Essential Information Technology Standards for OPC Unified Architecture and AI Integration

In today’s digitized and interconnected business landscape, ensuring seamless communication, efficiency, security, and scaling is more crucial than ever. International standards play a foundational role in enabling interoperability and robust operations for organizations relying on automation, industrial data, and artificial intelligence (AI). This article explores four critical information technology standards—each part of the OPC Unified Architecture (OPC UA)—that are indispensable for modern enterprises. Discover how adopting these standards can significantly boost productivity, security, and innovation.

Overview / Introduction

The increasingly digital and AI-empowered world is fueled by standardized frameworks that guide the development, deployment, and management of IT systems. Information technologies standards, such as those governing OPC Unified Architecture, facilitate:

• Real-time, secure, and reliable data exchange
• Cross-platform interoperability between diverse devices and systems
• Simplified integration of AI and machine learning into industrial processes

Businesses, from manufacturing to utilities and beyond, depend on such standards to minimize risks, streamline operations, and unlock data-driven insights that power efficiency and growth. In this comprehensive guide, you’ll learn:

• What each key OPC UA standard addresses
• How they improve system functionality for AI and IT
• The practical impact and benefits of adopting these standards
• Steps to compliance and best practices for implementation

By demystifying these standards, we aim to empower a broader audience—including business leaders, IT managers, and the tech-curious public—on the vital role they play in a competitive, future-ready enterprise.

Detailed Standards Coverage

EN IEC 62541-5:2020 – OPC Unified Architecture: Information Model

OPC Unified Architecture - Part 5: Information Model

As the backbone of OPC UA's standardized data modeling, EN IEC 62541-5:2020 defines the structure and content of the Information Model at the heart of every UA server. The Information Model details how both generic and server-specific data is organized within the AddressSpace, providing standardized node types crucial for machine-to-machine communication.

Key Requirements & Specifications:

• Standardized Nodes: Defines node types (Objects, Variables, Methods, etc.) and instances used for diagnostics and server functions.
• User Authentication: Annex F introduces a role information model, enabling flexible and secure user access.
• Expanded Data Types: New data types such as ".Union", ".Decimal", and string-based types provide broader data representation capabilities.
• Enhanced Methods: New methods for server state changes, persistent subscriptions, and data resending improve control and reliability.
• Selection Lists & State Machines: Support for more complex decision-making and operational transparency.
• URI Versioning: UrisVersion Property enhances session management for stateless service invocation.

Who Needs to Comply:

• Developers of industrial automation, SCADA, IIoT, and enterprise IT systems deploying OPC UA servers
• Organizations integrating AI into product manufacturing or process automation
• Any business requiring a consistent, secure approach to machine data modeling

Implementation Implications:

• Ensures reliable, future-proof data modeling across all connected systems
• Provides a foundation for scalable integration of new devices and AI services
• Enhances cybersecurity via robust user authentication at the core object model

Key highlights:

• Comprehensive framework for OPC UA server information modeling
• Enhanced authentication and access control options
• Foundation for AI and advanced analytics integration

Access the full standard:View EN IEC 62541-5:2020 on iTeh Standards

IEC 62541-13:2025 – OPC Unified Architecture: Aggregates

OPC Unified Architecture – Part 13: Aggregates

Aggregates are mathematical functions calculating derived values (like averages or minimums) from time-series process data. IEC 62541-13:2025 standardizes how these calculations are performed, represented, and accessed, streamlining real-time analytics, AI-driven monitoring, and historical data reporting. The third edition introduces vital corrections and clarifications, making it more consistent and robust.

Key Requirements & Specifications:

• Aggregate Functions: Defines objects and variable types for computing statistics such as average, variance, start and end points, percent good/bad, time in state, and more.
• Data Quality & Status Codes: Clarifies the use of status flags for raw, interpolated, good, bad, and uncertain values.
• Calculation Consistency: Fixes issues with time averaging, data type accuracy, and interval management for reliable analytics.
• Standardized Output: Ensures historical and real-time aggregate results follow agreed conventions and can be trusted by external systems, such as AI models or dashboards.

Who Needs to Comply:

• Industrial facilities leveraging historical process data for optimization or predictive maintenance
• Data scientists and AI practitioners using OPC UA data as input for machine learning algorithms
• Developers of IIoT gateways, MES, and data historians

Implementation Implications:

• Drastically reduces errors in analytics and regulatory reporting
• Enhances the consistency of AI-driven decisions based on historical data
• Simplifies integration across multi-vendor environments and legacy systems

Key highlights:

• Precise aggregation and analytics directly at the OPC UA server level
• Standardized approach for feeding AI algorithms with high-quality, pre-processed data
• Greater accuracy and traceability for compliance and process improvement

Access the full standard:View IEC 62541-13:2025 on iTeh Standards

kSIST FprEN IEC 62541-7:2025 – OPC Unified Architecture: Profiles

OPC Unified Architecture – Part 7: Profiles

To promote interoperability and simplify certification, kSIST FprEN IEC 62541-7:2025 outlines how OPC UA features are modularized into Profiles. Profiles group optional and mandatory features, making it clear what any given device, software, or system supports.

