Method for providing an access key (203) for an automation field device (300), wherein the access key (203) provides access to the field device (300), wherein the method has the following steps of: - producing an individual key (204, 304); - storing the individual key (204) in a database (202), wherein the database (202) additionally stores an identification feature (205) of the field device (300) together with the individual key (204), - storing the individual key (304) in the field device (300) which is intended to be released on the basis of an access key (203) which has been input; - determining at least the identification feature (205) of the field device (300) for which the access key (203) is intended to be provided; - forming/producing/generating the access key (203), with the result that the latter comprises a hash value (206), wherein the hash value (206) is formed at least from the individual key (204) which has been read from the database (202) with the aid of the determined identification feature
