diff --git a/src/blobstore/implementations/onblocks/BlobOnBlocks.cpp b/src/blobstore/implementations/onblocks/BlobOnBlocks.cpp
index 589c6adb..cb6faef5 100644
--- a/src/blobstore/implementations/onblocks/BlobOnBlocks.cpp
+++ b/src/blobstore/implementations/onblocks/BlobOnBlocks.cpp
@@ -115,7 +115,7 @@ void BlobOnBlocks::_read(void *target, uint64_t offset, uint64_t count) const {
   auto onExistingLeaf = [target, offset, count] (uint64_t indexOfFirstLeafByte, LeafHandle leaf, uint32_t leafDataOffset, uint32_t leafDataSize) {
       ASSERT(indexOfFirstLeafByte+leafDataOffset>=offset && indexOfFirstLeafByte-offset+leafDataOffset <= count && indexOfFirstLeafByte-offset+leafDataOffset+leafDataSize <= count, "Writing to target out of bounds");
       //TODO Simplify formula, make it easier to understand
-      leaf.node()->read((uint8_t*)target + indexOfFirstLeafByte - offset + leafDataOffset, leafDataOffset, leafDataSize);
+      leaf.node()->read(static_cast<uint8_t*>(target) + indexOfFirstLeafByte - offset + leafDataOffset, leafDataOffset, leafDataSize);
   };
   auto onCreateLeaf = [] (uint64_t /*beginByte*/, uint32_t /*count*/) -> Data {
       ASSERT(false, "Reading shouldn't create new leaves.");
@@ -128,11 +128,11 @@ void BlobOnBlocks::write(const void *source, uint64_t offset, uint64_t count) {
       ASSERT(indexOfFirstLeafByte+leafDataOffset>=offset && indexOfFirstLeafByte-offset+leafDataOffset <= count && indexOfFirstLeafByte-offset+leafDataOffset+leafDataSize <= count, "Reading from source out of bounds");
       if (leafDataOffset == 0 && leafDataSize == leaf.nodeStore()->layout().maxBytesPerLeaf()) {
         Data leafData(leafDataSize);
-        std::memcpy(leafData.data(), (uint8_t*)source + indexOfFirstLeafByte - offset, leafDataSize);
+        std::memcpy(leafData.data(), static_cast<const uint8_t*>(source) + indexOfFirstLeafByte - offset, leafDataSize);
         leaf.nodeStore()->overwriteLeaf(leaf.blockId(), std::move(leafData));
       } else {
             //TODO Simplify formula, make it easier to understand
-        leaf.node()->write((uint8_t *) source + indexOfFirstLeafByte - offset + leafDataOffset, leafDataOffset,
+        leaf.node()->write(static_cast<const uint8_t*>(source) + indexOfFirstLeafByte - offset + leafDataOffset, leafDataOffset,
                            leafDataSize);
       }
   };
@@ -140,7 +140,7 @@ void BlobOnBlocks::write(const void *source, uint64_t offset, uint64_t count) {
       ASSERT(beginByte >= offset && beginByte-offset <= count && beginByte-offset+numBytes <= count, "Reading from source out of bounds");
       Data result(numBytes);
       //TODO Simplify formula, make it easier to understand
-      std::memcpy(result.data(), (uint8_t*)source + beginByte - offset, numBytes);
+      std::memcpy(result.data(), static_cast<const uint8_t*>(source) + beginByte - offset, numBytes);
       return result;
   };
   _traverseLeaves(offset, count, onExistingLeaf, onCreateLeaf);
diff --git a/src/blobstore/implementations/onblocks/datanodestore/DataInnerNode.cpp b/src/blobstore/implementations/onblocks/datanodestore/DataInnerNode.cpp
index 13f3f3b2..87c7f3fd 100644
--- a/src/blobstore/implementations/onblocks/datanodestore/DataInnerNode.cpp
+++ b/src/blobstore/implementations/onblocks/datanodestore/DataInnerNode.cpp
@@ -43,7 +43,8 @@ Data DataInnerNode::_serializeChildren(const vector<BlockId> &children) {
   Data data(sizeof(ChildEntry) * children.size());
   uint32_t i = 0;
   for (const BlockId &child : children) {
-    reinterpret_cast<ChildEntry*>(data.data())[i++].setBlockId(child);
+    child.ToBinary(data.dataOffset(i * BlockId::BINARY_LENGTH));
+    ++i;
   }
   return data;
 }
@@ -52,49 +53,34 @@ uint32_t DataInnerNode::numChildren() const {
   return node().Size();
 }
 
-DataInnerNode::ChildEntry *DataInnerNode::ChildrenBegin() {
-  return const_cast<ChildEntry*>(const_cast<const DataInnerNode*>(this)->ChildrenBegin());
-}
-
-const DataInnerNode::ChildEntry *DataInnerNode::ChildrenBegin() const {
-  return node().DataBegin<ChildEntry>();
-}
-
-DataInnerNode::ChildEntry *DataInnerNode::ChildrenEnd() {
-  return const_cast<ChildEntry*>(const_cast<const DataInnerNode*>(this)->ChildrenEnd());
-}
-
-const DataInnerNode::ChildEntry *DataInnerNode::ChildrenEnd() const {
-  return ChildrenBegin() + node().Size();
-}
-
-DataInnerNode::ChildEntry *DataInnerNode::LastChild() {
-  return const_cast<ChildEntry*>(const_cast<const DataInnerNode*>(this)->LastChild());
-}
-
-const DataInnerNode::ChildEntry *DataInnerNode::LastChild() const {
-  return getChild(numChildren()-1);
-}
-
-DataInnerNode::ChildEntry *DataInnerNode::getChild(unsigned int index) {
-  return const_cast<ChildEntry*>(const_cast<const DataInnerNode*>(this)->getChild(index));
-}
-
-const DataInnerNode::ChildEntry *DataInnerNode::getChild(unsigned int index) const {
+DataInnerNode::ChildEntry DataInnerNode::readChild(unsigned int index) const {
   ASSERT(index < numChildren(), "Accessing child out of range");
-  return ChildrenBegin()+index;
+  return ChildEntry(BlockId::FromBinary(static_cast<const uint8_t*>(node().data()) + index * sizeof(ChildEntry)));
+}
+
+void DataInnerNode::_writeChild(unsigned int index, const ChildEntry& child) {
+  ASSERT(index < numChildren(), "Accessing child out of range");
+  node().write(child.blockId().data().data(), index * sizeof(ChildEntry), sizeof(ChildEntry));
+}
+
+DataInnerNode::ChildEntry DataInnerNode::readLastChild() const {
+  return readChild(numChildren() - 1);
+}
+
+void DataInnerNode::_writeLastChild(const ChildEntry& child) {
+  _writeChild(numChildren() - 1, child);
 }
 
 void DataInnerNode::addChild(const DataNode &child) {
   ASSERT(numChildren() < maxStoreableChildren(), "Adding more children than we can store");
   ASSERT(child.depth() == depth()-1, "The child that should be added has wrong depth");
   node().setSize(node().Size()+1);
-  LastChild()->setBlockId(child.blockId());
+  _writeLastChild(ChildEntry(child.blockId()));
 }
 
 void DataInnerNode::removeLastChild() {
   ASSERT(node().Size() > 1, "There is no child to remove");
-  LastChild()->setBlockId(BlockId::Null());
+  _writeLastChild(ChildEntry(BlockId::Null()));
   node().setSize(node().Size()-1);
 }
 
diff --git a/src/blobstore/implementations/onblocks/datanodestore/DataInnerNode.h b/src/blobstore/implementations/onblocks/datanodestore/DataInnerNode.h
index 14bb2eef..357d5608 100644
--- a/src/blobstore/implementations/onblocks/datanodestore/DataInnerNode.h
+++ b/src/blobstore/implementations/onblocks/datanodestore/DataInnerNode.h
@@ -14,15 +14,15 @@ public:
   static cpputils::unique_ref<DataInnerNode> InitializeNewNode(cpputils::unique_ref<blockstore::Block> block, const DataNodeLayout &layout, uint8_t depth, const std::vector<blockstore::BlockId> &children);
   static cpputils::unique_ref<DataInnerNode> CreateNewNode(blockstore::BlockStore *blockStore, const DataNodeLayout &layout, uint8_t depth, const std::vector<blockstore::BlockId> &children);
 
+  using ChildEntry = DataInnerNode_ChildEntry;
+
   DataInnerNode(DataNodeView block);
   ~DataInnerNode();
 
-  using ChildEntry = DataInnerNode_ChildEntry;
-
   uint32_t maxStoreableChildren() const;
 
-  ChildEntry *getChild(unsigned int index);
-  const ChildEntry *getChild(unsigned int index) const;
+  ChildEntry readChild(unsigned int index) const;
+  ChildEntry readLastChild() const;
 
   uint32_t numChildren() const;
 
@@ -30,16 +30,9 @@ public:
 
   void removeLastChild();
 
-  ChildEntry *LastChild();
-  const ChildEntry *LastChild() const;
-
 private:
-
-  ChildEntry *ChildrenBegin();
-  ChildEntry *ChildrenEnd();
-  const ChildEntry *ChildrenBegin() const;
-  const ChildEntry *ChildrenEnd() const;
-
+  void _writeChild(unsigned int index, const ChildEntry& child);
+  void _writeLastChild(const ChildEntry& child);
   static cpputils::Data _serializeChildren(const std::vector<blockstore::BlockId> &children);
 
   DISALLOW_COPY_AND_ASSIGN(DataInnerNode);
diff --git a/src/blobstore/implementations/onblocks/datanodestore/DataInnerNode_ChildEntry.h b/src/blobstore/implementations/onblocks/datanodestore/DataInnerNode_ChildEntry.h
index 725720cf..72d719dd 100644
--- a/src/blobstore/implementations/onblocks/datanodestore/DataInnerNode_ChildEntry.h
+++ b/src/blobstore/implementations/onblocks/datanodestore/DataInnerNode_ChildEntry.h
@@ -10,17 +10,19 @@ namespace datanodestore{
 
 struct DataInnerNode_ChildEntry final {
 public:
-  blockstore::BlockId blockId() const {
-    return blockstore::BlockId::FromBinary(_blockIdData);
-  }
-private:
-  void setBlockId(const blockstore::BlockId &blockId) {
-    blockId.ToBinary(_blockIdData);
-  }
-  friend class DataInnerNode;
-  uint8_t _blockIdData[blockstore::BlockId::BINARY_LENGTH];
+  DataInnerNode_ChildEntry(const blockstore::BlockId &blockId): _blockId(blockId) {}
 
-  DISALLOW_COPY_AND_ASSIGN(DataInnerNode_ChildEntry);
+  const blockstore::BlockId& blockId() const {
+    return _blockId;
+  }
+
+  DataInnerNode_ChildEntry(const DataInnerNode_ChildEntry&) = delete;
+  DataInnerNode_ChildEntry& operator=(const DataInnerNode_ChildEntry&) = delete;
+  DataInnerNode_ChildEntry(DataInnerNode_ChildEntry&&) = default;
+  DataInnerNode_ChildEntry& operator=(DataInnerNode_ChildEntry&&) = default;
+
+private:
+  blockstore::BlockId _blockId;
 };
 
