What does a SCADA system look like?
What you just asked is really two terms. SCADA is one thing. When you talk about a SCADA system, you’re now talking about all of the different sensors and pieces that make it up. The SCADA itself is potentially, for example, either a series of PCs or superminis or whatever. In fact, one of the issues that becomes — or confusions, if you will — is somebody could look at a SCADA screen and say, “Gee, that looks just like my business system.” It’s what’s behind or that feeds into that box that makes a difference. I’ll just use a small utility. A small utility may have maybe, certainly several hundred miles of electric lines. It may have probably 10 to 15 substations. In these substations, you will have transformers, you will have protective relays. Protective relays are essentially the breakers you have in your house. What the SCADA system is doing is monitoring and controlling the protective relays and the substations. It’s monitoring the current and the voltages on the wires. It’s mon
