From OpenSCADAWiki
In fact, there are the following solutions of the problem:
- The first option could be to establish close links with the SCADA system manufacturer, that is, integration (explicit or implicit) into the implementation unit. That, in turn, is equally to full or partial loss of independence.
- The second option is to develop your own commercial SCADA system. This achieves full control, but for the development of the system, at a high level, a large staff of highly qualified specialists is required. That, in most cases, is not pocket-sized firms that implement ASC-TP. As a result, the qualifications of the specialists are rather low. And even if the firm judges this feat, the SCADA system does not reach the level of the most mediocre third-party commercial system, and very often there is a low quality code and/or mediocrity features of the system.
- The third option is to use open SCADA systems, that is, joint the development. This allows us to combine the benefits of the first two options:
- full control over the SCADA system;
- does not require a large staff of highly skilled specialists for the development of the system; there are enough specialists for distributing the system;
- leads to the system quality improving, due to multiple external expertise and breadth of supported platforms;
- allows you to choose a platform based on its benefits, and not just because it runs on the SCADA system;
- and other: psychological, economic, moral and legal advantages of open systems.