A method for executing safety-relevant and non-safety-relevant software components on a hardware platform comprising a computer, memory and a monitoring component that operates independently of the computer. The safety-relevant software component erects a memory protection against access of a non-safety-relevant function to at least one area of the memory of the safety-relevant function before execution of the non-safety-relevant software component, so that the non-safety-relevant software component does not have access to the areas of the memory being used for safety-relevant components. After the return from the non-safety-relevant component, the memory protection is deactivated and the monitoring function monitors the safety-relevant function for its proper operation.