diff --git a/kmip/pie/api.py b/kmip/pie/api.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..ee6730f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/kmip/pie/api.py
@@ -0,0 +1,81 @@
+# Copyright (c) 2015 The Johns Hopkins University/Applied Physics Laboratory
+# All Rights Reserved.
+#
+# 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.
+
+import abc
+import six
+
+
+@six.add_metaclass(abc.ABCMeta)
+class KmipClient:
+    """
+    A simplified KMIP client interface for conducting KMIP operations.
+
+    The KmipClient provides a simple external interface for various KMIP
+    operations and composes the bulk of the PyKMIP Pie API.
+    """
+    @abc.abstractmethod
+    def create(self, algorithm, length):
+        """
+        Create a symmetric key on a KMIP appliance.
+
+        Args:
+            algorithm (CryptographicAlgorithm): An enumeration defining the
+                algorithm to use to generate the symmetric key.
+            length (int): The length in bits for the symmetric key.
+        """
+        pass
+
+    @abc.abstractmethod
+    def create_key_pair(self, algorithm, length):
+        """
+        Create an asymmetric key pair on a KMIP appliance.
+
+        Args:
+            algorithm (CryptographicAlgorithm): An enumeration defining the
+                algorithm to use to generate the key pair.
+            length (int): The length in bits for the key pair.
+        """
+        pass
+
+    @abc.abstractmethod
+    def register(self, managed_object):
+        """
+        Register a managed object with a KMIP appliance.
+
+        Args:
+            managed_object (ManagedObject): A managed object to register. An
+                instantiatable subclass of ManagedObject from the Pie API.
+        """
+        pass
+
+    @abc.abstractmethod
+    def get(self, uid):
+        """
+        Get a managed object from a KMIP appliance.
+
+        Args:
+            uid (string): The unique ID of the managed object to retrieve.
+        """
+        pass
+
+    @abc.abstractmethod
+    def destroy(self, uid):
+        """
+        Destroy a managed object stored by a KMIP appliance.
+
+        Args:
+            uid (string): The unique ID of the managed object to destroy.
+        """
+        pass
diff --git a/kmip/tests/unit/pie/test_api.py b/kmip/tests/unit/pie/test_api.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..37f5a29
--- /dev/null
+++ b/kmip/tests/unit/pie/test_api.py
@@ -0,0 +1,98 @@
+# Copyright (c) 2015 The Johns Hopkins University/Applied Physics Laboratory
+# All Rights Reserved.
+#
+# 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.
+
+import testtools
+
+from kmip.pie import api
+
+
+class DummyKmipClient(api.KmipClient):
+    """
+    A dummy KmipClient subclass for testing purposes.
+    """
+
+    def __init__(self):
+        super(DummyKmipClient, self).__init__()
+
+    def create(self, algorithm, length):
+        super(DummyKmipClient, self).create(algorithm, length)
+
+    def create_key_pair(self, algorithm, length):
+        super(DummyKmipClient, self).create_key_pair(algorithm, length)
+
+    def register(self, managed_object, *args, **kwargs):
+        super(DummyKmipClient, self).register(managed_object)
+
+    def get(self, uid, *args, **kwargs):
+        super(DummyKmipClient, self).get(uid)
+
+    def destroy(self, uid):
+        super(DummyKmipClient, self).destroy(uid)
+
+
+class TestKmipClient(testtools.TestCase):
+    """
+    Test suite for KmipClient.
+
+    Since KmipClient is an ABC abstract class, all tests are run against a
+    dummy subclass defined above, DummyKmipClient.
+    """
+
+    def setUp(self):
+        super(TestKmipClient, self).setUp()
+
+    def tearDown(self):
+        super(TestKmipClient, self).tearDown()
+
+    def test_init(self):
+        """
+        Test that a complete subclass of KmipClient can be instantiated.
+        """
+        DummyKmipClient()
+
+    def test_create(self):
+        """
+        Test that the create method can be called without error.
+        """
+        dummy = DummyKmipClient()
+        dummy.create('algoritm', 'length')
+
+    def test_create_key_pair(self):
+        """
+        Test that the create_key_pair method can be called without error.
+        """
+        dummy = DummyKmipClient()
+        dummy.create_key_pair('algoritm', 'length')
+
+    def test_register(self):
+        """
+        Test that the register method can be called without error.
+        """
+        dummy = DummyKmipClient()
+        dummy.register('secret')
+
+    def test_get(self):
+        """
+        Test that the get method can be called without error.
+        """
+        dummy = DummyKmipClient()
+        dummy.get('uid')
+
+    def test_destroy(self):
+        """
+        Test that the destroy method can be called without error.
+        """
+        dummy = DummyKmipClient()
+        dummy.destroy('uid')