Updating of a digital device certificate of an automation device

An automation device in an automation system for updating a digital device certificate, the automation device comprising:

• at least one device certificate;
• and
• a computing unit configured to access a program memory,
• wherein device-specific configuration data and the at least one device certificate are stored in the program memory,
• wherein the automation device is authenticated with respect to an authentication partner using a device certificate associated with device-specific configuration data relating to the automation device,
• wherein the automation device is configured such that the automation device, in the event of or after a change in the configuration of the automation device, automatically accesses an updated device certificate having device-specific configuration data corresponding to the changed configuration of the automation device and then uses the updated device certificate having device-specific configuration data corresponding to the changed configuration of the automation device for authentication, and
• wherein the automatic access of the updated device certificate comprises access, by the automation device, of the updated device certificate from a plurality of predefined device certificates having different device-specific configuration data corresponding to a respective plurality of changed configurations of the automation device, the plurality of predefined device certificates being predefined and stored on the automation device prior to any change in the configuration of the automation device.

A system for updating a digital device certificate of an automation device in an automation system, the system comprising:

• at least one automation device and at least one issuing unit, the at least one automation device having at least one device certificate and being authenticated with respect to an authentication partner using the at least one device certificate, which is associated with device-specific configuration data relating to the at least one automation device, the at least one automation device being configured such that the at least one automation device, in the event of a change in the configuration of the at least one automation device, automatically determines an updated device certificate having device-specific configuration data corresponding to the changed configuration of the at least one automation device and then uses the updated device certificate having device-specific configuration data corresponding to the changed configuration of the at least one automation device for authentication,
• wherein the at least one issuing unit is configured to issue the updated device certificate having device-specific configuration data corresponding to the changed configuration of the at least one automation device, and
• wherein the automatic determination of the updated device certificate comprises selection, by the at least one automation device, of the updated device certificate from a plurality of predefined device certificates having different device-specific configuration data corresponding to a respective plurality of changed configurations of the at least one automation device, the plurality of predefined device certificates being predefined and stored on the at least one automation device prior to any change in the configuration of the at least one automation device.