key management

The process of handling keying material during its life cycle in a cryptographic system; and the supervision and control of that process. (See: key distribution, key escrow, keying material, public-key infrastructure.)

Usage: Usually understood to include ordering, generating, storing, archiving, escrowing, distributing, loading, destroying, auditing, and accounting for the material.

"The activities involving the handling of cryptographic keys and other related security parameters (e.g.,

IVs, counters) during the entire life cycle of the keys, including their generation, storage, distribution, entry and use, deletion or destruction, and archiving." [FP140, SP57]

"The generation, storage, distribution, deletion, archiving and application of keys in accordance with a security policy." [I7498-2]