Method for updating message filter rules of a network access control unit of an industrial communication network, in which - a first communication device, to which at least one address-based message filter rule is assigned, is registered with its communication network address and a device description in an address management unit when activation occurs, wherein the device description comprises at least one function indication and/or topology indication, - when the first communication device is replaced by a second communication device, the second communication device is registered in the address management unit, wherein a communication network address and a device description of the second communication device are acquired, - the address management unit checks, during the registration of the second communication device, whether a communication device with an identical device description is already registered, - when there is a positive check result, the address management unit transmits a change message relating to the registration of the second communication device with an identical device description to that of the first communication device to the network access control unit or to a converter unit, wherein the change message comprises at least the communication network address and the device description of the second communication device, characterized in that - when the change message is received, the communication network address of the first communication device is replaced by the communication network address of the second communication device in the at least one address-based message filter rule, - address-based message filter rules are applied by the network access control unit, - message filter rules are defined on the basis of device descriptions, - message filter rules which are defined on the basis of device descriptions are converted into address-based message filter rules by the converter unit and transmitted to the network access control unit. - a first communication device, to which at least one address-based message filter rule is assigned, is registered with its communication network address and a device description in an address management unit when activation occurs, wherein the device description comprises at least one function indication and/or topology indication, - when the first communication device is replaced by a second communication device, the second communication device is registered in the address management unit, wherein a communication network address and a device description of the second communication device are acquired, - the address management unit checks, during the registration of the second communication device, whether a communication device with an identical device description is already registered, - when there is a positive check result, the address management unit transmits a change message relating to the registration of the second communication device with an identical device description to that of the first communication device to the network access control unit or to a converter unit, wherein the change message comprises at least the communication network address and the device description of the second communication device, - when the change message is received, the communication network address of the first communication device is replaced by the communication network address of the second communication device in the at least one address-based message filter rule, - address-based message filter rules are applied by the network access control unit, - message filter rules are defined on the basis of device descriptions, - message filter rules which are defined on the basis of device descriptions are converted into address-based message filter rules by the converter unit and transmitted to the network access control unit.