New ISA-112 Part 1 Standard targets SCADA modernization and system governance
Key Highlights
- Establishes a vendor-neutral, lifecycle-based framework for managing SCADA systems across multiple industries.
- Includes standardized terminology, system diagrams, and workflows to enhance communication and system design clarity.
- Supports organizations in designing, upgrading, and maintaining SCADA platforms with a focus on security, performance, and regulatory compliance.
- Developed by a global committee of over 350 industry experts from sectors like oil & gas, water, and infrastructure.
- ISA plans to release additional parts addressing lifecycle review processes and SCADA architectures to further support system modernization.
The International Society of Automation (ISA) has published ANSI/ISA-112.00.01-2025, SCADA Systems – Part 1: SCADA Lifecycle, Diagrams and Terminology, establishing a vendor-neutral framework for managing and modernizing supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) systems across industrial and infrastructure environments.
Announced Feb. 24 from Durham, North Carolina, the new American National Standard is now available for purchase through ISA and is accessible to ISA members as a membership benefit.
According to ISA, the standard provides a technology-independent lifecycle model and functional architecture framework intended to guide organizations through the design, upgrade and long-term management of SCADA systems. It outlines high-level lifecycle phases, standardized terminology and system diagrams to support clearer communication among end users, system integrators, vendors and consultants.
The standard applies across sectors where SCADA platforms are critical to operational performance and regulatory compliance, including municipal water and wastewater facilities, oil and gas infrastructure, pipelines, power transmission and distribution, transportation systems, civil infrastructure, manufacturing, mining and defense. ISA stated that additional parts of the ISA-112 series, addressing lifecycle review processes and SCADA architectures, are planned for release.
ISA-112 Part 1 is designed for organizations implementing new SCADA platforms as well as those upgrading legacy systems to address modern security, connectivity and performance requirements. The standard includes structured workflows covering the design, build, operation, maintenance, expansion and audit of SCADA environments, along with guidance for organizing internal SCADA standards and work processes.
The ISA112 committee was formed by industry experts from the oil and gas, pipeline and municipal water and wastewater sectors seeking a consistent framework for managing and executing SCADA projects. ISA reports that the committee has since expanded to more than 350 volunteer experts worldwide.
“The ISA-112 Part 1 standard has been developed to make it easier for end users to organize their SCADA system standards and communicate to others what their needs and wishes are,” said Graham Nasby, founding co-chair of the ISA112 committee and systems lead – Eastern Canada at PBX Engineering Ltd.. He added that the standard provides system integrators, vendors and consultants with a consistent approach for SCADA design, implementation and ongoing system enhancements.
ISA will host a free webinar, “ISA-112 Part 1: The New Standard for Modernizing SCADA Systems,” on April 16, 2026, at 11 a.m. ET to provide additional details on the new standard.
Founded in 1945, ISA develops global automation standards and conformity assessment programs and provides professional education, certification and technical resources for the automation community.