SCADA & Beyond with Alana

Alana Murray

Plain-language Operational Technology and Industrial Control Systems education from 35+ years in the field. Weekly problem-focused episodes teaching structures, trends, and practical approaches for OT/ICS professionals at all career stages. scadaandbeyond.substack.com

Episodes

  1. May 14

    ISA/IEC 62443: Cybersecurity Best Practices for the Real World

    We're going to cover a lot of ground today. We'll start with what 62443 actually is, break down the standard's structure with real examples, look at the major 2024 updates, explore practical implications for your facility, and finish with concrete next steps you can implement immediately. This isn't going to be a theoretical discussion; everything we cover today comes from real-world implementation experience. Get full access to SCADA & Beyond with Alana at scadaandbeyond.substack.com/subscribe

    13 min
  2. Why Your Industrial Control System Is Broken

    Apr 9

    Why Your Industrial Control System Is Broken

    So today I want to talk about the three things that slowly turn a decent control system into one that’s a nightmare to live with. Configuration. Architecture. And change. These three things, on their own or working together, are behind most of the dysfunction I’ve seen in ICS environments. Get full access to SCADA & Beyond with Alana at scadaandbeyond.substack.com/subscribe

    13 min
  3. Your Building Has a Brain: Here's How It Works

    Mar 13

    Your Building Has a Brain: Here's How It Works

    The building you're in has a brain, but most people who work in or around it don't know that. Until now. In this first episode of my BAS series, I'm breaking down exactly what a Building Automation System is, how it's structured, what it controls, and what all those confusing acronyms, BAS, BMS, DDC, EMS, actually mean. This is the perfect place to start if you work in facilities, controls, or maintenance, or if you're just starting out in the industry. Get full access to SCADA & Beyond with Alana at scadaandbeyond.substack.com/subscribe

    14 min
  4. Why OPC UA Is the Industrial Protocol You Can't Ignore in 2026

    Mar 6

    Why OPC UA Is the Industrial Protocol You Can't Ignore in 2026

    With 45 million units installed worldwide, OPC UA is poised to revolutionize industrial automation in 2026. If you continue to rely on Modbus, EtherNet/IP, or other legacy protocols, this podcast will show you why it's time to upgrade. Get full access to SCADA & Beyond with Alana at scadaandbeyond.substack.com/subscribe

    15 min
  5. FOUNDATION Fieldbus

    Feb 20

    FOUNDATION Fieldbus

    Whether you're new to fieldbus or you've been wiring panels for years and want to understand what this protocol is really doing under the hood, this one's for you. Get full access to SCADA & Beyond with Alana at scadaandbeyond.substack.com/subscribe

    13 min
  6. Modbus TCP vs Ethernet IP.

    Feb 13

    Modbus TCP vs Ethernet IP.

    After 35 years in industrial controls, I've seen engineers make costly protocol decisions based on one simple misconception: "They're both Ethernet, so what's the difference?" The truth is, choosing between Modbus TCP and EtherNet/IP can make or break your project. In this practical guide, I'll walk you through the real-world differences that matter for your industrial automation projects, from architecture and security to total cost of ownership. Get full access to SCADA & Beyond with Alana at scadaandbeyond.substack.com/subscribe

    15 min

  7. Feb 9

    Modbus RTU Fundamentals

    I break down everything you need to know about RTU for real-world troubleshooting and installation. Get full access to SCADA & Beyond with Alana at scadaandbeyond.substack.com/subscribe

    11 min
  • 7 Episodes

About

Plain-language Operational Technology and Industrial Control Systems education from 35+ years in the field. Weekly problem-focused episodes teaching structures, trends, and practical approaches for OT/ICS professionals at all career stages. scadaandbeyond.substack.com

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