The invention relates to a method for configuring a monitoring system which is based on a recording of altitude maps, comprising the following steps:—an altitude map of a monitored area is recorded with the monitoring system in a state in which no objects or persons to be detected are located in the monitored area,—determination of destruction points, caused by obstacles, in the altitude map which is recorded in this way,—definition of a detection area as a component area of the altitude map in such a way that all the disruption points, or at least some of said disruption points, lie outside the detection area,—setting of an evaluation unit of the monitoring system such that it only evaluates movements within the detection area. The invention also relates to a correspondingly configurable monitoring system.