 }
diff --git a/src/blobstore/implementations/onblocks/datanodestore/DataLeafNode.cpp b/src/blobstore/implementations/onblocks/datanodestore/DataLeafNode.cpp
index efeecd8d..f4f9962a 100644
--- a/src/blobstore/implementations/onblocks/datanodestore/DataLeafNode.cpp
+++ b/src/blobstore/implementations/onblocks/datanodestore/DataLeafNode.cpp
@@ -38,7 +38,7 @@ unique_ref<DataLeafNode> DataLeafNode::OverwriteNode(BlockStore *blockStore, con
 
 void DataLeafNode::read(void *target, uint64_t offset, uint64_t size) const {
   ASSERT(offset <= node().Size() && offset + size <= node().Size(), "Read out of valid area"); // Also check offset, because the addition could lead to overflows
-  std::memcpy(target, (uint8_t*)node().data() + offset, size);
+  std::memcpy(target, static_cast<const uint8_t*>(node().data()) + offset, size);
 }
 
 void DataLeafNode::write(const void *source, uint64_t offset, uint64_t size) {
diff --git a/src/blobstore/implementations/onblocks/datanodestore/DataNodeStore.cpp b/src/blobstore/implementations/onblocks/datanodestore/DataNodeStore.cpp
index 9ecfcdb8..8ccc180b 100644
--- a/src/blobstore/implementations/onblocks/datanodestore/DataNodeStore.cpp
+++ b/src/blobstore/implementations/onblocks/datanodestore/DataNodeStore.cpp
@@ -99,7 +99,7 @@ void DataNodeStore::removeSubtree(unique_ref<DataNode> node) {
   auto inner = dynamic_pointer_move<DataInnerNode>(node);
   ASSERT(inner != none, "Is neither a leaf nor an inner node");
   for (uint32_t i = 0; i < (*inner)->numChildren(); ++i) {
-    removeSubtree((*inner)->depth()-1, (*inner)->getChild(i)->blockId());
+    removeSubtree((*inner)->depth()-1, (*inner)->readChild(i).blockId());
   }
   remove(std::move(*inner));
 }
@@ -115,7 +115,7 @@ void DataNodeStore::removeSubtree(uint8_t depth, const BlockId &blockId) {
     ASSERT(inner != none, "Is not an inner node, but depth was not zero");
     ASSERT((*inner)->depth() == depth, "Wrong depth given");
     for (uint32_t i = 0; i < (*inner)->numChildren(); ++i) {
-      removeSubtree(depth-1, (*inner)->getChild(i)->blockId());
+      removeSubtree(depth-1, (*inner)->readChild(i).blockId());
     }
     remove(std::move(*inner));
   }
diff --git a/src/blobstore/implementations/onblocks/datanodestore/DataNodeView.h b/src/blobstore/implementations/onblocks/datanodestore/DataNodeView.h
index 64e92c88..256c2849 100644
--- a/src/blobstore/implementations/onblocks/datanodestore/DataNodeView.h
+++ b/src/blobstore/implementations/onblocks/datanodestore/DataNodeView.h
@@ -91,7 +91,7 @@ public:
   DataNodeView(DataNodeView &&rhs) = default;
 
   uint16_t FormatVersion() const {
-    return *((uint8_t*)_block->data()+DataNodeLayout::FORMAT_VERSION_OFFSET_BYTES);
+    return cpputils::deserializeWithOffset<uint16_t>(_block->data(), DataNodeLayout::FORMAT_VERSION_OFFSET_BYTES);
   }
 
   void setFormatVersion(uint16_t value) {
@@ -99,7 +99,7 @@ public:
   }
 
   uint8_t Depth() const {
-    return *((uint8_t*)_block->data()+DataNodeLayout::DEPTH_OFFSET_BYTES);
+    return cpputils::deserializeWithOffset<uint8_t>(_block->data(), DataNodeLayout::DEPTH_OFFSET_BYTES);
   }
 
   void setDepth(uint8_t value) {
@@ -107,7 +107,7 @@ public:
   }
 
   uint32_t Size() const {
-    return *(uint32_t*)((uint8_t*)_block->data()+DataNodeLayout::SIZE_OFFSET_BYTES);
+    return cpputils::deserializeWithOffset<uint32_t>(_block->data(), DataNodeLayout::SIZE_OFFSET_BYTES);
   }
 
   void setSize(uint32_t value) {
@@ -115,24 +115,13 @@ public:
   }
 
   const void *data() const {
-    return (uint8_t*)_block->data() + DataNodeLayout::HEADERSIZE_BYTES;
+    return static_cast<const uint8_t*>(_block->data()) + DataNodeLayout::HEADERSIZE_BYTES;
   }
 
   void write(const void *source, uint64_t offset, uint64_t size) {
     _block->write(source, offset + DataNodeLayout::HEADERSIZE_BYTES, size);
   }
 
-  template<typename Entry>
-  const Entry *DataBegin() const {
-    return GetOffset<DataNodeLayout::HEADERSIZE_BYTES, Entry>();
-  }
-
-  template<typename Entry>
-  const Entry *DataEnd() const {
-    const unsigned int NUM_ENTRIES = layout().datasizeBytes() / sizeof(Entry);
-    return DataBegin<Entry>() + NUM_ENTRIES;
-  }
-
   DataNodeLayout layout() const {
     return DataNodeLayout(_block->size());
   }
@@ -154,16 +143,11 @@ public:
   }
 
 private:
-  template<int offset, class Type>
-  const Type *GetOffset() const {
-    return (Type*)(((const int8_t*)_block->data())+offset);
-  }
-
   static cpputils::Data _serialize(const DataNodeLayout &layout, uint16_t formatVersion, uint8_t depth, uint32_t size, cpputils::Data data) {
     cpputils::Data result(layout.blocksizeBytes());
-    *((uint16_t*)result.dataOffset(layout.FORMAT_VERSION_OFFSET_BYTES)) = formatVersion;
-    *((uint8_t*)result.dataOffset(layout.DEPTH_OFFSET_BYTES)) = depth;
-    *((uint32_t*)result.dataOffset(layout.SIZE_OFFSET_BYTES)) = size;
+    cpputils::serialize<uint16_t>(result.dataOffset(layout.FORMAT_VERSION_OFFSET_BYTES), formatVersion);
+    cpputils::serialize<uint8_t>(result.dataOffset(layout.DEPTH_OFFSET_BYTES), depth);
+    cpputils::serialize<uint32_t>(result.dataOffset(layout.SIZE_OFFSET_BYTES), size);
     std::memcpy(result.dataOffset(layout.HEADERSIZE_BYTES), data.data(), data.size());
     std::memset(result.dataOffset(layout.HEADERSIZE_BYTES+data.size()), 0, layout.datasizeBytes()-data.size());
     return result;
diff --git a/src/blobstore/implementations/onblocks/datatreestore/DataTree.cpp b/src/blobstore/implementations/onblocks/datatreestore/DataTree.cpp
index 9a02b27f..4e5bd4cf 100644
--- a/src/blobstore/implementations/onblocks/datatreestore/DataTree.cpp
+++ b/src/blobstore/implementations/onblocks/datatreestore/DataTree.cpp
@@ -82,8 +82,8 @@ uint32_t DataTree::_computeNumLeaves(const DataNode &node) const {
   }
 
   const DataInnerNode &inner = dynamic_cast<const DataInnerNode&>(node);
-  uint64_t numLeavesInLeftChildren = (uint64_t)(inner.numChildren()-1) * leavesPerFullChild(inner);
-  auto lastChild = _nodeStore->load(inner.LastChild()->blockId());
+  uint64_t numLeavesInLeftChildren = static_cast<uint64_t>(inner.numChildren()-1) * leavesPerFullChild(inner);
+  auto lastChild = _nodeStore->load(inner.readLastChild().blockId());
   ASSERT(lastChild != none, "Couldn't load last child");
   uint64_t numLeavesInRightChild = _computeNumLeaves(**lastChild);
 
@@ -112,7 +112,7 @@ void DataTree::_traverseLeaves(uint32_t beginIndex, uint32_t endIndex,
 }
 
 uint32_t DataTree::leavesPerFullChild(const DataInnerNode &root) const {
-  return utils::intPow(_nodeStore->layout().maxChildrenPerInnerNode(), (uint64_t)root.depth()-1);
+  return utils::intPow(_nodeStore->layout().maxChildrenPerInnerNode(), static_cast<uint64_t>(root.depth())-1);
 }
 
 uint64_t DataTree::numStoredBytes() const {
@@ -132,7 +132,7 @@ uint64_t DataTree::_numStoredBytes(const DataNode &root) const {
 
   const DataInnerNode &inner = dynamic_cast<const DataInnerNode&>(root);
   uint64_t numBytesInLeftChildren = (inner.numChildren()-1) * leavesPerFullChild(inner) * _nodeStore->layout().maxBytesPerLeaf();
-  auto lastChild = _nodeStore->load(inner.LastChild()->blockId());
+  auto lastChild = _nodeStore->load(inner.readLastChild().blockId());
   ASSERT(lastChild != none, "Couldn't load last child");
   uint64_t numBytesInRightChild = _numStoredBytes(**lastChild);
 
@@ -159,14 +159,14 @@ void DataTree::resizeNumBytes(uint64_t newNumBytes) {
   auto onBacktrackFromSubtree = [this, newNumLeaves, maxChildrenPerInnerNode] (DataInnerNode* node) {
       // This is only called for the right border nodes of the new tree.
       // When growing size, the following is a no-op. When shrinking, we're deleting the children that aren't needed anymore.
-      uint32_t maxLeavesPerChild = utils::intPow((uint64_t)maxChildrenPerInnerNode, ((uint64_t)node->depth()-1));
+      uint32_t maxLeavesPerChild = utils::intPow(static_cast<uint64_t>(maxChildrenPerInnerNode), (static_cast<uint64_t>(node->depth())-1));
       uint32_t neededNodesOnChildLevel = utils::ceilDivision(newNumLeaves, maxLeavesPerChild);
       uint32_t neededSiblings = utils::ceilDivision(neededNodesOnChildLevel, maxChildrenPerInnerNode);
       uint32_t neededChildrenForRightBorderNode = neededNodesOnChildLevel - (neededSiblings-1) * maxChildrenPerInnerNode;
       ASSERT(neededChildrenForRightBorderNode <= node->numChildren(), "Node has too few children");
       // All children to the right of the new right-border-node are removed including their subtree.
       while(node->numChildren() > neededChildrenForRightBorderNode) {
-        _nodeStore->removeSubtree(node->depth()-1, node->LastChild()->blockId());
+        _nodeStore->removeSubtree(node->depth()-1, node->readLastChild().blockId());
         node->removeLastChild();
       }
   };
diff --git a/src/blobstore/implementations/onblocks/datatreestore/impl/LeafTraverser.cpp b/src/blobstore/implementations/onblocks/datatreestore/impl/LeafTraverser.cpp
index a6ae9a61..8447a4e8 100644
--- a/src/blobstore/implementations/onblocks/datatreestore/impl/LeafTraverser.cpp
+++ b/src/blobstore/implementations/onblocks/datatreestore/impl/LeafTraverser.cpp
@@ -122,7 +122,7 @@ namespace blobstore {
                 // we still have to descend to the last old child to fill it with leaves and grow the last old leaf.
                 if (isLeftBorderOfTraversal && beginChild >= numChildren) {
                     ASSERT(numChildren > 0, "Node doesn't have children.");
-                    auto childBlockId = root->getChild(numChildren-1)->blockId();
+                    auto childBlockId = root->readLastChild().blockId();
                     uint32_t childOffset = (numChildren-1) * leavesPerChild;
                     _traverseExistingSubtree(childBlockId, root->depth()-1, leavesPerChild, leavesPerChild, childOffset, true, false, true,
                                              [] (uint32_t /*index*/, bool /*isRightBorderNode*/, LeafHandle /*leaf*/) {ASSERT(false, "We don't actually traverse any leaves.");},
@@ -132,7 +132,7 @@ namespace blobstore {
 
