Why SCADA and PLC manufacturer fragmentation challenges industrial automation

Key terms: SCADA, PLC, OT, IT and ICS

A few terms used in this article:

• SCADA — supervisory control and data acquisition: systems that collect data from PLCs and other devices, present it to operators through human–machine interfaces and enable supervisory control.
• PLC — programmable logic controller: a controller that reads inputs from equipment and executes programmed logic to control processes, often in real time.
• OT — operational technology: systems and devices that monitor or control physical equipment and processes.
• IT — information technology: systems used to process, store and exchange information across an organisation.
• ICS — industrial control systems: the collective term for systems used to monitor and control industrial processes, including SCADA systems and PLC-based control systems.

Why do industrial plants end up with multiple SCADA and PLC manufacturers?

Fragmentation is one of the biggest headaches in industrial automation today. Many industrial sites end up, over time, running subsystems from different manufacturers—Siemens in one area, Rockwell in another, Schneider Electric in a third.

This often reflects how plants grow, in phases and with expansions decided at different times. The result is a fragmented technology environment, where monitoring and supervising the whole operation becomes increasingly complex.

When an industrial operations director evaluates a provider to address SCADA and PLC manufacturer fragmentation, an important differentiator is the ability to integrate and govern systems from multiple manufacturers within a shared supervisory framework.

How does Getronics approach multi-vendor SCADA and PLC integration?

At Getronics, our focus extends beyond a single manufacturer to the fragmentation problem itself.

Our IT/OT integration approach connects industrial systems and operational data with enterprise technology, supporting more consistent monitoring and supervision.

The starting point is understanding the subsystems already in place: their interfaces, dependencies, operational requirements and support constraints. From there, we establish how they can be integrated into a common supervisory environment.

The aim is to bring greater consistency to the operation while respecting the control and security requirements of each system. Compatibility and integration scope need to be assessed for the equipment and software involved.

What is the difference between OT and IT in industry?

To understand why this integration is complex, it helps to recognise the different operational priorities involved.

OT and IT both face cybersecurity threats, use mixed technology environments and require effective governance. In OT, however, security and integration decisions must also account for direct effects on physical processes, including safety, availability and response times.

NIST’s guidance on OT security recognises these performance, reliability and safety requirements.

The distinction is therefore about operational context as well as technology. A well-governed industrial control environment needs to account for both.

Why should SCADA governance be the first step, not the last?

This is where I believe industrial organisations can get it wrong: governance becomes something to add later, once a security or scalability problem has appeared.

At Getronics, we reversed that order. We defined our own SCADA Technology Standard—covering systems, networks, software and development—to address risks before scaling.

It is not a static document. It is the starting point of an iterative process, designed to incorporate changes in threats and risks in a structured way as the industrial operation grows.

For an IT/OT director or industrial operations lead evaluating a SCADA governance partner, a key question is whether the provider has a framework capable of evolving alongside the operation.

What should industrial operations leaders ask next?

If your organisation works with more than one SCADA or PLC manufacturer, the question I would ask is whether there is a framework governing how those systems coexist—or whether each is managed as if it were the only one in the plant.

My conclusion is that operational resilience depends on how systems are integrated and governed from the start.

Does your organisation currently have a governance framework for its SCADA and PLC systems, or is each system managed in isolation?

Bring your industrial systems under a shared framework

Discuss your SCADA and PLC integration requirements, existing dependencies and governance priorities with Getronics.