The devices that electrical substation automation systems are built from depend on highly precise, time-critical communications. Substation thus often use highly specialized monitoring systems to tackle this problem, but can approach it using different technologies. The most up-to-date, “smart” substations use the Manufacturing Messaging Specification (MMS) for communications among IEC 61850 intelligent electronic devices (IEDs), allowing SCADA to monitor and control IED states as well as process switchgear and transformer data directly. However, IT networking devices have been increasingly applied in IEC 61850 systems, and this equipment communicates using SNMP. Consequently, in the modern substation automation industry it’s clear that, for the time being, SNMP and MMS will continue to exist side-by-side. For designers and integrators of electrical substation equipment, bringing both MMS and SNMP support to IT equipment is an ideal, one-size fits-all alternative that allows for the greatest flexibility and adaptability around.