                 // Traverse existing children
                 for (uint32_t childIndex = beginChild; childIndex < std::min(endChild, numChildren); ++childIndex) {
-                    auto childBlockId = root->getChild(childIndex)->blockId();
+                    auto childBlockId = root->readChild(childIndex).blockId();
                     uint32_t childOffset = childIndex * leavesPerChild;
                     uint32_t localBeginIndex = utils::maxZeroSubtraction(beginIndex, childOffset);
                     uint32_t localEndIndex = std::min(leavesPerChild, endIndex - childOffset);
@@ -169,7 +169,7 @@ namespace blobstore {
                     return _nodeStore->createNewLeafNode(leafCreator(leafOffset));
                 }
 
-                uint8_t minNeededDepth = utils::ceilLog(_nodeStore->layout().maxChildrenPerInnerNode(), (uint64_t)endIndex);
+                uint8_t minNeededDepth = utils::ceilLog(_nodeStore->layout().maxChildrenPerInnerNode(), static_cast<uint64_t>(endIndex));
                 ASSERT(depth >= minNeededDepth, "Given tree depth doesn't fit given number of leaves to create.");
                 uint32_t leavesPerChild = _maxLeavesForTreeDepth(depth-1);
                 uint32_t beginChild = beginIndex/leavesPerChild;
@@ -208,7 +208,7 @@ namespace blobstore {
             }
 
             uint32_t LeafTraverser::_maxLeavesForTreeDepth(uint8_t depth) const {
-                return utils::intPow(_nodeStore->layout().maxChildrenPerInnerNode(), (uint64_t)depth);
+                return utils::intPow(_nodeStore->layout().maxChildrenPerInnerNode(), static_cast<uint64_t>(depth));
             }
 
             function<Data (uint32_t index)> LeafTraverser::_createMaxSizeLeaf() const {
@@ -221,7 +221,7 @@ namespace blobstore {
             unique_ref<DataNode> LeafTraverser::_whileRootHasOnlyOneChildReplaceRootWithItsChild(unique_ref<DataNode> root) {
                 DataInnerNode *inner = dynamic_cast<DataInnerNode*>(root.get());
                 if (inner != nullptr && inner->numChildren() == 1) {
-                    auto newRoot = _whileRootHasOnlyOneChildRemoveRootReturnChild(inner->getChild(0)->blockId());
+                    auto newRoot = _whileRootHasOnlyOneChildRemoveRootReturnChild(inner->readChild(0).blockId());
                     auto result = _nodeStore->overwriteNodeWith(std::move(root), *newRoot);
                     _nodeStore->remove(std::move(newRoot));
                     return result;
@@ -237,7 +237,7 @@ namespace blobstore {
                 if (inner == none) {
                     return std::move(*current);
                 } else if ((*inner)->numChildren() == 1) {
-                    auto result = _whileRootHasOnlyOneChildRemoveRootReturnChild((*inner)->getChild(0)->blockId());
+                    auto result = _whileRootHasOnlyOneChildRemoveRootReturnChild((*inner)->readChild(0).blockId());
                     _nodeStore->remove(std::move(*inner));
                     return result;
                 } else {
diff --git a/src/blobstore/implementations/onblocks/datatreestore/impl/algorithms.cpp b/src/blobstore/implementations/onblocks/datatreestore/impl/algorithms.cpp
index 138ceda3..9445a481 100644
--- a/src/blobstore/implementations/onblocks/datatreestore/impl/algorithms.cpp
+++ b/src/blobstore/implementations/onblocks/datatreestore/impl/algorithms.cpp
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@ namespace datatreestore {
 namespace algorithms {
 
 optional<unique_ref<DataInnerNode>> getLastChildAsInnerNode(DataNodeStore *nodeStore, const DataInnerNode &node) {
-  BlockId blockId = node.LastChild()->blockId();
+  BlockId blockId = node.readLastChild().blockId();
   auto lastChild = nodeStore->load(blockId);
   ASSERT(lastChild != none, "Couldn't load last child");
   return dynamic_pointer_move<DataInnerNode>(*lastChild);
diff --git a/src/blobstore/implementations/onblocks/utils/Math.h b/src/blobstore/implementations/onblocks/utils/Math.h
index 370c1e01..738abdfb 100644
--- a/src/blobstore/implementations/onblocks/utils/Math.h
+++ b/src/blobstore/implementations/onblocks/utils/Math.h
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@ inline INT_TYPE maxZeroSubtraction(INT_TYPE minuend, INT_TYPE subtrahend) {
 
 template<typename INT_TYPE>
 inline INT_TYPE ceilLog(INT_TYPE base, INT_TYPE value) {
-    return std::ceil((long double)std::log(value)/(long double)std::log(base));
+    return std::ceil(static_cast<long double>(std::log(value))/static_cast<long double>(std::log(base)));
 }
 
 }
diff --git a/src/blockstore/implementations/caching/cache/CacheEntry.h b/src/blockstore/implementations/caching/cache/CacheEntry.h
index 0af597e2..6400f5c4 100644
--- a/src/blockstore/implementations/caching/cache/CacheEntry.h
+++ b/src/blockstore/implementations/caching/cache/CacheEntry.h
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@ public:
   CacheEntry(CacheEntry&& rhs) noexcept: _lastAccess(std::move(rhs._lastAccess)), _value(std::move(rhs._value)) {}
 
   double ageSeconds() const {
-    return ((double)(currentTime() - _lastAccess).total_nanoseconds()) / ((double)1000000000);
+    return static_cast<double>((currentTime() - _lastAccess).total_nanoseconds()) / static_cast<double>(1000000000);
   }
 
   Value releaseValue() {
diff --git a/src/blockstore/implementations/caching/cache/PeriodicTask.cpp b/src/blockstore/implementations/caching/cache/PeriodicTask.cpp
index a73697a2..9145111f 100644
--- a/src/blockstore/implementations/caching/cache/PeriodicTask.cpp
+++ b/src/blockstore/implementations/caching/cache/PeriodicTask.cpp
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@ namespace caching {
 
 PeriodicTask::PeriodicTask(function<void ()> task, double intervalSec) :
         _task(task),
-        _interval((uint64_t)(UINT64_C(1000000000) * intervalSec)),
+        _interval(static_cast<uint64_t>(UINT64_C(1000000000) * intervalSec)),
         _thread(std::bind(&PeriodicTask::_loopIteration, this)) {
     _thread.start();
 }
diff --git a/src/blockstore/implementations/compressing/CompressedBlock.h b/src/blockstore/implementations/compressing/CompressedBlock.h
index 77637d66..32209dba 100644
--- a/src/blockstore/implementations/compressing/CompressedBlock.h
+++ b/src/blockstore/implementations/compressing/CompressedBlock.h
@@ -68,7 +68,7 @@ cpputils::unique_ref<CompressedBlock<Compressor>> CompressedBlock<Compressor>::O
 
 template<class Compressor>
 cpputils::unique_ref<CompressedBlock<Compressor>> CompressedBlock<Compressor>::Decompress(cpputils::unique_ref<Block> baseBlock) {
-  cpputils::Data decompressed = Compressor::Decompress((CryptoPP::byte*)baseBlock->data(), baseBlock->size());
+  cpputils::Data decompressed = Compressor::Decompress(baseBlock->data(), baseBlock->size());
   return cpputils::make_unique_ref<CompressedBlock<Compressor>>(std::move(baseBlock), std::move(decompressed));
 }
 
@@ -93,7 +93,7 @@ const void *CompressedBlock<Compressor>::data() const {
 
 template<class Compressor>
 void CompressedBlock<Compressor>::write(const void *source, uint64_t offset, uint64_t size) {
-  std::memcpy((uint8_t*)_decompressedData.dataOffset(offset), source, size);
+  std::memcpy(_decompressedData.dataOffset(offset), source, size);
   _dataChanged = true;
 }
 
diff --git a/src/blockstore/implementations/compressing/compressors/Gzip.cpp b/src/blockstore/implementations/compressing/compressors/Gzip.cpp
index f2ade682..64f13e97 100644
--- a/src/blockstore/implementations/compressing/compressors/Gzip.cpp
+++ b/src/blockstore/implementations/compressing/compressors/Gzip.cpp
@@ -9,20 +9,20 @@ namespace blockstore {
 
         Data Gzip::Compress(const Data &data) {
             CryptoPP::Gzip zipper;
-            zipper.Put((CryptoPP::byte *) data.data(), data.size());
+            zipper.Put(static_cast<const CryptoPP::byte *>(data.data()), data.size());
             zipper.MessageEnd();
             Data compressed(zipper.MaxRetrievable());
-            zipper.Get((CryptoPP::byte *) compressed.data(), compressed.size());
+            zipper.Get(static_cast<CryptoPP::byte *>(compressed.data()), compressed.size());
             return compressed;
         }
 
         Data Gzip::Decompress(const void *data, size_t size) {
             //TODO Change interface to taking cpputils::Data objects (needs changing blockstore so we can read their "class Data", because this is called from CompressedBlock::Decompress()).
             CryptoPP::Gunzip zipper;
-            zipper.Put((CryptoPP::byte *) data, size);
+            zipper.Put(static_cast<const CryptoPP::byte *>(data), size);
             zipper.MessageEnd();
             Data decompressed(zipper.MaxRetrievable());
-            zipper.Get((CryptoPP::byte *) decompressed.data(), decompressed.size());
+            zipper.Get(static_cast<CryptoPP::byte *>(decompressed.data()), decompressed.size());
             return decompressed;
         }
 
diff --git a/src/blockstore/implementations/compressing/compressors/RunLengthEncoding.cpp b/src/blockstore/implementations/compressing/compressors/RunLengthEncoding.cpp
index 3a20d759..08d6bfa0 100644
--- a/src/blockstore/implementations/compressing/compressors/RunLengthEncoding.cpp
+++ b/src/blockstore/implementations/compressing/compressors/RunLengthEncoding.cpp
@@ -18,8 +18,8 @@ namespace blockstore {
 
         Data RunLengthEncoding::Compress(const Data &data) {
             ostringstream compressed;
-            uint8_t *current = (uint8_t*)data.data();
-            uint8_t *end = (uint8_t*)data.data()+data.size();
+            const uint8_t *current = static_cast<const uint8_t*>(data.data());
+            const uint8_t *end = static_cast<const uint8_t*>(data.data())+data.size();
             while (current < end) {
                 _encodeArbitraryWords(&current, end, &compressed);
                 ASSERT(current <= end, "Overflow");
@@ -32,25 +32,25 @@ namespace blockstore {
             return _extractData(&compressed);
         }
 
-        void RunLengthEncoding::_encodeArbitraryWords(uint8_t **current, uint8_t* end, ostringstream *output) {
+        void RunLengthEncoding::_encodeArbitraryWords(const uint8_t **current, const uint8_t* end, ostringstream *output) {
             uint16_t size = _arbitraryRunLength(*current, end);
-            output->write((const char*)&size, sizeof(uint16_t));
-            output->write((const char*)*current, size);
+            output->write(reinterpret_cast<const char*>(&size), sizeof(uint16_t));
+            output->write(reinterpret_cast<const char*>(*current), size);
             *current += size;
         }
 
-        uint16_t RunLengthEncoding::_arbitraryRunLength(uint8_t *start, uint8_t* end) {
+        uint16_t RunLengthEncoding::_arbitraryRunLength(const uint8_t *start, const uint8_t* end) {
             // Each stopping of an arbitrary bytes run costs us 5 byte, because we have to store the length
             // for the identical bytes run (2 byte), the identical byte itself (1 byte) and the length for the next arbitrary bytes run (2 byte).
             // So to get an advantage from stopping an arbitrary bytes run, at least 6 bytes have to be identical.
 
