A system for supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) comprising: a remote terminal unit associated with a site; a SCADA hub in communication with the remote terminal unit; and at least one user station removed from the SCADA hub, the remote terminal unit being operable to: identify a change in a property at the site; and initiate communication of data regarding the changed property to the SCADA hub, the SCADA hub being operable responsive to the initiated communication to: transmit data regarding the changed property to the at least one user station by instant messaging.