A method of storing data preferably data that is particularly worthy of protection, e.g. security-relevant or personal data, within a network, in particular an external light network, the network comprising a plurality of decentralized EDP units each belonging to a light, in particular in the form of an external light, which units each have communication means, at least one sensor arrangement being respectively assigned to at least some of the EDP units, and the sensor arrangement of a first EDP unit recording data, characterized in that a data set which comprises the data recorded by the sensor arrangement of a first EDP unit or that has been generated from these data is stored distributed over a number of the decentralized EDP units and is at least partially deleted after the distribution over the first EDP unit.