A method for installation of a programmable protective function in a protective device for an electrical power distribution network, with the protective device having means for processing measured values from measurement appliances for the power distribution network, and having means for initiating switching commands by primary appliances for the power distribution network, and the protective function determining the switching commands on the basis of the measured values, when it is carried out, has the following steps: transmission of a description of the protective function from a remote function server via a communication link to the protective device, loading of the description in the protective device, and implementation of the loaded description of the protective function. A protective device according to the invention has means for receiving a description of a protective function via a communication link from a remote function server and has means for loading the description, wherein the loaded description of the protective function can be carried out in the protective device.