             // realEnd avoids an overflow of the 16bit counter
-            uint8_t *realEnd = std::min(end, start + std::numeric_limits<uint16_t>::max());
+            const uint8_t *realEnd = std::min(end, start + std::numeric_limits<uint16_t>::max());
 
             // Count the number of identical bytes and return if it finds a run of more than 6 identical bytes.
             uint8_t lastByte = *start + 1; // Something different from the first byte
             uint8_t numIdenticalBytes = 1;
-            for(uint8_t *current = start; current != realEnd; ++current) {
+            for(const uint8_t *current = start; current != realEnd; ++current) {
                 if (*current == lastByte) {
                     ++numIdenticalBytes;
                     if (numIdenticalBytes == 6) {
@@ -65,16 +65,16 @@ namespace blockstore {
             return realEnd-start;
         }
 
-        void RunLengthEncoding::_encodeIdenticalWords(uint8_t **current, uint8_t* end, ostringstream *output) {
+        void RunLengthEncoding::_encodeIdenticalWords(const uint8_t **current, const uint8_t* end, ostringstream *output) {
             uint16_t size = _countIdenticalBytes(*current, end);
-            output->write((const char*)&size, sizeof(uint16_t));
-            output->write((const char*)*current, 1);
+            output->write(reinterpret_cast<const char*>(&size), sizeof(uint16_t));
+            output->write(reinterpret_cast<const char*>(*current), 1);
             *current += size;
         }
 
-        uint16_t RunLengthEncoding::_countIdenticalBytes(uint8_t *start, uint8_t *end) {
-            uint8_t *realEnd = std::min(end, start + std::numeric_limits<uint16_t>::max()); // This prevents overflow of the 16bit counter
-            for (uint8_t *current = start+1; current != realEnd; ++current) {
+        uint16_t RunLengthEncoding::_countIdenticalBytes(const uint8_t *start, const uint8_t *end) {
+            const uint8_t *realEnd = std::min(end, start + std::numeric_limits<uint16_t>::max()); // This prevents overflow of the 16bit counter
+            for (const uint8_t *current = start+1; current != realEnd; ++current) {
                 if (*current != *start) {
                     return current-start;
                 }
@@ -92,7 +92,7 @@ namespace blockstore {
 
         Data RunLengthEncoding::Decompress(const void *data, size_t size) {
             istringstream stream;
-            _parseData((uint8_t*)data, size, &stream);
+            _parseData(static_cast<const uint8_t*>(data), size, &stream);
             ostringstream decompressed;
             while(_hasData(&stream)) {
                 _decodeArbitraryWords(&stream, &decompressed);
@@ -110,29 +110,29 @@ namespace blockstore {
         }
 
         void RunLengthEncoding::_parseData(const uint8_t *data, size_t size, istringstream *result) {
-            result->str(string((const char*)data, size));
+            result->str(string(reinterpret_cast<const char*>(data), size));
         }
 
         void RunLengthEncoding::_decodeArbitraryWords(istringstream *stream, ostringstream *decompressed) {
             uint16_t size;
-            stream->read((char*)&size, sizeof(uint16_t));
+            stream->read(reinterpret_cast<char*>(&size), sizeof(uint16_t));
             ASSERT(stream->good(), "Premature end of stream");
             Data run(size);
-            stream->read((char*)run.data(), size);
+            stream->read(static_cast<char*>(run.data()), size);
             ASSERT(stream->good(), "Premature end of stream");
-            decompressed->write((const char*)run.data(), run.size());
+            decompressed->write(static_cast<const char*>(run.data()), run.size());
         }
 
         void RunLengthEncoding::_decodeIdenticalWords(istringstream *stream, ostringstream *decompressed) {
             uint16_t size;
-            stream->read((char*)&size, sizeof(uint16_t));
+            stream->read(reinterpret_cast<char*>(&size), sizeof(uint16_t));
             ASSERT(stream->good(), "Premature end of stream");
             uint8_t value;
-            stream->read((char*)&value, 1);
+            stream->read(reinterpret_cast<char*>(&value), 1);
             ASSERT(stream->good(), "Premature end of stream");
             Data run(size);
             std::memset(run.data(), value, run.size());
-            decompressed->write((const char*)run.data(), run.size());
+            decompressed->write(static_cast<const char*>(run.data()), run.size());
         }
 
     }
diff --git a/src/blockstore/implementations/compressing/compressors/RunLengthEncoding.h b/src/blockstore/implementations/compressing/compressors/RunLengthEncoding.h
index 2342f61e..d0d04252 100644
--- a/src/blockstore/implementations/compressing/compressors/RunLengthEncoding.h
+++ b/src/blockstore/implementations/compressing/compressors/RunLengthEncoding.h
@@ -13,10 +13,10 @@ namespace blockstore {
             static cpputils::Data Decompress(const void *data, size_t size);
 
         private:
-            static void _encodeArbitraryWords(uint8_t **current, uint8_t* end, std::ostringstream *output);
-            static uint16_t _arbitraryRunLength(uint8_t *start, uint8_t* end);
-            static void _encodeIdenticalWords(uint8_t **current, uint8_t* end, std::ostringstream *output);
-            static uint16_t _countIdenticalBytes(uint8_t *start, uint8_t *end);
+            static void _encodeArbitraryWords(const uint8_t **current, const uint8_t* end, std::ostringstream *output);
+            static uint16_t _arbitraryRunLength(const uint8_t *start, const uint8_t* end);
+            static void _encodeIdenticalWords(const uint8_t **current, const uint8_t* end, std::ostringstream *output);
+            static uint16_t _countIdenticalBytes(const uint8_t *start, const uint8_t *end);
             static bool _hasData(std::istringstream *stream);
             static cpputils::Data _extractData(std::ostringstream *stream);
             static void _parseData(const uint8_t *data, size_t size, std::istringstream *result);
diff --git a/src/blockstore/implementations/encrypted/EncryptedBlockStore2.h b/src/blockstore/implementations/encrypted/EncryptedBlockStore2.h
index 4238d390..26e25cad 100644
--- a/src/blockstore/implementations/encrypted/EncryptedBlockStore2.h
+++ b/src/blockstore/implementations/encrypted/EncryptedBlockStore2.h
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@
 #include "cpp-utils/crypto/cryptopp_byte.h"
 #include <cpp-utils/macros.h>
 #include <cpp-utils/crypto/symmetric/Cipher.h>
+#include <cpp-utils/data/SerializationHelper.h>
 
 namespace blockstore {
 namespace encrypted {
@@ -122,14 +123,14 @@ inline void EncryptedBlockStore2<Cipher>::forEachBlock(std::function<void (const
 
 template<class Cipher>
 inline cpputils::Data EncryptedBlockStore2<Cipher>::_encrypt(const cpputils::Data &data) const {
-  cpputils::Data encrypted = Cipher::encrypt((CryptoPP::byte*)data.data(), data.size(), _encKey);
+  cpputils::Data encrypted = Cipher::encrypt(static_cast<const CryptoPP::byte*>(data.data()), data.size(), _encKey);
   return _prependFormatHeaderToData(encrypted);
 }
 
 template<class Cipher>
 inline boost::optional<cpputils::Data> EncryptedBlockStore2<Cipher>::_tryDecrypt(const BlockId &blockId, const cpputils::Data &data) const {
   _checkFormatHeader(data);
-  boost::optional<cpputils::Data> decrypted = Cipher::decrypt((CryptoPP::byte*)data.dataOffset(sizeof(FORMAT_VERSION_HEADER)), data.size() - sizeof(FORMAT_VERSION_HEADER), _encKey);
+  boost::optional<cpputils::Data> decrypted = Cipher::decrypt(static_cast<const CryptoPP::byte*>(data.dataOffset(sizeof(FORMAT_VERSION_HEADER))), data.size() - sizeof(FORMAT_VERSION_HEADER), _encKey);
   if (decrypted == boost::none) {
     // TODO Log warning
     return boost::none;
@@ -164,7 +165,7 @@ inline bool EncryptedBlockStore2<Cipher>::_blockIdHeaderIsCorrect(const BlockId
 template<class Cipher>
 inline cpputils::Data EncryptedBlockStore2<Cipher>::_prependFormatHeaderToData(const cpputils::Data &data) {
   cpputils::Data dataWithHeader(sizeof(FORMAT_VERSION_HEADER) + data.size());
-  std::memcpy(dataWithHeader.dataOffset(0), &FORMAT_VERSION_HEADER, sizeof(FORMAT_VERSION_HEADER));
+  cpputils::serialize<uint16_t>(dataWithHeader.dataOffset(0), FORMAT_VERSION_HEADER);
   std::memcpy(dataWithHeader.dataOffset(sizeof(FORMAT_VERSION_HEADER)), data.data(), data.size());
   return dataWithHeader;
 }
@@ -184,7 +185,7 @@ inline void EncryptedBlockStore2<Cipher>::_checkFormatHeader(const cpputils::Dat
 
 template<class Cipher>
 uint16_t EncryptedBlockStore2<Cipher>::_readFormatHeader(const cpputils::Data &data) {
-  return *reinterpret_cast<decltype(FORMAT_VERSION_HEADER)*>(data.data());
+  return cpputils::deserialize<uint16_t>(data.data());
 }
 
 template<class Cipher>
diff --git a/src/blockstore/implementations/integrity/IntegrityBlockStore2.cpp b/src/blockstore/implementations/integrity/IntegrityBlockStore2.cpp
index 7b3402b1..40207c21 100644
--- a/src/blockstore/implementations/integrity/IntegrityBlockStore2.cpp
+++ b/src/blockstore/implementations/integrity/IntegrityBlockStore2.cpp
@@ -1,9 +1,12 @@
 #include <blockstore/interface/BlockStore2.h>
 #include "IntegrityBlockStore2.h"
 #include "KnownBlockVersions.h"
+#include <cpp-utils/data/SerializationHelper.h>
 
 using cpputils::Data;
 using cpputils::unique_ref;
+using cpputils::serialize;
+using cpputils::deserialize;
 using std::string;
 using boost::optional;
 using boost::none;
@@ -25,11 +28,11 @@ constexpr unsigned int IntegrityBlockStore2::HEADER_LENGTH;
 Data IntegrityBlockStore2::_prependHeaderToData(const BlockId& blockId, uint32_t myClientId, uint64_t version, const Data &data) {
   static_assert(HEADER_LENGTH == sizeof(FORMAT_VERSION_HEADER) + BlockId::BINARY_LENGTH + sizeof(myClientId) + sizeof(version), "Wrong header length");
   Data result(data.size() + HEADER_LENGTH);
-  std::memcpy(result.dataOffset(0), &FORMAT_VERSION_HEADER, sizeof(FORMAT_VERSION_HEADER));
-  std::memcpy(result.dataOffset(ID_HEADER_OFFSET), blockId.data().data(), BlockId::BINARY_LENGTH);
-  std::memcpy(result.dataOffset(CLIENTID_HEADER_OFFSET), &myClientId, sizeof(myClientId));
-  std::memcpy(result.dataOffset(VERSION_HEADER_OFFSET), &version, sizeof(version));
-  std::memcpy((uint8_t*)result.dataOffset(HEADER_LENGTH), data.data(), data.size());
+  serialize<uint16_t>(result.dataOffset(0), FORMAT_VERSION_HEADER);
+  blockId.ToBinary(result.dataOffset(ID_HEADER_OFFSET));
+  serialize<uint32_t>(result.dataOffset(CLIENTID_HEADER_OFFSET), myClientId);
+  serialize<uint64_t>(result.dataOffset(VERSION_HEADER_OFFSET), version);
+  std::memcpy(result.dataOffset(HEADER_LENGTH), data.data(), data.size());
   return result;
 }
 
