Key Concepts & Terminology
The SDA Console uses consistent terminology to represent physical and logical entities within an industrial automation environment.
Understanding these core concepts helps users navigate the platform, interpret relationships between components and configure automation workflows effectively.
Each of the following terms corresponds to an element you will encounter in the SDA Console, API or documentation.
Quick Reference: Key Concepts and Terminology
| Term | Definition | Common Usage / Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Gateway | A network-connected device that securely bridges the local OT network with the SDA cloud. | Installed on-prem to connect PLCs, manage communication and enable backups, monitoring and deployments. |
| Device | A logical twin of a PLC or industrial device, representing its configuration and control code in the cloud. | Used to perform backups, deployments, versioning and lifecycle management. |
| Project | A collection of automation code, configuration files and assets associated with one or more Devices. | Defines what runs on a Device; Projects are supported with version control, browser-based engineering and CI/CD automation. |
| Resource Group | A logical container that organizes related SDA assets such as Devices, Projects and Gateways. | Groups resources by site, production line or environment (e.g., Development, Production) for easier management and access control. |
| Tag | A metadata label used to classify and filter SDA objects. | Enables quick search, filtering and automated grouping for reporting and workflows. |
| Document | A stored file or artifact that is versioned and linked to another SDA object (e.g., Device, Project or Pipeline). | Used for change records, safety documentation, firmware or version reports with full traceability. |
| Pipeline | An automated workflow for interacting with Devices to perform actions such as backup, deploy or password management. | Implements Industrial CI/CD with approval, rollback and audit capabilities. |
| Browser-Based Engineering (IDEaaS) | A secure, cloud-hosted development environment for PLC programming and control logic. | Allows users to open, edit, download, upload and monitor Projects and running Devices directly in the browser without local software. |
| Repository | A cloud-based source-control system for storing and tracking Project versions and assets. | Enables collaboration, version history and integration with Pipelines. |
| Hub | A workspace module that groups related features or analytics (e.g., Security Hub, IDEaaS Hub). | Provides role-specific dashboards and tools for different platform functions. |
| Tenant | A logical workspace representing an organization or customer within SDA. | Segregates users, resources and permissions by company or business unit. |