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Browser Based Engineering

Browser-Based Engineering (IDEaaS)​

Browser-Based Engineering, also referred to as IDE-as-a-Service (IDEaaS), transforms how industrial automation engineers develop, maintain and deploy automation projects. Instead of installing engineering software on local PCs, SDA provides a secure, cloud-hosted environment that allows users to access and manage their PLC programming tools directly from a web browser.

With IDEaaS, engineers can design, edit and deploy automation projects from anywhere — securely and collaboratively — while maintaining full compatibility with native vendor tools. Each integrated environment runs in an isolated container within the SDA Cloud, ensuring both performance and compliance with vendor-specific licensing and runtime requirements.

Key Benefits​

  • No local installs: Access the full engineering environment through a browser, eliminating dependency on local software versions or system configurations.
  • Vendor compatibility: Launch original vendor IDEs (e.g., Beckhoff TwinCAT, CODESYS, Siemens TIA Portal, Rockwell Studio 5000, etc.) in secure, pre-configured cloud environments.
  • Version control integration: All projects are automatically versioned and stored within the SDA Project system for easy rollback, comparison and collaborative editing.
  • Secure access: IDEaaS sessions run within the SDA Secure Remote Access (SRA) framework, ensuring encrypted communication between browser, SDA Cloud and on-premise devices.
  • Scalable and managed: Resources are dynamically allocated based on workload, ensuring responsive performance even during complex builds or multi-user sessions.

Architecture Overview​

Each IDE session runs in a containerized workspace within the customer’s tenant. This workspace connects through the SDA Connectivity Service to securely reach on-premise gateways and devices.
This architecture enables:

  • Isolation between users, tenants and projects
  • Controlled outbound-only communication
  • Integration with SDA’s identity, audit and logging systems
  • Consistent performance across users and regions