Systems and methods for managing router configuration devices in a secure data communication network are described herein. An illustrative system includes a plurality of programmed external configuration devices and a configuration device programmer. Each programmed external configuration device contains at least a portion of a definition of a secure data path between a first router and a second router. Each programmed external configuration device can be detachably coupled to a first router to create a secure data path between the first router and a second router. The configuration device programmer writes a secure data path definition into a selected external configuration device if a predetermined number of programmed external configuration devices are coupled to the configuration device programmer.