The article shows the relevance of using cloud technologies in the field of industrial automation of technological processes. Typical architectures of modern automated control systems, as well as new standards and approaches to the design of industrial control systems developed by international communities are analyzed. A prototype of an open cloud distributed control system based on IEC 61131 has been demonstrated. The dependences of the computing power of virtual controllers on the number of processed objects are given. The Open Process Automation initiative aims to enhance the full lifecycle benefits of industrial control systems through the use of a standards-based, open, secure, interoperable architecture and open business model. The OPAS standard based on this initiative uses a “standard of standards” approach.