A device, system, and method protects cryptographic keying material. The method is performed at an electronic device including a plurality of components housed in an enclosure. The method includes determining a tamper state of the enclosure, the tamper state being one of a secure state in which the enclosure has not been physically tampered or an unsecure state in which the enclosure has been physically tampered. When the tamper state is the secure state, the method includes associating a first value with the application. When the tamper state is the unsecure state, the method includes associating a second value with the application. The first value is configured to enable access to the data in the data storage unit. The second value prevents access to the data in the data storage unit.