@@ -62,13 +65,11 @@ void IntegrityBlockStore2::_checkIdHeader(const BlockId &expectedBlockId, const
 }
 
 uint16_t IntegrityBlockStore2::_readFormatHeader(const Data &data) {
-  return *reinterpret_cast<decltype(FORMAT_VERSION_HEADER)*>(data.data());
+  return deserialize<uint16_t>(data.data());
 }
 
 uint32_t IntegrityBlockStore2::_readClientId(const Data &data) {
-  uint32_t clientId;
-  std::memcpy(&clientId, data.dataOffset(CLIENTID_HEADER_OFFSET), sizeof(clientId));
-  return clientId;
+  return deserialize<uint32_t>(data.dataOffset(CLIENTID_HEADER_OFFSET));
 }
 
 BlockId IntegrityBlockStore2::_readBlockId(const Data &data) {
@@ -76,9 +77,7 @@ BlockId IntegrityBlockStore2::_readBlockId(const Data &data) {
 }
 
 uint64_t IntegrityBlockStore2::_readVersion(const Data &data) {
-  uint64_t version;
-  std::memcpy(&version, data.dataOffset(VERSION_HEADER_OFFSET), sizeof(version));
-  return version;
+  return deserialize<uint64_t>(data.dataOffset(VERSION_HEADER_OFFSET));
 }
 
 Data IntegrityBlockStore2::_removeHeader(const Data &data) {
@@ -146,8 +145,8 @@ optional<Data> IntegrityBlockStore2::load(const BlockId &blockId) const {
 #ifndef CRYFS_NO_COMPATIBILITY
 Data IntegrityBlockStore2::_migrateBlock(const BlockId &blockId, const Data &data) {
   Data migrated(data.size() + BlockId::BINARY_LENGTH);
-  std::memcpy(migrated.dataOffset(0), &FORMAT_VERSION_HEADER, sizeof(FORMAT_VERSION_HEADER));
-  std::memcpy(migrated.dataOffset(ID_HEADER_OFFSET), blockId.data().data(), BlockId::BINARY_LENGTH);
+  serialize<uint16_t>(migrated.dataOffset(0), FORMAT_VERSION_HEADER);
+  blockId.ToBinary(migrated.dataOffset(ID_HEADER_OFFSET));
   std::memcpy(migrated.dataOffset(ID_HEADER_OFFSET + BlockId::BINARY_LENGTH), data.dataOffset(sizeof(FORMAT_VERSION_HEADER)), data.size() - sizeof(FORMAT_VERSION_HEADER));
   ASSERT(migrated.size() == sizeof(FORMAT_VERSION_HEADER) + BlockId::BINARY_LENGTH + (data.size() - sizeof(FORMAT_VERSION_HEADER)), "Wrong offset computation");
   return migrated;
diff --git a/src/blockstore/implementations/low2highlevel/LowToHighLevelBlock.cpp b/src/blockstore/implementations/low2highlevel/LowToHighLevelBlock.cpp
index b20cc502..7c053ce0 100644
--- a/src/blockstore/implementations/low2highlevel/LowToHighLevelBlock.cpp
+++ b/src/blockstore/implementations/low2highlevel/LowToHighLevelBlock.cpp
@@ -48,12 +48,12 @@ LowToHighLevelBlock::~LowToHighLevelBlock() {
 }
 
 const void *LowToHighLevelBlock::data() const {
-  return (uint8_t*)_data.data();
+  return _data.data();
 }
 
 void LowToHighLevelBlock::write(const void *source, uint64_t offset, uint64_t count) {
   ASSERT(offset <= size() && offset + count <= size(), "Write outside of valid area"); //Also check offset < size() because of possible overflow in the addition
-  std::memcpy((uint8_t*)_data.data()+offset, source, count);
+  std::memcpy(_data.dataOffset(offset), source, count);
   _dataChanged = true;
 }
 
diff --git a/src/blockstore/implementations/testfake/FakeBlock.cpp b/src/blockstore/implementations/testfake/FakeBlock.cpp
index 1517d5d2..471a8e76 100644
--- a/src/blockstore/implementations/testfake/FakeBlock.cpp
+++ b/src/blockstore/implementations/testfake/FakeBlock.cpp
@@ -30,7 +30,7 @@ const void *FakeBlock::data() const {
 
 void FakeBlock::write(const void *source, uint64_t offset, uint64_t size) {
   ASSERT(offset <= _data->size() && offset + size <= _data->size(), "Write outside of valid area"); //Also check offset < _data->size() because of possible overflow in the addition
-  std::memcpy((uint8_t*)_data->data()+offset, source, size);
+  std::memcpy(_data->dataOffset(offset), source, size);
   _dataChanged = true;
 }
 
diff --git a/src/blockstore/utils/IdWrapper.h b/src/blockstore/utils/IdWrapper.h
index 86eba3a2..54d3d2cb 100644
--- a/src/blockstore/utils/IdWrapper.h
+++ b/src/blockstore/utils/IdWrapper.h
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@
 #include <string>
 #include <cpp-utils/data/FixedSizeData.h>
 #include <cpp-utils/random/Random.h>
+#include <cpp-utils/data/SerializationHelper.h>
 
 namespace blockstore {
 
@@ -101,7 +102,7 @@ inline bool operator!=(const IdWrapper<Tag>& lhs, const IdWrapper<Tag>& rhs) {
     template <> struct hash<IdWrapper> {                                                                               \
       size_t operator()(const IdWrapper &idWrapper) const {                                                            \
         /*Ids are random, so it is enough to use the first few bytes as a hash */                                      \
-        return *(size_t*)(idWrapper.id_.data());                                                                       \
+        return cpputils::deserialize<size_t>(idWrapper.id_.data());                                                    \
       }                                                                                                                \
     };                                                                                                                 \
     /*Allow using IdWrapper in std::map / std::set */                                                                  \
diff --git a/src/cpp-utils/CMakeLists.txt b/src/cpp-utils/CMakeLists.txt
index 62239b3b..bb287015 100644
--- a/src/cpp-utils/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/src/cpp-utils/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -31,6 +31,7 @@ set(SOURCES
         random/RandomDataBuffer.cpp
         random/RandomGenerator.cpp
         lock/LockPool.cpp
+        data/SerializationHelper.cpp
         data/Serializer.cpp
         data/Deserializer.cpp
         data/DataFixture.cpp
diff --git a/src/cpp-utils/crypto/RandomPadding.cpp b/src/cpp-utils/crypto/RandomPadding.cpp
index 42a1adbc..4dd2f5ba 100644
--- a/src/cpp-utils/crypto/RandomPadding.cpp
+++ b/src/cpp-utils/crypto/RandomPadding.cpp
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+#include <cpp-utils/data/SerializationHelper.h>
 #include "RandomPadding.h"
 #include "../logging/logging.h"
 #include "../random/Random.h"
@@ -14,21 +15,20 @@ namespace cpputils {
         Data randomData = Random::PseudoRandom().get(targetSize-sizeof(size)-size);
         ASSERT(sizeof(size) + size + randomData.size() == targetSize, "Calculated size of randomData incorrectly");
         Data result(targetSize);
-        std::memcpy(reinterpret_cast<char*>(result.data()), &size, sizeof(size));
-        std::memcpy(reinterpret_cast<char*>(result.dataOffset(sizeof(size))), reinterpret_cast<const char*>(data.data()), size);
-        std::memcpy(reinterpret_cast<char*>(result.dataOffset(sizeof(size)+size)), reinterpret_cast<const char*>(randomData.data()), randomData.size());
+        serialize<uint32_t>(result.data(), size);
+        std::memcpy(result.dataOffset(sizeof(size)), data.data(), size);
+        std::memcpy(result.dataOffset(sizeof(size)+size), randomData.data(), randomData.size());
         return result;
     }
 
     optional<Data> RandomPadding::remove(const Data &data) {
-        uint32_t size;
-        std::memcpy(&size, reinterpret_cast<const char*>(data.data()), sizeof(size));
+        uint32_t size = deserialize<uint32_t>(data.data());
         if(sizeof(size) + size >= data.size()) {
             LOG(ERROR, "Config file is invalid: Invalid padding.");
             return boost::none;
         };
         Data result(size);
-        std::memcpy(reinterpret_cast<char*>(result.data()), reinterpret_cast<const char*>(data.dataOffset(sizeof(size))), size);
+        std::memcpy(result.data(), data.dataOffset(sizeof(size)), size);
         return std::move(result);
     }
 }
diff --git a/src/cpp-utils/crypto/hash/Hash.cpp b/src/cpp-utils/crypto/hash/Hash.cpp
index 1ac30013..45402122 100644
--- a/src/cpp-utils/crypto/hash/Hash.cpp
+++ b/src/cpp-utils/crypto/hash/Hash.cpp
@@ -10,11 +10,11 @@ namespace hash {
 
 Hash hash(const Data& data, Salt salt) {
   SHA512 hasher; // NOLINT (workaround for clang-warning in libcrypto++)
-  hasher.Update((CryptoPP::byte*)salt.data(), Salt::BINARY_LENGTH);
-  hasher.Update((CryptoPP::byte*)data.data(), data.size());
+  hasher.Update(static_cast<const CryptoPP::byte*>(salt.data()), Salt::BINARY_LENGTH);
+  hasher.Update(static_cast<const CryptoPP::byte*>(data.data()), data.size());
 
