The invention relates to a method for monitoring a device (1) having at least one component (2), the method at least comprises the following steps: 1, preparing a sample; a) providing a data set (3),wherein the data set comprises a plurality of possible device types (9), b) detecting a plurality of measurement variables (8); wherein each of the measurement variables (8) is assigned to at least one of the components (2) of the device (1), c) comparing the measured variable (8) detected according to step b) with a plurality of possible device types (9) in the data set (3) provided according tostep a); wherein a device type (9) of the monitored device (1) is ascertained, and d) a state of at least one of the components (2) of the device (1) is ascertained on the basis of the measurement variable (8) detected according to step b) and the device type (9) determined according to step c).