, and industrial networks from cyber threats while ensuring safety, availability, and operational reliability. For operators of critical infrastructure—power utilities, oil and gas, manufacturing, water, and renewable energy—cybersecurity is no longer optional. Modern industrial systems are connected, remote-access enabled, and increasingly… Read More: IACS Cybersecurity – Protecting SCADA and Industrial Control Systems »

DNP3 Event Classes Explained: How Class 0, 1, 2, and 3 Really Work in SCADA Systems

DNP3 (Distributed Network Protocol) is widely used in power systems, water utilities, and industrial SCADA systems. One of its most misunderstood features is the event class system. Many engineers assume that Class 1, 2, and 3 represent fixed priorities defined by the protocol. In reality, DNP3 works differently. This article explains what DNP3 event classes really are, how… Read More: DNP3 Event Classes Explained: How Class 0, 1, 2, and… »

IEC 60870-5-104 Security Explained: TLS, IEC 62351 & IEC/TS 60870-5-7 Guide

IEC 60870-5-104 (IEC-104) is one of the most widely used telecontrol protocols in electrical power systems. It plays a central role in communication between substations, RTUs, and control centers, especially in transmission and distribution SCADA systems. IEC-104 is reliable, efficient, and well understood by utilities worldwide. However, when the protocol was originally designed, cybersecurity was not a primary… Read More: IEC 60870-5-104 Security Explained: TLS, IEC 62351 & IEC/TS 60870-5-7… »

Best Free SCADA Software in 2026: 12 Open-Source and Free Platforms Compared

Commercial SCADA software costs thousands of dollars per license. For students, small plants, research labs, and proof-of-concept projects, that cost is a barrier. The good news: several free and open-source SCADA platforms now deliver real-time monitoring, alarm management, HMI design, data logging, and PLC integration — without any licensing cost. Some have no tag limits. Some run in… Read More: Best Free SCADA Software in 2026: 12 Open-Source and Free… »

IEC 61850 Data Types Explained: The Complete Practical Guide

Everything engineers need to know about Basic Types, Common Data Classes, and how they appear in GOOSE, Sampled Values, MMS, and SCL. IEC 61850 is much more than a communication protocol—it is a semantic language designed to describe protection, control, measurement, and automation inside modern substations. At the core of this language lies one essential concept: 👉 Every… Read More: IEC 61850 Data Types Explained: The Complete Practical Guide »

SCADA Networking: Site-to-Site VPN vs NAT on Private APN Explained

Modern industrial networks depend heavily on remote communication. Whether it is a control center talking to a substation, a SCADA system collecting data from a water pump, or a utility monitoring dozens of remote field stations, the network path between these locations must be reliable, secure, and predictable. Two common technologies are used today to connect a central… Read More: SCADA Networking: Site-to-Site VPN vs NAT on Private APN Explained »