   Digest digest = Digest::Null();
-  hasher.Final((CryptoPP::byte*)digest.data());
+  hasher.Final(static_cast<CryptoPP::byte*>(digest.data()));
 
   return Hash{
       .digest = digest,
diff --git a/src/cpp-utils/crypto/kdf/Scrypt.cpp b/src/cpp-utils/crypto/kdf/Scrypt.cpp
index 5d805578..3a76ad81 100644
--- a/src/cpp-utils/crypto/kdf/Scrypt.cpp
+++ b/src/cpp-utils/crypto/kdf/Scrypt.cpp
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ namespace cpputils {
     void SCrypt::derive(void *destination, size_t size, const string &password) {
         _checkCallOnlyOnce();
         int errorcode = crypto_scrypt(reinterpret_cast<const uint8_t*>(password.c_str()), password.size(),
-                                      reinterpret_cast<const uint8_t*>(_config.salt().data()), _config.salt().size(),
+                                      static_cast<const uint8_t*>(_config.salt().data()), _config.salt().size(),
                                       _config.N(), _config.r(), _config.p(),
                                       static_cast<uint8_t*>(destination), size);
         if (errorcode != 0) {
diff --git a/src/cpp-utils/crypto/symmetric/CFB_Cipher.h b/src/cpp-utils/crypto/symmetric/CFB_Cipher.h
index 9de10c3d..971f1d7b 100644
--- a/src/cpp-utils/crypto/symmetric/CFB_Cipher.h
+++ b/src/cpp-utils/crypto/symmetric/CFB_Cipher.h
@@ -36,10 +36,10 @@ private:
 template<typename BlockCipher, unsigned int KeySize>
 Data CFB_Cipher<BlockCipher, KeySize>::encrypt(const CryptoPP::byte *plaintext, unsigned int plaintextSize, const EncryptionKey &encKey) {
   FixedSizeData<IV_SIZE> iv = Random::PseudoRandom().getFixedSize<IV_SIZE>();
-  auto encryption = typename CryptoPP::CFB_Mode<BlockCipher>::Encryption((CryptoPP::byte*)encKey.data(), encKey.BINARY_LENGTH, iv.data());
+  auto encryption = typename CryptoPP::CFB_Mode<BlockCipher>::Encryption(static_cast<const CryptoPP::byte*>(encKey.data()), encKey.BINARY_LENGTH, iv.data());
   Data ciphertext(ciphertextSize(plaintextSize));
-  std::memcpy(ciphertext.data(), iv.data(), IV_SIZE);
-  encryption.ProcessData((CryptoPP::byte*)ciphertext.data() + IV_SIZE, plaintext, plaintextSize);
+  iv.ToBinary(ciphertext.data());
+  encryption.ProcessData(static_cast<CryptoPP::byte*>(ciphertext.data()) + IV_SIZE, plaintext, plaintextSize);
   return ciphertext;
 }
 
@@ -51,9 +51,9 @@ boost::optional<Data> CFB_Cipher<BlockCipher, KeySize>::decrypt(const CryptoPP::
 
   const CryptoPP::byte *ciphertextIV = ciphertext;
   const CryptoPP::byte *ciphertextData = ciphertext + IV_SIZE;
-  auto decryption = typename CryptoPP::CFB_Mode<BlockCipher>::Decryption((CryptoPP::byte*)encKey.data(), encKey.BINARY_LENGTH, ciphertextIV);
+  auto decryption = typename CryptoPP::CFB_Mode<BlockCipher>::Decryption(static_cast<const CryptoPP::byte*>(encKey.data()), encKey.BINARY_LENGTH, ciphertextIV);
   Data plaintext(plaintextSize(ciphertextSize));
-  decryption.ProcessData((CryptoPP::byte*)plaintext.data(), ciphertextData, plaintext.size());
+  decryption.ProcessData(static_cast<CryptoPP::byte*>(plaintext.data()), ciphertextData, plaintext.size());
   return std::move(plaintext);
 }
 
diff --git a/src/cpp-utils/crypto/symmetric/Cipher.h b/src/cpp-utils/crypto/symmetric/Cipher.h
index e6327f48..c0766111 100644
--- a/src/cpp-utils/crypto/symmetric/Cipher.h
+++ b/src/cpp-utils/crypto/symmetric/Cipher.h
@@ -18,8 +18,8 @@ public:
     same_type(UINT32_C(0), X::ciphertextSize(UINT32_C(5)));
     same_type(UINT32_C(0), X::plaintextSize(UINT32_C(5)));
     typename X::EncryptionKey key = X::EncryptionKey::CreateKey(Random::OSRandom());
-    same_type(Data(0), X::encrypt((uint8_t*)nullptr, UINT32_C(0), key));
-    same_type(boost::optional<Data>(Data(0)), X::decrypt((uint8_t*)nullptr, UINT32_C(0), key));
+    same_type(Data(0), X::encrypt(static_cast<uint8_t*>(nullptr), UINT32_C(0), key));
+    same_type(boost::optional<Data>(Data(0)), X::decrypt(static_cast<uint8_t*>(nullptr), UINT32_C(0), key));
     string name = X::NAME;
   }
 
diff --git a/src/cpp-utils/crypto/symmetric/GCM_Cipher.h b/src/cpp-utils/crypto/symmetric/GCM_Cipher.h
index 8f9952b2..2eb00ec2 100644
--- a/src/cpp-utils/crypto/symmetric/GCM_Cipher.h
+++ b/src/cpp-utils/crypto/symmetric/GCM_Cipher.h
@@ -37,13 +37,13 @@ template<typename BlockCipher, unsigned int KeySize>
 Data GCM_Cipher<BlockCipher, KeySize>::encrypt(const CryptoPP::byte *plaintext, unsigned int plaintextSize, const EncryptionKey &encKey) {
     FixedSizeData<IV_SIZE> iv = Random::PseudoRandom().getFixedSize<IV_SIZE>();
     typename CryptoPP::GCM<BlockCipher, CryptoPP::GCM_64K_Tables>::Encryption encryption;
-    encryption.SetKeyWithIV((CryptoPP::byte*)encKey.data(), encKey.BINARY_LENGTH, iv.data(), IV_SIZE);
+    encryption.SetKeyWithIV(static_cast<const CryptoPP::byte*>(encKey.data()), encKey.BINARY_LENGTH, iv.data(), IV_SIZE);
     Data ciphertext(ciphertextSize(plaintextSize));
 
-    std::memcpy(ciphertext.data(), iv.data(), IV_SIZE);
+    iv.ToBinary(ciphertext.data());
     CryptoPP::ArraySource(plaintext, plaintextSize, true,
       new CryptoPP::AuthenticatedEncryptionFilter(encryption,
-        new CryptoPP::ArraySink((CryptoPP::byte*)ciphertext.data() + IV_SIZE, ciphertext.size() - IV_SIZE),
+        new CryptoPP::ArraySink(static_cast<CryptoPP::byte*>(ciphertext.data()) + IV_SIZE, ciphertext.size() - IV_SIZE),
         false, TAG_SIZE
       )
     );
@@ -59,13 +59,13 @@ boost::optional<Data> GCM_Cipher<BlockCipher, KeySize>::decrypt(const CryptoPP::
     const CryptoPP::byte *ciphertextIV = ciphertext;
     const CryptoPP::byte *ciphertextData = ciphertext + IV_SIZE;
     typename CryptoPP::GCM<BlockCipher, CryptoPP::GCM_64K_Tables>::Decryption decryption;
-    decryption.SetKeyWithIV((CryptoPP::byte*)encKey.data(), encKey.BINARY_LENGTH, ciphertextIV, IV_SIZE);
+    decryption.SetKeyWithIV(static_cast<const CryptoPP::byte*>(encKey.data()), encKey.BINARY_LENGTH, ciphertextIV, IV_SIZE);
     Data plaintext(plaintextSize(ciphertextSize));
 
     try {
-        CryptoPP::ArraySource((CryptoPP::byte*)ciphertextData, ciphertextSize - IV_SIZE, true,
+        CryptoPP::ArraySource(static_cast<const CryptoPP::byte*>(ciphertextData), ciphertextSize - IV_SIZE, true,
         new CryptoPP::AuthenticatedDecryptionFilter(decryption,
-          new CryptoPP::ArraySink((CryptoPP::byte*)plaintext.data(), plaintext.size()),
+          new CryptoPP::ArraySink(static_cast<CryptoPP::byte*>(plaintext.data()), plaintext.size()),
           CryptoPP::AuthenticatedDecryptionFilter::DEFAULT_FLAGS, TAG_SIZE
         )
       );
diff --git a/src/cpp-utils/crypto/symmetric/testutils/FakeAuthenticatedCipher.h b/src/cpp-utils/crypto/symmetric/testutils/FakeAuthenticatedCipher.h
index 0c055992..075d04e9 100644
--- a/src/cpp-utils/crypto/symmetric/testutils/FakeAuthenticatedCipher.h
+++ b/src/cpp-utils/crypto/symmetric/testutils/FakeAuthenticatedCipher.h
@@ -8,19 +8,20 @@
 #include "cpp-utils/data/Data.h"
 #include "cpp-utils/random/RandomGenerator.h"
 #include <random>
+#include <cpp-utils/data/SerializationHelper.h>
 
 namespace cpputils {
 
     struct FakeKey {
         static FakeKey FromBinary(const void *data) {
-          return FakeKey{*(uint64_t *) data};
+          return FakeKey{deserialize<uint64_t>(data)};
         }
 
         static constexpr unsigned int BINARY_LENGTH = sizeof(uint64_t);
 
         static FakeKey CreateKey(RandomGenerator &randomGenerator) {
             auto data = randomGenerator.getFixedSize<sizeof(uint64_t)>();
-            return FakeKey{*((uint64_t *) data.data())};
+            return FromBinary(data.data());
         }
 
         uint64_t value;
@@ -54,14 +55,14 @@ namespace cpputils {
 
           //Add a random IV
           uint64_t iv = std::uniform_int_distribution<uint64_t>()(random_);
-          std::memcpy(result.data(), &iv, sizeof(uint64_t));
+          serialize<uint64_t>(result.data(), iv);
 
           //Use xor chiffre on plaintext
-          _xor((CryptoPP::byte *) result.data() + sizeof(uint64_t), plaintext, plaintextSize, encKey.value ^ iv);
+          _xor(static_cast<CryptoPP::byte*>(result.dataOffset(sizeof(uint64_t))), plaintext, plaintextSize, encKey.value ^ iv);
 
           //Add checksum information
-          uint64_t checksum = _checksum((CryptoPP::byte *) result.data(), encKey, plaintextSize + sizeof(uint64_t));
-          std::memcpy((CryptoPP::byte *) result.data() + plaintextSize + sizeof(uint64_t), &checksum, sizeof(uint64_t));
+          uint64_t checksum = _checksum(static_cast<const CryptoPP::byte*>(result.data()), encKey, plaintextSize + sizeof(uint64_t));
+          serialize<uint64_t>(result.dataOffset(plaintextSize + sizeof(uint64_t)), checksum);
 
           return result;
         }
@@ -75,45 +76,35 @@ namespace cpputils {
 
           //Check checksum
           uint64_t expectedParity = _checksum(ciphertext, encKey, plaintextSize(ciphertextSize) + sizeof(uint64_t));
-          uint64_t actualParity = *(uint64_t * )(ciphertext + plaintextSize(ciphertextSize) + sizeof(uint64_t));
+          uint64_t actualParity = deserialize<uint64_t>(ciphertext + plaintextSize(ciphertextSize) + sizeof(uint64_t));
           if (expectedParity != actualParity) {
             return boost::none;
           }
 
