A method for redundantly operating an automation system comprising one or more user computers, at least two gateway computers and a plurality of programmable logic controllers, the user computers and the gateway computers being connected to a first bus system of a first type and the gateway computers and the programmable logic controllers being connected to a second bus system of a second type, as a result of which the programmable logic controllers can be controlled and/or monitored by the user computers via one of the gateway computers, wherein to set up a communication link between one of the user computers and one or more of the programmable logic controllers, the user computer contacts a virtual gateway computer having a virtual identifier for all gateway computers of the automation system, which virtual gateway computer establishes a physical communication link to a selected one of the gateway computers.