A system and method detect and display a security status of appliances, in particular automation appliances and/or systems. The appliances have a detector mechanism for identification of a security status, as well as an external display and an internal display for the respective status. The internal display can be accessed with the aid of simple network management protocols via a management information base. The status of the internal display is passed on via a data transmission apparatus within the system, and is processed with the aid of a central security server for automation. Joint displays can display the security status of the respective lower-level appliances and/or appliance complexes at any desired hierarchy level in the system. Appliances without any security function can be integrated in the system by a representative.