While industrial software compatibility issues still exist today, OS (operating system) suppliers, system integrators, engineers and application software vendors have been using common tools and protocols that make it easier to minimize these issues. Nevertheless, at least seven areas where industrial software applications can face compatibility problems include (in no particular order): (1) OS issues, (2) hardware incompatibility, (3) dependency on legacy systems, (4) interoperability between/among software solutions, (5) version incompatibility, (6) security software conflicts and (7) updates/patches—whether application or OS.