How to connect AI to PLC and SCADA data, safely
An AI assistant is only as useful as the data it can read. The question is how to give it that data without opening the control network.
Connect AI to plant data through a read-only layer outside the control network. Push data from the SCADA or historian to that layer, and let the assistant read it through a controlled interface such as the Model Context Protocol (MCP), an open standard introduced by Anthropic in November 2024 for connecting AI assistants to the systems where data lives. OPC UA, released in 2008, remains the standard way to get data out of controllers and SCADA. Inductive Automation announced an MCP module for Ignition in September 2025, planned for 2026.
The building blocks
| Layer | Typical technology | Role |
|---|---|---|
| Controllers | Siemens S7-1500, S7-1200, other PLCs | Run the process; the AI never writes here by default |
| SCADA and historian | Ignition, WinCC, SQL historians | Collect alarms, tags and trends |
| Data out of OT | OPC UA, MQTT, SQL replication, REST APIs | Push data one way to a separate zone |
| AI connector | Model Context Protocol (MCP) servers | Give the assistant defined, logged tools: read trend, read alarm history, search manual |
| Assistant | Enterprise models from Anthropic or OpenAI | Answers in plain language, with sources |
Why MCP
MCP describes how an AI application (the client) talks to a server that exposes tools and data. Instead of giving a model broad network access, you give it a short list of tools, such as 'read the alarm history of line 2' or 'search the pump manual', and you log every call. In December 2025 Anthropic donated MCP to the Agentic AI Foundation under the Linux Foundation, and it is now supported by many AI clients. Inductive Automation announced on 17 September 2025 an MCP module that lets Ignition contribute tools, resources and prompts, planned for release in 2026.
Our setup
- Read-only tools by default, defined per use case and agreed with your team
- Data pushed out of the OT network, in line with the CISA/NSA guidance on AI in OT
- Every tool call logged: who asked what, which data was read
- We work with MCP connectors for TIA Portal, S7-PLCSIM Advanced, WinCC V7 project files and Ignition gateways
Questions we get
Do we need to replace our SCADA to use AI?
No. We start from the data you already have: SCADA alarms, historian trends, CMMS exports and documents.
Can the assistant write setpoints?
Not by default. A write path is a separate design with its own safeguards, limits and approvals, and many plants decide never to allow it.
Does our data go to the cloud?
That depends on the models and the setup you choose. We agree which data may leave the site, and use the business offerings of the AI vendors.
Sources
- Anthropic: Introducing the Model Context Protocol (25 Nov 2024)
- Anthropic: Donating the Model Context Protocol and establishing the Agentic AI Foundation (9 Dec 2025)
- OPC Foundation: Unified Architecture (23 Dec 2024)
- Inductive Automation: Inductive Automation announces MCP Module during 2025 Ignition Community Conference (17 Sep 2025)
- Inductive Automation: Inductive Automation Releases Ignition 8.3 (16 Sep 2025)
- NSA: NSA, CISA, and others release guidance on integrating AI in operational technology (3 Dec 2025)
A new line, an upgrade, or AI for your plant?
Tell us about your project and we will set up a technical call.
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