A New York Integrator Compares Hosted And Traditional SCADA

By Christopher Little

The typical SCADA system is a diverse collection of hardware and software spread over a large geographical area. Many utilities, especially those without dedicated IT departments, simply cannot afford the cost of purchasing, configuring, and indefinitely maintaining this level of infrastructure. However, the need for reliable process monitoring, control, and analytics is growing sharply for utilities of every size. In recent years, hosted or 'cloud-based' systems, are offering utilities instant turnkey access to leading-edge SCADA features on a subscription basis with very little upfront hardware cost. In this article, Tony DeFranco of Colacino Industries, describes how they decided to develop their cloud-based SCADA solution and how it has proven to be a successful alternative to their traditional SCADA products.