There is described a method for operating an automation system, in which automation-specific data is filed in a database, an access to the data taking place using a database interface, all access to the data taking place via one and the same database interface and when an access to the database takes place, a datum to which the access relates is identified by a unique reference, in which on the datum identified via the reference a buffer is formed or used and a status of the datum is backed up in the buffer.