Security | Threat Detection | Cyberattacks | DevSecOps | Compliance

SCADA operations depend on recoverable servers and workstations as well as protected networks and controllers. A failed supervisory host can extend downtime even when field control remains intact. This guide maps the complete SCADA security stack and shows where PC-based backup and recovery fit without presenting Acronis as a SCADA network security platform. For broader OT and ICS foundations, see Acronis' OT and ICS cybersecurity guide.

Australian MSPs have no shortage of technology vendors. The difficult part is deciding which relationships will make the business stronger after the contract is signed. A product can perform well and still create friction if the commercial model is hard to explain, enablement is generic or support disappears when an opportunity becomes complicated. A strong vendor relationship connects technology, operations and go-to-market execution.

This guide is written for controls and automation engineers, OT infrastructure owners and plant leaders responsible for recovering PC-based SCADA systems, including SCADA servers and clients, HMI and engineering workstations, and historians. It does not cover native backup of PLC or RTU logic and firmware; those assets remain within the automation vendor's engineering and lifecycle-management tools. A SCADA server, HMI or historian cannot be recovered like an ordinary IT workload.

With most cyberattacks, the problem announces itself. A service goes down. A user cannot log in. An alert fires. Denial-of-wallet is different. The application keeps working normally while the cost of running it climbs in the background. That is what makes it a security problem and not only a budgeting one. The goal is not to take a system offline. It is to make the system do expensive work that nobody asked for.

For MSPs supporting industrial clients, business leaders responsible for operational risk and OT engineers implementing the standard, IEC 62443 is ultimately about securing OT and ICS environments without undermining availability or safety. Unplanned downtime, legacy systems that cannot be patched, air-gapped facilities with limited or no local IT support, and the need for predictable recovery are the day-to-day realities behind requests to demonstrate IEC 62443 alignment.

OT ransomware is not IT ransomware with an industrial label. An encrypted HMI, engineering workstation, SCADA server or virtualization host can remove operator visibility and force a controlled shutdown even when PLCs continue running. Recovery ends only when operations, engineering, safety and security agree that restored systems and the physical process are trustworthy.

A reliable service desk earns confidence. A trusted business partner earns a place in decisions about risk, growth and continuity. For Australian MSPs, that distinction matters because clients increasingly need more than a list of tools. They need clear advice about which risks to address, which outcomes to prioritise and how technology supports the business. Australian Cyber Security Centre guidance encourages organizations to scrutinize the cybersecurity measures used in outsourced ICT services.

There is no shortage of guidance available to MSPs on how they should secure customer environments. Security frameworks, industry standards, regulatory requirements and insurance obligations all provide recommendations on the controls organizations should have in place. Yet despite this abundance of guidance, cyber incidents remain common and continue to increase. At the same time, requirements are becoming more complex.

Email remains the primary entry point for cyberattacks, making effective email security more critical than ever. That’s why we’re especially proud that customers ranked Acronis Cyber Protect Cloud in the G2 Fall 2026 Cloud Email Security Grid Report. Because G2 rankings are based on verified customer reviews, this recognition reflects the experience of the organizations and service providers that rely on Acronis to protect their users, data and business communications every day.