In a framework for acquiring and analyzing data from a network of sensors, plug-in software interfaces are used to provide scalability and flexibility. Data collection set-up data is exchanged through one or more first plug-in software interfaces with data collection devices, to configure the processor to collect measurement data from the data collection devices. Analysis set-up data is exchanged through one or more second plug-in software interfaces with one or more data analysis software packages, to configure the processor to provide a predefined subset of the measurement data to the data analysis software packages and to accept analysis results from the data analysis software packages. Measurement data and analysis results are subsequently exchanged through the plug-in interfaces.