A process data access server enabling client applications incorporating multiple differing data exchange protocols to access process data stored at many different locations in an industrial process control system, the process data access server comprising: a device protocol interface configured to facilitate accessing process data storage locations within the industrial process control system; a set of client data exchange protocol modules configured to enable client applications to request access to process data storage locations via the process data access server according to particular client data exchange protocols supported by the set of client data exchange protocol modules; and a data access server engine for executing process data access requests, received by the process data access server via the set of client data exchange protocol modules, by accessing, via the device protocol interface, the process data storage locations corresponding to the process data access requests, wherein the set of client data exchange protocol modules are configured to invoke a set of process data access operations executable by the data access server engine and wherein the data access server engine includes a client application data exchange protocol abstraction layer between the client data exchange protocol modules and the engine functions of the data access server engine, the client application data exchange protocol abstraction layer being provided by a standardized set of interfaces and comprising said set of process data access operations callable by ones of the set of client data exchange protocol modules in response to receipt of the process data access requests by the set of client data exchange protocol modules. a device protocol interface configured to facilitate accessing process data storage locations within the industrial process control system; a set of client data exchange protocol modules configured to enable client applications to request access to process data storage locations via the process data access server according to particular client data exchange protocols supported by the set of client data exchange protocol modules; and a data access server engine for executing process data access requests, received by the process data access server via the set of client data exchange protocol modules, by accessing, via the device protocol interface, the process data storage locations corresponding to the process data access requests, wherein the set of client data exchange protocol modules are configured to invoke a set of process data access operations executable by the data access server engine and wherein the data access server engine includes a client application data exchange protocol abstraction layer between the client data exchange protocol modules and the engine functions of the data access server engine, the client application data exchange protocol abstraction layer being provided by a standardized set of interfaces and comprising said set of process data access operations callable by ones of the set of client data exchange protocol modules in response to receipt of the process data access requests by the set of client data exchange protocol modules.