SCADA & AutomationAdvanced 25 min read

SCADA & Automation: Advanced SCADA Systems I – Architecture & Communication Protocols

Top-tier guide covering full SCADA system architecture — master stations, RTUs/PLCs, and field networks — and the industrial communication protocols (Modbus, DNP3) that tie them together, with their inherent security limitations.

At the top license class, you're expected to understand SCADA not just as a set of screens and alarms, but as a complete, engineered system architecture — one you may help specify, evaluate, or defend to auditors, insurers, and regulators. This guide covers the full architecture of a modern water/wastewater SCADA system and the industrial communication protocols that move data through it, laying the technical groundwork for the cybersecurity, resilience, and integration topics covered in Part II.

Full SCADA System Architecture

A complete SCADA system is a layered architecture, and understanding each layer — and how they connect — is essential for top-tier troubleshooting, system design review, and cybersecurity risk assessment.

The Master Station (Control Center)

The master station is the central hub of the system, typically housed at a main treatment plant or dedicated co

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