Quantum Key Distribution Key Management System (QKD-KMS)
The next generation of secure key distribution in a post-quantum era.
Key Management for Quantum secure networks
At AIT we developed a Key Management System (KMS) for Quantum Key Distribution Networks (QKD), establishing a secure end-to-end key in a QKD backed communication network. Year long experience in QKD, cryptography and industry application come together to solve the challenges of tomorrow, today.
Cryptography
Experts in the field of cryptography, post-quantum cryptography and implementation of cryptographic applications contribute to the KMS.
QKD
Year long experience in the field of QKD give the team an edge at understanding the underlying quantum infrastructure.
Standard Interfaces
The KMS complies to the most relevant specifications in QKD, supporting the ETSI GS QKD 014 and ETSI GS QKD 004 interface.
SDN ready
Larger QKD backed infrastructure benefits from SDN, the KMS offers an interface to an SDN Agent for network agility according to the ETSI GS QKD 015 specification.
Applied in Projects
The KMS is developed and used in several QKD related projects, such as the Austrian EuroQCI project QCI-CAT.
Development
The KMS is designed considering applicable recommendations, such as the ITU-T Y3800 family and NIST SP 800-57. Best practices of secure software development are applied.
Latest News
- AURORA KMS tested with free space QKD link and in the MuQuaNet
As part of the Anquor Project the AURORA KMS was successfully integrated with the free space link of Airbus and the Munich Quantum Network (MuQuaNet) operated by the University of the Bundeswehr Munich. AIT contributed with one more ThinkQuantum link and of course the AURORA KMS. - AURORA KMS at IT-SA 2025
As part of the Advantage Austria booth AIT showcased the AURORA KMS for Quantum key distribution networks. - AURORA KMS showcased at Vienna Quantum Tech Days
The Vienna Quantum Tech Days were held in the historical town hall of Vienna. Since most QKD equipment was either still in at the ECOC 2025 or on their way to IT-SA 2025, this showcase was a bit smaller. - AURORA KMS showcased at ECOC 2025 for Petrus
The Petrus project organized just as 2024 and 2023 a big EuroQCI showcase and AIT participated with showcasing the AURORA KMS and SDN suite. Further the experts at AIT were heavily involved in the technical planning and designing the system architecture modeled as EuroQCI alongside the colleagues of UPM and HDA. - Publication on Multi-Path QKD
The cryptography team at AIT published a paper as part of the ARES 2025 workshop SECPID. In that paper the team addresses the trusted node issue of QKD Networks especially relevant for the KMS layer. One possible mitigation strategy is to use multi-path techniques, which is the main focus of the paper published via Springer.