Data Storage, Procurement, Distribution Logistics

Piller, Ernst; Schölnast, Hubert

doi:10.1007/978-3-032-24764-3_7

Content of this chapter

Chapter 7 · Data Storage, Procurement, Distribution Logistics

This chapter moves from physical key-generation principles to the operational environment in which they must be deployed. It discusses data storage, procurement, and distribution logistics as security-relevant parts of the system rather than as secondary administrative details. This is especially important for MKD, where physical media become part of the cryptographic architecture.

The procurement discussion emphasizes that buyers must evaluate hardware, software, certifications, vendor claims, interfaces, and long-term maintainability. Products for QKD, RKD, and MKD differ greatly in maturity, cost, standardization, and dependency on specific suppliers. The chapter therefore treats purchasing decisions as part of the security model.

The logistics part explains that key material must remain protected from generation through storage, transport, use, and deletion. Chain of custody, role separation, authenticated handover, and documented procedures are presented as necessary controls. The chapter makes clear that physical cryptography creates practical responsibilities that must be planned before deployment.

Treats storage and logistics as security components
Discusses procurement criteria for physical cryptography
Evaluates certification and vendor-dependence issues
Explains secure distribution of key material
Connects operational procedures with cryptographic trust

Suggested citation

Reference in IEEE style

E. Piller and H. Schölnast, “Data Storage, Procurement, Distribution Logistics,” in Data Encryption at the Intersection of Mathematics and Physics: Comparing Physical Methods of Cryptography. Cham, Switzerland: Springer Cham, 2026, doi: 10.1007/978-3-032-24764-3_7.

Reference in ACM style

Ernst Piller and Hubert Schölnast. 2026. Data Storage, Procurement, Distribution Logistics. In Data Encryption at the Intersection of Mathematics and Physics: Comparing Physical Methods of Cryptography. Springer Cham, Cham, Switzerland. DOI: 10.1007/978-3-032-24764-3_7

BibTeX entry

@incollection{piller_schoelnast_2026_chapter_7_storage_procurement_logistics,
  title     = {Data Storage, Procurement, Distribution Logistics},
  author    = {Ernst Piller and Hubert Schölnast},
  booktitle = {Data Encryption at the Intersection of Mathematics and Physics: Comparing Physical Methods of Cryptography},
  publisher = {Springer Cham},
  series    = {SpringerBriefs in Information Security and Cryptography},
  year      = {2026},
  doi       = {10.1007/978-3-032-24764-3_7},
  url       = {https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-032-24764-3_7},
  language  = {en}
}

RIS entry

TY  - CHAP
TI  - Data Storage, Procurement, Distribution Logistics
T2  - Data Encryption at the Intersection of Mathematics and Physics: Comparing Physical Methods of Cryptography
AU  - Piller, Ernst
AU  - Schölnast, Hubert
PY  - 2026
PB  - Springer Cham
T3  - SpringerBriefs in Information Security and Cryptography
DO  - 10.1007/978-3-032-24764-3_7
UR  - https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-032-24764-3_7
LA  - en
ER  -

CSL JSON entry

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