Key Requirements & Specifications:

• Profiles Model: Specifies how functional groupings (Profiles) are described, without defining test cases directly.
• Conformance Units: Segregates testable features for targeted certification (tracked publicly online).
• Modular Compliance: Allows implementation and certification based on relevant features for a given application.

Who Needs to Comply:

• Vendors seeking easier product certification or marketing of OPC UA-compatible solutions
• System integrators designing multi-vendor or custom OPC UA environments
• IT managers driving procurement by feature set

Implementation Implications:

• Accelerates compliance audits and certification
• Reduces vendor lock-in through transparent capability declarations
• Ensures all system parts meet relevant requirements for interoperability

Key highlights:

• Foundation for modular and scalable OPC UA deployments
• Speeds up procurement and integration cycles
• Facilitates future upgrades and expansion

Access the full standard:View kSIST FprEN IEC 62541-7:2025 on iTeh Standards

oSIST prEN IEC 62541-10:2024 – OPC Unified Architecture: Programs

OPC Unified Architecture – Part 10: Programs

This standard addresses the modeling and management of complex, stateful functions (Programs) in OPC UA—moving beyond simple method calls to encompass entire automation routines and process logic. Programs may represent batch jobs, machine tool cycles, or data transfer sequences, often tied to AI and digital transformation projects.

Key Requirements & Specifications:

• Program Information Model: Defines node classes, properties, methods, and events to advertise, manage, and monitor Programs
• Program State Machines: Models execution flow, state transitions, events (such as completion or errors), and diagnostic data
• Lifecycle Management: Describes the creation, execution, suspension, and termination of Programs
• DomainDownload Example: Provides guidance on real-world automation sequences

Who Needs to Comply:

• Developers of advanced industrial automation applications
• Industries implementing AI-driven orchestration or digital twins
• Facilities with batch, discrete, or multi-stage process control needs

Implementation Implications:

• Supports orchestration and automation of complex workflows
• Facilitates monitoring, error handling, and transparency within process logic
• Improves AI deployment for process automation

Key highlights:

• Seamless integration of complex process logic
• Robust framework for error handling and diagnostics
• Improved alignment with AI and advanced automation

Access the full standard:View oSIST prEN IEC 62541-10:2024 on iTeh Standards

Industry Impact & Compliance

Implementing OPC UA information technology standards directly impacts how organizations operate, scale, and secure their digital infrastructure. Key areas include:

How These Standards Affect Businesses

• Interoperability: Seamless communication across devices, vendors, and IT/OT boundaries
• Security: Consistent approaches to authentication, authorization, and data integrity
• Productivity: Streamlined integration and configuration reduce engineering time and errors
• Data Value: Aggregated, contextualized data enables advanced analytics and confident AI decisions

Compliance Considerations

• Adhering to these standards can be a requirement due to regulatory, customer, or supply chain demands.
• Non-compliance risks include system incompatibility, cyber vulnerabilities, loss of competitiveness, and failure to unlock value from data or AI investments.

Benefits of Adopting These Standards

• Productivity Gains: Standard-compliant tools and systems are easier to integrate, maintain, and extend.
• Security Improvement: Robust user role models and standard methods protect sensitive information.
• Scalability: Profiles and modular approaches make it easy to adapt as business or technology needs grow.
• AI Readiness: Standardized, quality-controlled data is a foundational requirement for reliable AI and advanced analytics.

Implementation Guidance

Common Implementation Approaches

1. Gap Assessment: Evaluate your current IT and automation systems against standard requirements.
2. Stakeholder Engagement: Involve IT, OT, and business leadership to secure buy-in and resources.
3. Vendor Evaluation: Choose solutions and partners that demonstrate conformance to relevant OPC UA standards.
4. Modular Rollout: Implement in phases, starting with most critical systems or those slated for upgrade.
5. Continuous Training: Keep teams updated on changes, new standard editions, and best practices.

Best Practices for Adoption

• Leverage Profiles to ensure only needed features are implemented and tested
• Prioritize data security using role models and authentication features
• Use aggregate models to standardize analytics inputs for AI and reporting
• Document and automate compliance audits for easy future upgrades
• Foster an organization-wide culture of standardization to maximize ROI

Resources

• iTeh Standards Platform: Discover, acquire, and manage standards
• Official OPC Foundation resources for ongoing support and certification

Conclusion / Next Steps

Adopting international information technologies and AI-related standards is non-negotiable for any organization aiming to thrive in today’s rapid, data-intensive business environment. The covered OPC UA standards—covering information modeling, aggregate analytics, modular profiles, and programmable automation—offer a strategic foundation for:

• Secure, scalable, and future-ready operations
• Streamlined AI and digital transformation projects
• Simplified compliance and integration
• Enhanced productivity and reliability across your enterprise

Recommendations:

• Perform a standards gap analysis for your systems
• Start integrating OPC UA-compliant solutions
• Invest in standards training for your teams

Staying updated through trusted sources like iTeh Standards ensures that your organization remains ahead, compliant, and innovative in a fast-changing digital world.