The project, carried out from 2019 to 31 December 2022, was financed by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research under grant number 03WKDH05E. The lead partner was Sprecher Automation Deutschland GmbH, with project management by Uwe Herrmann. Fraunhofer IOSB‑AST contributed as a key partner, providing project leadership through Juliane Sauerbrei, while Tobol joined after the early exit of Leitec. The collaboration involved a total of four partners, each responsible for a distinct technical theme, and was coordinated through monthly teleconferences and regular web‑based meetings. The project aimed to develop a scalable, cloud‑based network control system for critical infrastructure, specifically targeting the integration of energy and supply networks (electricity, heat, water, wastewater) into a platform‑based supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) system.

Technically, the core concept was to extend the existing SPRECON‑V460 pilot solution with a Microsoft Azure cloud layer, thereby creating a platform that could remotely connect to the grid from a network perspective. The envisioned architecture would allow the system to act as a network control platform, providing high availability and scalability without the constraints of dedicated hardware. The project also planned to develop a “Datendrehscheibe” (data hub) that would mediate communication between the platform and a third‑party logistics provider, smood ACT S4PL. In addition, interface specifications for the smood hardware were to be defined, covering process coupling, data protection, and technical parameters such as bandwidth requirements.

During the project, the feasibility of a cloud‑based SCADA solution was critically examined. The KRITIS (critical infrastructure) security requirements in Germany were found to be unmet by Microsoft Azure at the time, leading to the decision not to deploy a cloud‑based SCADA application. Consequently, the project shifted focus to a local, secure implementation that still leveraged cloud‑like scalability concepts through modular architecture and data archiving. The team performed extensive analysis of address building, octet assignments, and data point testing, as documented in the tables and figures of the report. Although no quantitative performance metrics were ultimately achieved—because the cloud deployment was abandoned—the project established a set of performance and scalability criteria that can guide future implementations.

The project also addressed the broader challenges of integrating third‑party applications into the service platform, clarifying organizational and technical prerequisites. Security considerations were central, with a detailed assessment of cyber‑threats and the increased attack surface inherent in internet‑connected systems. The report highlighted the differences between infrastructure automation and industrial automation, particularly regarding distribution, availability, societal criticality, and network isolation.

Despite significant delays caused by the early partner exit, the COVID‑19 pandemic, and personnel shortages, the project reached its final milestone in December 2022. The team’s efforts culminated in a comprehensive set of interface specifications, a validated data hub concept, and a clear roadmap for secure, scalable network control systems. The collaboration among Sprecher Automation, Fraunhofer IOSB‑AST, Tobol, and the supporting partners demonstrated the feasibility of developing a robust platform that meets stringent KRITIS security standards while preserving the benefits of cloud‑like scalability.