Various embodiments include a method for operating an automation network comprising a gateway device and a plurality of network devices. The methods include: subscribing a network device to subscription data with a respectively associated subscription identifier; publishing data on the gateway device under a identifier; publishing publication data as subscribed subscription data under a subscription identifier corresponding to the publication identifier so each of the plurality of network devices subscribed with the same subscription identifier as the respective identifier receive the data transmitted with the subscription identifier. The respective network devices each comprise: a field device subscribing to, collecting, and/or publishing measurement or control data, and a database subscribing to, storing, providing or publishing the data of the field device, device data about network devices present in the automation network, and data about users of the network devices. The transmission of data takes place according to a single specified protocol.