In 2026, industrial IoT and SCADA systems continue to transform critical infrastructure, energy, and manufacturing. The primary driver of development is the convergence of information technology (IT) and operational technology (OT). Sensor data is increasingly integrated into ERP and MES systems, requiring enhanced cybersecurity and compliance with ISO/IEC 27001 standards and the NIS2 directive.
Key technological drivers
Artificial intelligence and machine learning have become the foundation for predictive maintenance and real-time process optimization. At the same time, hybrid architectures remain the dominant model: critical SCADA components function on-premises, while analytics and IoT device management are moved to the cloud. To accelerate development and integration, companies are increasingly adopting low-code platforms.
Insights from Ukrainian developers
Association members are actively integrating these technologies into their solutions. The Softengi team is deploying AI agents to automate incident response. InBase uses its UnityBase platform to build custom solutions that unify IoT and SCADA data. Building on this foundation, Softline and IQusion deliver system integration projects for the public sector and critical infrastructure, while Data Management IG manages data flows between industrial and corporate systems.
What it means for companies
The convergence of IT and OT, combined with strict compliance mandates like NIS2, forces enterprises to rapidly upgrade legacy infrastructure. Organizations that delay integrating AI-driven analytics and hybrid cloud architectures risk facing operational inefficiencies, integration bottlenecks, and severe cybersecurity vulnerabilities.
What to do next
- Upgrade security and compliance: Align your systems with ISO/IEC 27001 standards and the NIS2 directive to secure IT/OT data flows.
- Implement hybrid models: Keep critical SCADA operations on-premises for safety while leveraging cloud platforms for scalable IoT analytics.
- Adopt modern development tools: Utilize low-code platforms and AI agents to accelerate system integration and automate incident response.
Prepared by a Software Ukraine member. Original publication.