A system of automation components, having a control unit, having a memory area which includes a parameter data record, and a key memory, which is able to be connected to the control unit via an unambiguously allocatable, electrically conductive connection. The key memory is location-bound, in particular able to be spatially fixedly allocatable to a specific point in a system as a whole, the key memory having at least one non-volatile memory area, including an unambiguous item of identifying information. The control unit is able to read out the identifying information. The system also includes an external data memory, which is able to be directly accessed, and data is able to be exchanged between the control unit and the external data memory.