A method for generating an identifier of a key includes that: when a user equipment (UE) transfers from an evolved UMTS terrestrial radio access network (EUTRAN) to a universal terrestrial radio access network (UTRAN) or a global system for mobile communications (GSM), or an enhanced data rate for GSM evolved radio access network (GERAN), an identifier of a system key after transfer is generated by mapping an identifier KSIASME for an access security management entity, and a mobile management entity generates an identifier of a ciphering key (CK) and an integrity key (IK) by mapping the KSIASME, and then sends the generated identifier to a serving GPRS support node (SGSN), when the UE transfers from the EUTRAN to the UTRAN, the SGSN stores the ciphering key, the integrity key and the identifier thereof, and when the UE transfers from the EUTRAN to the GERAN, the SGSN assigns the value of the identifier of the ciphering key and the integrity key to an identifier of a ciphering key of the GERAN.