Quick take: SCADA growing, DMS growing. OMS growing, DMS/OMS combos growing (despite security concerns), IPv6 may have a long road ahead before it supplants DNP3 as the favored communications protocol. – Jesse Berst

There were other interesting insights from the interim report Newton-Evans just released as part of its global market assessment series on operational control systems. Other findings from the initial group of utility responses:

·         Plans for procurements of new DMS and OMS are significant

·         There is interest in combining DMS and OMS on a common platform, although cyber security issues are an issue for some

·         Third party services are being used and relied upon to assist with NERC CIP compliance issues and for the conduct of vulnerability assessments

·         DNP 3 continues to be the most prevalent operational data communications protocol with the survey group and will likely be for the foreseeable future

Further information on the new series -- The World Market Study of SCADA, Energy Management Systems and Distribution Management Systems in Electric Utilities: 2013-2015 -- is available from Newton-Evans.

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Jesse Berst is the founder and chief analyst of Smart Grid News.com, the industry's oldest and largest smart grid site. A frequent keynoter at industry events in the U.S. and abroad, he also serves on advisory committees for Pacific Northwest National Laboratory and the Institute for Electric Efficiency. He often provides strategic consulting to large corporations and venture-backed startups. He is a member of the advisory boards of GridGlo and Calico Energy Services.