An Energy Management System (EMS) is a software system used by power utilities to monitor, control, analyze, and optimize the operation of electrical power systems, mainly at the generation and transmission levels. In simple words, an EMS helps system operators keep the power system secure, stable, and economical, while ensuring electricity supply meets demand at all times. EMS… Read More »
SCADA systems provide supervisory monitoring, data acquisition, and remote control of field devices by collecting alarms and status information from distributed sites. Unlike typical IT applications, SCADA traffic is event-driven, time-sensitive, and often safety-critical. Because of this, the choice of VPN technology can directly affect how well SCADA protocols behave over wide-area or untrusted networks. WireGuard and OpenVPN… Read More »
SSH (Secure Shell) uses TCP port 22 by default. This single port number handles everything SSH does — remote login, command execution, file transfer (SFTP/SCP), port forwarding, and tunneling. Port 22 is one of the most targeted ports on the internet. Automated bots scan it constantly looking for weak passwords. Understanding how port 22 works, how to change… Read More »
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 »
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 »
The CIP protocol (Common Industrial Protocol) is an open, object-oriented communication standard used across modern industrial automation. It defines how devices organize data, how services are requested, and how real-time I/O and safety/motion extensions operate—while running over multiple network types such as EtherNet/IP, DeviceNet, ControlNet, and CompoNet. This guide explains CIP’s architecture, object model, messaging, connections, safety and… Read More »
IEC-60870-5-104 (IEC-104) is one of the most widely used protocols for telecontrol communication in power utilities, substations, renewable energy sites, industrial automation, and critical infrastructure networks. Its simplicity, efficiency, and ability to run over standard TCP/IP networks make it attractive for SCADA systems worldwide. But IEC-104 has a serious security problem: IEC-104 has no built-in security — no… Read More »
DNP3-IP, designed for distribution SCADA and remote telemetry, and IEC 61850, built for advanced substation automation and high-speed protection schemes, represent two fundamentally different communication approaches in modern power systems. Modern electric power systems depend on digital communication networks that connect substations, field devices, control centers, and automation systems. Two of the most important communication standards in this… Read More »
Monitoring SCADA protocol traffic is essential for diagnosing field issues, validating protocol behavior, troubleshooting mapping or timing problems, and improving the reliability of industrial automation systems. Whether the system uses legacy serial-based protocols such as Modbus RTU, IEC 60870-5-101, or DNP3 Serial, or modern TCP/IP-based protocols such as Modbus TCP, IEC 60870-5-104, DNP3 TCP, or IEC 61850, having… Read More »
IEC 60870-5-104, commonly called IEC 104, remains one of the most widely deployed telecontrol protocols in power system SCADA networks worldwide. It extends IEC 60870-5-101 for operation over TCP/IP, enabling real-time data exchange between control centers and remote terminal units (RTUs) in electrical engineering and power system automation applications. As of early 2026, the IEC 104 base protocol… Read More »