Common Questions

SGAMS works primarily with transmission and distribution grid operators, industrial facilities (process industry, manufacturing, chemical processing), and urban infrastructure operators managing distributed energy resources. The common factor is connected infrastructure — systems where operational technology and information technology must be integrated to support operational decision-making.

No. SGAMS provides engineering expertise — frameworks, assessments, architecture design, and programme support. We are vendor-neutral by design. Our engagements produce engineering specifications and operational procedures, not software licences or hardware contracts. We have no commercial relationships with any technology vendor.

Our frameworks reference IEC 61850 (substation automation), IEC 61968/61970 (Common Information Model), IEC 62443 (industrial cybersecurity), ISA-95 (manufacturing operations management), IEC 60870-5 (telecontrol), IEEE 2030 (smart grid interoperability), and NERC CIP (bulk power system cybersecurity) as the primary engineering standards bases. We apply these to the specific constraints of each deployment environment — standards are engineering baselines, not prescriptions.

A typical Discovery and Readiness Assessment engagement takes four to six weeks, depending on the number of sites, the complexity of the protocol environment, and the availability of existing documentation. Sites with well-maintained as-built documentation complete faster. Sites where the as-built condition is unknown take longer because physical survey is required.

Engagements in EU member states are handled directly. Engagements outside the EU are handled through partner arrangements with local engineering practices in the relevant jurisdiction. Data processing for all engagements complies with GDPR requirements regardless of the physical location of the infrastructure.

The SGAMS Readiness Index is an assessment framework that evaluates infrastructure across five operational dimensions: interoperability, data architecture, security posture, automation maturity, and resilience capacity. It is used at the start of Discovery engagements to establish a baseline and identify the specific dimensions where modernisation investment will have the most operational impact. It is not a benchmarking score — the dimensions produce a map of engineering decisions, not a ranking.

Yes. All data processing in the context of SGAMS engagements is conducted in accordance with GDPR requirements. Client infrastructure data shared during engagements is processed under a data processing agreement. See our GDPR Compliance page for the full data processing framework.

The minimum engagement is a Discovery and Readiness Assessment (SVC-01). This is a standalone deliverable with a defined scope. There is no requirement to continue to a larger engagement after the Discovery is complete — and approximately 30% of Discovery clients use the engineering brief to inform internal programmes without further SGAMS involvement.