Method for optimizing a process automation network

A computer implemented method for optimizing a process automation network, comprising:

• providing topology data of the process automation network that includes network devices to a network controller and providing connectivity requirement data representing intended communication of a process application between communication endpoints of the process to the network controller according to a process application design for creating a network configuration;
• receiving a network configuration response from the network controller;
• analyzing the network configuration response for verifying whether the network configuration meets optimization criteria;
• and, updating the network topology design and the process application design and in turn the connectivity requirements data, based on results of analyzing the network configuration response, wherein updating the process application design includes updating parameters associated with connectivity requests for the network configuration.