           //Decrypt xor chiffre from ciphertext
-          uint64_t iv = *(uint64_t *) ciphertext;
+          uint64_t iv = deserialize<uint64_t>(ciphertext);
           Data result(plaintextSize(ciphertextSize));
-          _xor((CryptoPP::byte *) result.data(), ciphertext + sizeof(uint64_t), plaintextSize(ciphertextSize), encKey.value ^ iv);
+          _xor(static_cast<CryptoPP::byte *>(result.data()), ciphertext + sizeof(uint64_t), plaintextSize(ciphertextSize), encKey.value ^ iv);
+
           return std::move(result);
         }
 
         static constexpr const char *NAME = "FakeAuthenticatedCipher";
 
     private:
-        static uint64_t _checksum(const CryptoPP::byte *data, FakeKey encKey, unsigned int size) {
+        static uint64_t _checksum(const CryptoPP::byte *data, FakeKey encKey, std::size_t size) {
           uint64_t checksum = 34343435 * encKey.value; // some init value
-          const uint64_t *intData = reinterpret_cast<const uint64_t *>(data);
-          unsigned int intSize = size / sizeof(uint64_t);
-          for (unsigned int i = 0; i < intSize; ++i) {
-            checksum = ((uint64_t)checksum) + intData[i];
-          }
-          unsigned int remainingBytes = size - sizeof(uint64_t) * intSize;
-          for (unsigned int i = 0; i < remainingBytes; ++i) {
-            checksum = ((uint64_t)checksum) + (data[8 * intSize + i] << (56 - 8 * i));
+
+          for (unsigned int i = 0; i < size; ++i) {
+            checksum ^= (static_cast<uint64_t>(data[i]) << (56 - 8 * (i%8)));
           }
+
           return checksum;
         }
 
         static void _xor(CryptoPP::byte *dst, const CryptoPP::byte *src, unsigned int size, uint64_t key) {
-          const uint64_t *srcIntData = reinterpret_cast<const uint64_t *>(src);
-          uint64_t *dstIntData = reinterpret_cast<uint64_t *>(dst);
-          unsigned int intSize = size / sizeof(uint64_t);
-          for (unsigned int i = 0; i < intSize; ++i) {
-              dstIntData[i] = srcIntData[i] ^ key;
-          }
-          unsigned int remainingBytes = size - sizeof(uint64_t) * intSize;
-          for (unsigned int i = 0; i < remainingBytes; ++i) {
-              dst[8 * intSize + i] = src[8 * intSize + i] ^ ((key >> (56 - 8*i)) & 0xFF);
+          for (unsigned int i = 0; i < size; ++i) {
+            dst[i] = src[i] ^ ((key >> (56 - 8*(i%8))) & 0xFF);
           }
         }
 
diff --git a/src/cpp-utils/data/Data.cpp b/src/cpp-utils/data/Data.cpp
index 4db5f4da..7d466155 100644
--- a/src/cpp-utils/data/Data.cpp
+++ b/src/cpp-utils/data/Data.cpp
@@ -49,7 +49,7 @@ Data Data::FromString(const std::string &data) {
   Data result(data.size() / 2);
   CryptoPP::StringSource(data, true,
     new CryptoPP::HexDecoder(
-      new CryptoPP::ArraySink((CryptoPP::byte*)result._data, result.size())
+      new CryptoPP::ArraySink(static_cast<CryptoPP::byte*>(result._data), result.size())
     )
   );
   return result;
@@ -57,7 +57,7 @@ Data Data::FromString(const std::string &data) {
 
 std::string Data::ToString() const {
   std::string result;
-  CryptoPP::ArraySource((CryptoPP::byte*)_data, _size, true,
+  CryptoPP::ArraySource(static_cast<const CryptoPP::byte*>(_data), _size, true,
     new CryptoPP::HexEncoder(
         new CryptoPP::StringSink(result)
     )
diff --git a/src/cpp-utils/data/DataFixture.cpp b/src/cpp-utils/data/DataFixture.cpp
index b9918846..4707bffe 100644
--- a/src/cpp-utils/data/DataFixture.cpp
+++ b/src/cpp-utils/data/DataFixture.cpp
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 #include "DataFixture.h"
+#include "SerializationHelper.h"
 
 namespace cpputils {
   Data DataFixture::generate(size_t size, long long int seed) {
@@ -8,7 +9,7 @@ namespace cpputils {
       //MMIX linear congruential generator
       val *= 6364136223846793005L;
       val += 1442695040888963407;
-      reinterpret_cast<long long int*>(result.data())[i] = val;
+      serialize<long long int>(result.dataOffset(i*sizeof(long long int)), val);
     }
     uint64_t alreadyWritten = (size/sizeof(long long int))*sizeof(long long int);
     val *= 6364136223846793005L;
@@ -16,7 +17,7 @@ namespace cpputils {
     char *remainingBytes = reinterpret_cast<char*>(&val);
     //Fill remaining bytes
     for(size_t i=0; i<size-alreadyWritten; ++i) {
-      reinterpret_cast<char*>(result.data())[alreadyWritten + i] = remainingBytes[i];
+      serialize<char>(result.dataOffset(alreadyWritten + i), remainingBytes[i]);
     }
     return result;
   }
diff --git a/src/cpp-utils/data/Deserializer.h b/src/cpp-utils/data/Deserializer.h
index 3533b75c..0c75f172 100644
--- a/src/cpp-utils/data/Deserializer.h
+++ b/src/cpp-utils/data/Deserializer.h
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@
 #include "../macros.h"
 #include "../assert/assert.h"
 #include "FixedSizeData.h"
+#include "SerializationHelper.h"
 
 namespace cpputils {
     class Deserializer final {
@@ -79,7 +80,7 @@ namespace cpputils {
         if (_pos + sizeof(DataType) > _source->size()) {
             throw std::runtime_error("Deserialization failed - size overflow");
         }
-        DataType result = *reinterpret_cast<const DataType*>(_source->dataOffset(_pos));
+        DataType result = deserialize<DataType>(_source->dataOffset(_pos));
         _pos += sizeof(DataType);
         return result;
     }
@@ -122,7 +123,7 @@ namespace cpputils {
             throw std::runtime_error("Deserialization failed - missing nullbyte for string termination");
         }
         uint64_t size = static_cast<const uint8_t*>(nullbytepos) - static_cast<const uint8_t*>(_source->dataOffset(_pos));
-        std::string result(reinterpret_cast<const char*>(_source->dataOffset(_pos)), size);
+        std::string result(static_cast<const char*>(_source->dataOffset(_pos)), size);
         _pos += size + 1;
         return result;
     }
diff --git a/src/cpp-utils/data/SerializationHelper.cpp b/src/cpp-utils/data/SerializationHelper.cpp
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..0adb8fc2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/cpp-utils/data/SerializationHelper.cpp
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+#include "SerializationHelper.h"
diff --git a/src/cpp-utils/data/SerializationHelper.h b/src/cpp-utils/data/SerializationHelper.h
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..8e6fbd19
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/cpp-utils/data/SerializationHelper.h
@@ -0,0 +1,78 @@
+#pragma once
+#ifndef MESSMER_CPPUTILS_DATA_SERIALIZATIONHELPER_H
+#define MESSMER_CPPUTILS_DATA_SERIALIZATIONHELPER_H
+
+#include <type_traits>
+#include <cstring>
+#include <cstdint>
+
+namespace cpputils {
+
+namespace details {
+
+constexpr bool greater_than(size_t lhs, size_t rhs) {
+    return lhs > rhs;
+}
+
+template<class DataType, class Enable = void> struct serialize;
+
+// Specialize for 1-byte types for faster performance with direct pointer access (no memcpy).
+template<class DataType>
+struct serialize<DataType, typename std::enable_if<sizeof(DataType) == 1>::type> final {
+    static_assert(std::is_pod<DataType>::value, "Can only serialize PODs");
+    static void call(void *dst, const DataType &obj) {
+        *static_cast<DataType *>(dst) = obj;
+    }
+};
+
+// Specialize for larger types with memcpy because unaligned data accesses through pointers are undefined behavior.
+template<class DataType>
+struct serialize<DataType, typename std::enable_if<greater_than(sizeof(DataType), 1)>::type> final {
+    static_assert(std::is_pod<DataType>::value, "Can only serialize PODs");
+    static void call(void *dst, const DataType &obj) {
+        std::memcpy(dst, &obj, sizeof(DataType));
+    }
+};
+
+template<class DataType, class Enable = void> struct deserialize;
+
+// Specialize for 1-byte types for faster performance with direct pointer access (no memcpy).
+template<class DataType>
+struct deserialize<DataType, typename std::enable_if<sizeof(DataType) == 1>::type> final {
+    static_assert(std::is_pod<DataType>::value, "Can only serialize PODs");
+    static DataType call(const void *src) {
+        return *static_cast<const DataType *>(src);
+    }
+};
+
+// Specialize for larger types with memcpy because unaligned data accesses through pointers are undefined behavior.
+template<class DataType>
+struct deserialize<DataType, typename std::enable_if<greater_than(sizeof(DataType), 1)>::type> final {
+    static_assert(std::is_pod<DataType>::value, "Can only deserialize PODs");
+    static DataType call(const void *src) {
+        typename std::remove_const<DataType>::type result{};
+        std::memcpy(&result, src, sizeof(DataType));
+        return result;
+    }
+};
+
+}
+
+template<class DataType>
+inline void serialize(void *dst, const DataType& obj) {
+    return details::serialize<DataType>::call(dst, obj);
+}
+
+template<class DataType>
+inline DataType deserialize(const void *src) {
+    return details::deserialize<DataType>::call(src);
+}
+
+template<class DataType>
+inline DataType deserializeWithOffset(const void* src, size_t offset) {
+    return deserialize<DataType>(static_cast<const uint8_t*>(src) + offset);
+}
+
+}
+
+#endif
diff --git a/src/cpp-utils/data/Serializer.h b/src/cpp-utils/data/Serializer.h
index dbfef896..3cafbdc3 100644
--- a/src/cpp-utils/data/Serializer.h
+++ b/src/cpp-utils/data/Serializer.h
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@
 #include "../macros.h"
 #include "../assert/assert.h"
 #include <string>
+#include "SerializationHelper.h"
 
 namespace cpputils {
     //TODO Test Serializer/Deserializer
@@ -83,11 +84,10 @@ namespace cpputils {
 
     template<typename DataType>
     inline void Serializer::_write(DataType obj) {
-        static_assert(std::is_pod<DataType>::value, "Can only serialize PODs");
         if (_pos + sizeof(DataType) > _result.size()) {
             throw std::runtime_error("Serialization failed - size overflow");
         }
-        *reinterpret_cast<DataType*>(_result.dataOffset(_pos)) = obj;
+        serialize<DataType>(_result.dataOffset(_pos), obj);
         _pos += sizeof(DataType);
     }
 
diff --git a/src/cpp-utils/network/CurlHttpClient.cpp b/src/cpp-utils/network/CurlHttpClient.cpp
index dcfd85f8..01e8c52d 100644
--- a/src/cpp-utils/network/CurlHttpClient.cpp
+++ b/src/cpp-utils/network/CurlHttpClient.cpp
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@ using std::ostringstream;
 namespace cpputils {
 
     size_t CurlHttpClient::write_data(void *ptr, size_t size, size_t nmemb, ostringstream *stream) {
-        stream->write((const char *) ptr, size * nmemb);
+        stream->write(static_cast<const char *>(ptr), size * nmemb);
         return size * nmemb;
     }
 
diff --git a/src/cpp-utils/random/OSRandomGenerator.h b/src/cpp-utils/random/OSRandomGenerator.h
index b3268fce..8c8dc6f5 100644
--- a/src/cpp-utils/random/OSRandomGenerator.h
+++ b/src/cpp-utils/random/OSRandomGenerator.h
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@ namespace cpputils {
     inline OSRandomGenerator::OSRandomGenerator() {}
 
     inline void OSRandomGenerator::_get(void *target, size_t bytes) {
-        CryptoPP::OS_GenerateRandomBlock(true, (CryptoPP::byte*)target, bytes);
+        CryptoPP::OS_GenerateRandomBlock(true, static_cast<CryptoPP::byte*>(target), bytes);
     }
 }
 
