Verano, the SCADA security company, announced that its Real-Time Application Platform (RTAP) on Linux is now available with a Windows client, Visualizer for RTAP on Linux. Verano's highly scalable, mission-critical SCADA application now has the reliability of a Linux server combined with the flexibility and familiarity of a Windows-based operator interface available on low-cost, high performance hardware.

RTAP is a proven supervisory control platform running in thousands of industrial installations worldwide for companies such as British Energy, California Water Service Company, Enbridge Pipelines, RWE and Shell. From systems that manage the world's longest petroleum and natural gas pipelines to automated systems for distributing drinking water to more than six million people in London, RTAP is an industrial-strength automation solution for critical infrastructure with large scale, dynamic processes.

Verano has made this reliable control platform even more operator-friendly with a Windows client. Visualizer for RTAP on Linux was developed to meet the needs of diverse clients around the world who need the power and security of RTAP on Linux servers, but want the versatility of Windows for their operators.

"We have been integrating our applications on Verano's dependable RTAP platform for 15 years with great results," said Guido Van de Velde, business unit manager of Ferranti Computer Systems. "We respect their continued commitment to mission-critical SCADA and SCADA security, especially in applications where Windows-based servers are not ideal, but the flexibility and familiarity of Windows is desired on the client side, together with the integration possibilities with other desktop tools."

Users of mission-critical SCADA applications require reliability and security, but at the same time, want to offer their operators a familiar, flexible Human Machine Interface (HMI). Verano has created a solution that uses Linux on the server side, ensuring security and performance, with Windows on the client side, creating a familiar and accommodating interface for the operator.

"Many users in the mission-critical segments continue to ask for proven solutions that are capable of fulfilling their reliability, scalability and security requirements, while providing the familiarity of their Microsoft Office environment," said Bob Mick, vice president of ARC. "By expanding their architecture to combine the strong security and scalability of Linux-based server technology with a familiar and flexible Windows client, Verano has offered the mission-critical SCADA market an optimum solution."

With Visualizer for RTAP on Linux, mission-critical SCADA operators are now able to cost-effectively upgrade legacy systems and deploy new applications, while improving overall system performance and increasing levels of security. Upgrading with Visualizer for RTAP on Linux helps reduce hardware costs and expands the scalability of systems through the RTAP object-oriented database leveraged by the drag and drop flexibility of Visualizer on Windows. These are welcome options that meet the needs of companies in the power transmission and distribution, water distribution and treatment, gas and liquid pipeline, mass transit and power generation fields, particularly as increasing security requirements spur the need for better system usability and reliability.