Siemens S7

The Siemens S7 protocol is a proprietary industrial communication protocol used to exchange data with Siemens S7 programmable logic controllers (PLCs). It allows external systems, such as HMIs, SCADA systems, and data historians, to access PLC data over industrial networks.

In practical terms, the S7 protocol is simply the mechanism used to read data from Siemens S7 PLCs.

We use it to interface directly with Siemens S7 PLCs in small automation setups: when there is no DCS or SCADA system exposing data via OPC-UA or other standardized interfaces, and when introducing additional middleware (such as OPC servers) is unnecessary.