diff --git a/core/api/src/main/java/org/onosproject/net/key/DeviceKeyStore.java b/core/api/src/main/java/org/onosproject/net/key/DeviceKeyStore.java
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..c9b1194
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+++ b/core/api/src/main/java/org/onosproject/net/key/DeviceKeyStore.java
@@ -0,0 +1,57 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright 2016 Open Networking Laboratory
+ *
+ * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+ * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+ * You may obtain a copy of the License at
+ *
+ *     http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+ *
+ * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+ * distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+ * WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+ * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+ * limitations under the License.
+ */
+
+package org.onosproject.net.key;
+
+import com.google.common.annotations.Beta;
+import org.onosproject.store.Store;
+
+import java.util.Collection;
+
+/**
+ * Manages inventory of device keys; not intended for direct use.
+ */
+@Beta
+public interface DeviceKeyStore extends Store<DeviceKeyEvent, DeviceKeyStoreDelegate> {
+    /**
+     * Creates or updates a device key.
+     *
+     * @param deviceKey device key
+     */
+    void createOrUpdateDeviceKey(DeviceKey deviceKey);
+
+    /**
+     * Deletes a device key by a specific device key identifier.
+     *
+     * @param deviceKeyId device key unique identifier
+     */
+    void deleteDeviceKey(DeviceKeyId deviceKeyId);
+
+    /**
+     * Returns all device keys.
+     *
+     * @return set of device keys
+     */
+    Collection<DeviceKey> getDeviceKeys();
+
+    /**
+     * Returns the device key matching a device key identifier.
+     *
+     * @param deviceKeyId device key unique identifier
+     * @return device key
+     */
+    DeviceKey getDeviceKey(DeviceKeyId deviceKeyId);
+}