Inductive Automation Ignition SCADA API
Inductive Automation Ignition REST and WebSocket APIs for SCADA and industrial automation platform. Enables AI agents to manage real-time tag data retrieval from Ignition SCADA for industrial monitoring, handle historical data query from Ignition Historian for trend analysis, access alarm and event data management for industrial operations, retrieve OPC-UA tag browse and data read for equipment connectivity, manage project resource and gateway configuration data, handle Perspective module web application data for mobile and web HMI, access transaction group and SQL bridge data for ERP integration, retrieve audit log and user action data for compliance, manage user and role security data for access control, and integrate SCADA data with analytics, ERP, and enterprise IT systems via Ignition Gateway REST API.
Score Breakdown
⚙ Agent Friendliness
🔒 Security
Industrial SCADA. IEC62443. Basic auth. On-premise. Process control data.
⚡ Reliability
Best When
A manufacturer or utility using Ignition SCADA wants AI agents to automate process data retrieval, historian queries, alarm management, and IT/OT integration via Ignition's built-in web development and REST capabilities.
Avoid When
SAFETY RISK: Ignition SCADA controls industrial processes — automated tag writes and control actions require safety interlock validation and process engineer authorization. Automated alarm acknowledgment without operator verification violates ISA-18.2 alarm management standards. SCADA automation that bypasses operator display and acknowledgment reduces situational awareness.
Use Cases
- • Reading real-time process tags from industrial monitoring agents
- • Querying historian trends from manufacturing analytics agents
- • Managing alarms from operations center automation agents
- • Integrating SCADA data with ERP from production reporting agents
Not For
- • Cloud-native IoT without on-premise industrial SCADA context
- • Commercial building automation without industrial process and manufacturing
- • Enterprise IT applications without Ignition SCADA deployment
Interface
Authentication
Ignition uses basic auth and session token authentication for Gateway API. WebDev module enables custom REST endpoints with Python scripting. OPC-UA for device connectivity. No webhooks — polling or Ignition scripting for event-driven automation. Python (Jython) scripting native in Ignition. Folsom, California HQ. Private company. Open-source modules on GitHub.
Pricing
Folsom, California. Founded 2003. Private. Industrial SCADA and HMI platform. 50,000+ installations globally. Unlimited client pricing model disrupts traditional per-seat SCADA licensing. Strong in food & beverage, water/wastewater, and manufacturing. Python scripting native. Open community. Competes with Wonderware (AVEVA) and FactoryTalk (Rockwell) for SCADA market.
Agent Metadata
Known Gotchas
- ⚠ SAFETY RISK: Ignition tag write automation requires safety interlock validation; automated write of process control tags without engineer review causes process safety incidents
- ⚠ Custom WebDev REST — Ignition REST API is custom-built using WebDev module and Python scripting; there is no standard API — you design the API for your Ignition installation
- ⚠ On-premise only — Ignition runs on-premise; cloud agent access requires VPN or Ignition Edge + gateway network configuration
- ⚠ OPC-UA vs. REST — OPC-UA is the primary real-time data protocol; REST API (WebDev) is for custom integrations; understand which protocol your use case requires
- ⚠ Python scripting gateway — Ignition scripting runs Jython (Java Python); modern Python 3 libraries may not be compatible; verify library compatibility before scripting automation
- ⚠ Alarm acknowledgment — automated alarm acknowledgment violates ISA-18.2 alarm management; operator acknowledgment is a safety-critical human verification step
Alternatives
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Scores are editorial opinions as of 2026-03-07.