diff --git a/src/cryfs/filesystem/fsblobstore/DirBlob.cpp b/src/cryfs/filesystem/fsblobstore/DirBlob.cpp
index 45876e6b..4747ba25 100644
--- a/src/cryfs/filesystem/fsblobstore/DirBlob.cpp
+++ b/src/cryfs/filesystem/fsblobstore/DirBlob.cpp
@@ -152,7 +152,7 @@ void DirBlob::statChildWithSizeAlreadySet(const BlockId &blockId, struct ::stat
   result->st_mtim = child.lastModificationTime();
   result->st_ctim = child.lastMetadataChangeTime();
   //TODO Move ceilDivision to general utils which can be used by cryfs as well
-  result->st_blocks = blobstore::onblocks::utils::ceilDivision(result->st_size, (off_t)512);
+  result->st_blocks = blobstore::onblocks::utils::ceilDivision(result->st_size, static_cast<off_t>(512));
   result->st_blksize = _fsBlobStore->virtualBlocksizeBytes();
 }
 
diff --git a/src/cryfs/filesystem/fsblobstore/utils/DirEntry.cpp b/src/cryfs/filesystem/fsblobstore/utils/DirEntry.cpp
index 8a38dc59..84a2925f 100644
--- a/src/cryfs/filesystem/fsblobstore/utils/DirEntry.cpp
+++ b/src/cryfs/filesystem/fsblobstore/utils/DirEntry.cpp
@@ -1,4 +1,6 @@
+#include <cpp-utils/data/SerializationHelper.h>
 #include "DirEntry.h"
+#include <cstdint>
 
 using std::vector;
 using std::string;
@@ -6,6 +8,64 @@ using blockstore::BlockId;
 
 namespace cryfs {
     namespace fsblobstore {
+
+        namespace {
+            template<typename DataType>
+            size_t _serialize(void* dst, const DataType& obj) {
+                cpputils::serialize<DataType>(dst, obj);
+                return sizeof(DataType);
+            }
+
+            template<typename DataType>
+            DataType _deserialize(const char** src) {
+                DataType result = cpputils::deserialize<DataType>(*src);
+                *src += sizeof(DataType);
+                return result;
+            }
+
+            constexpr size_t _serializedTimeValueSize() {
+                return sizeof(uint64_t) + sizeof(uint32_t);
+            }
+
+            unsigned int _serializeTimeValue(uint8_t *dest, timespec value) {
+                unsigned int offset = 0;
+                offset += _serialize<uint64_t>(dest + offset, value.tv_sec);
+                offset += _serialize<uint32_t>(dest + offset, value.tv_nsec);
+                ASSERT(offset == _serializedTimeValueSize(), "serialized to wrong size");
+                return offset;
+            }
+
+            timespec _deserializeTimeValue(const char **pos) {
+                timespec value{};
+                value.tv_sec = _deserialize<uint64_t>(pos);
+                value.tv_nsec = _deserialize<uint32_t>(pos);
+                return value;
+            }
+
+            unsigned int _serializeString(uint8_t *dest, const string &value) {
+                std::memcpy(dest, value.c_str(), value.size()+1);
+                return value.size() + 1;
+            }
+
+            string _deserializeString(const char **pos) {
+                size_t length = strlen(*pos);
+                string value(*pos, length);
+                *pos += length + 1;
+                return value;
+            }
+
+            unsigned int _serializeBlockId(uint8_t *dest, const BlockId &blockId) {
+                blockId.ToBinary(dest);
+                return blockId.BINARY_LENGTH;
+            }
+
+            BlockId _deserializeBlockId(const char **pos) {
+                BlockId blockId = BlockId::FromBinary(*pos);
+                *pos += BlockId::BINARY_LENGTH;
+                return blockId;
+            }
+        }
+
         void DirEntry::serialize(uint8_t *dest) const {
             ASSERT(
                     ((_type == fspp::Dir::EntryType::FILE) && S_ISREG(_mode) && !S_ISDIR(_mode) && !S_ISLNK(_mode)) ||
@@ -15,10 +75,10 @@ namespace cryfs {
                     _mode & S_IFDIR) + ", " + std::to_string(_mode & S_IFLNK) + ", " + std::to_string(static_cast<uint8_t>(_type))
             );
             unsigned int offset = 0;
-            offset += _serializeUint8(dest + offset, static_cast<uint8_t>(_type));
-            offset += _serializeUint32(dest + offset, _mode);
-            offset += _serializeUint32(dest + offset, _uid);
-            offset += _serializeUint32(dest + offset, _gid);
+            offset += _serialize<uint8_t>(dest + offset, static_cast<uint8_t>(_type));
+            offset += _serialize<uint32_t>(dest + offset, _mode);
+            offset += _serialize<uint32_t>(dest + offset, _uid);
+            offset += _serialize<uint32_t>(dest + offset, _gid);
             offset += _serializeTimeValue(dest + offset, _lastAccessTime);
             offset += _serializeTimeValue(dest + offset, _lastModificationTime);
             offset += _serializeTimeValue(dest + offset, _lastMetadataChangeTime);
@@ -28,10 +88,10 @@ namespace cryfs {
         }
 
         const char *DirEntry::deserializeAndAddToVector(const char *pos, vector<DirEntry> *result) {
-            fspp::Dir::EntryType type = static_cast<fspp::Dir::EntryType>(_deserializeUint8(&pos));
-            mode_t mode = _deserializeUint32(&pos);
-            uid_t uid = _deserializeUint32(&pos);
-            gid_t gid = _deserializeUint32(&pos);
+            fspp::Dir::EntryType type = static_cast<fspp::Dir::EntryType>(_deserialize<uint8_t>(&pos));
+            mode_t mode = _deserialize<uint32_t>(&pos);
+            uid_t uid = _deserialize<uint32_t>(&pos);
+            gid_t gid = _deserialize<uint32_t>(&pos);
             timespec lastAccessTime = _deserializeTimeValue(&pos);
             timespec lastModificationTime = _deserializeTimeValue(&pos);
             timespec lastMetadataChangeTime = _deserializeTimeValue(&pos);
@@ -42,74 +102,6 @@ namespace cryfs {
             return pos;
         }
 
-        unsigned int DirEntry::_serializeTimeValue(uint8_t *dest, timespec value) {
-            unsigned int offset = 0;
-            *reinterpret_cast<uint64_t*>(dest+offset) = value.tv_sec;
-            offset += sizeof(uint64_t);
-            *reinterpret_cast<uint32_t*>(dest+offset) = value.tv_nsec;
-            offset += sizeof(uint32_t);
-            ASSERT(offset == _serializedTimeValueSize(), "serialized to wrong size");
-            return offset;
-        }
-
-        size_t DirEntry::_serializedTimeValueSize() {
-            return sizeof(uint64_t) + sizeof(uint32_t);
-        }
-
-        timespec DirEntry::_deserializeTimeValue(const char **pos) {
-            timespec value{};
-            value.tv_sec = *(uint64_t*)(*pos);
-            *pos += sizeof(uint64_t);
-            value.tv_nsec = *(uint32_t*)(*pos);
-            *pos += sizeof(uint32_t);
-            return value;
-        }
-
-        unsigned int DirEntry::_serializeUint8(uint8_t *dest, uint8_t value) {
-            *reinterpret_cast<uint8_t*>(dest) = value;
-            return sizeof(uint8_t);
-        }
-
-        uint8_t DirEntry::_deserializeUint8(const char **pos) {
-            uint8_t value = *(uint8_t*)(*pos);
-            *pos += sizeof(uint8_t);
-            return value;
-        }
-
-        unsigned int DirEntry::_serializeUint32(uint8_t *dest, uint32_t value) {
-            *reinterpret_cast<uint32_t*>(dest) = value;
-            return sizeof(uint32_t);
-        }
-
-        uint32_t DirEntry::_deserializeUint32(const char **pos) {
-            uint32_t value = *(uint32_t*)(*pos);
-            *pos += sizeof(uint32_t);
-            return value;
-        }
-
-        unsigned int DirEntry::_serializeString(uint8_t *dest, const string &value) {
-            std::memcpy(dest, value.c_str(), value.size()+1);
-            return value.size() + 1;
-        }
-
-        string DirEntry::_deserializeString(const char **pos) {
-            size_t length = strlen(*pos);
-            string value(*pos, length);
-            *pos += length + 1;
-            return value;
-        }
-
-        unsigned int DirEntry::_serializeBlockId(uint8_t *dest, const BlockId &blockId) {
-            blockId.ToBinary(dest);
-            return blockId.BINARY_LENGTH;
-        }
-
-        BlockId DirEntry::_deserializeBlockId(const char **pos) {
-            BlockId blockId = BlockId::FromBinary(*pos);
-            *pos += BlockId::BINARY_LENGTH;
-            return blockId;
-        }
-
         size_t DirEntry::serializedSize() const {
             return 1 + sizeof(uint32_t) + sizeof(uint32_t) + sizeof(uint32_t) + 3*_serializedTimeValueSize() + (
                     _name.size() + 1) + _blockId.BINARY_LENGTH;
diff --git a/src/cryfs/filesystem/fsblobstore/utils/DirEntry.h b/src/cryfs/filesystem/fsblobstore/utils/DirEntry.h
index 41acb6a3..6a60277e 100644
--- a/src/cryfs/filesystem/fsblobstore/utils/DirEntry.h
+++ b/src/cryfs/filesystem/fsblobstore/utils/DirEntry.h
@@ -46,17 +46,6 @@ namespace cryfs {
             timespec lastMetadataChangeTime() const;
 
         private:
-            static size_t _serializedTimeValueSize();
-            static unsigned int _serializeTimeValue(uint8_t *dest, timespec value);
-            static unsigned int _serializeUint8(uint8_t *dest, uint8_t value);
-            static unsigned int _serializeUint32(uint8_t *dest, uint32_t value);
-            static unsigned int _serializeString(uint8_t *dest, const std::string &value);
-            static unsigned int _serializeBlockId(uint8_t *dest, const blockstore::BlockId &value);
-            static timespec _deserializeTimeValue(const char **pos);
-            static uint8_t _deserializeUint8(const char **pos);
-            static uint32_t _deserializeUint32(const char **pos);
-            static std::string _deserializeString(const char **pos);
-            static blockstore::BlockId _deserializeBlockId(const char **pos);
 
             void _updateLastMetadataChangeTime();
 
diff --git a/src/cryfs/filesystem/fsblobstore/utils/DirEntryList.cpp b/src/cryfs/filesystem/fsblobstore/utils/DirEntryList.cpp
index 583d6fc8..ac4bfad5 100644
--- a/src/cryfs/filesystem/fsblobstore/utils/DirEntryList.cpp
+++ b/src/cryfs/filesystem/fsblobstore/utils/DirEntryList.cpp
@@ -211,11 +211,11 @@ void DirEntryList::setMode(const BlockId &blockId, mode_t mode) {
 bool DirEntryList::setUidGid(const BlockId &blockId, uid_t uid, gid_t gid) {
     auto found = _findById(blockId);
     bool changed = false;
-    if (uid != (uid_t)-1) {
+    if (uid != static_cast<uid_t>(-1)) {
         found->setUid(uid);
         changed = true;
     }
-    if (gid != (gid_t)-1) {
+    if (gid != static_cast<gid_t>(-1)) {
         found->setGid(gid);
         changed = true;
     }
diff --git a/src/cryfs/localstate/LocalStateMetadata.cpp b/src/cryfs/localstate/LocalStateMetadata.cpp
index 8c33d998..ca221eac 100644
--- a/src/cryfs/localstate/LocalStateMetadata.cpp
+++ b/src/cryfs/localstate/LocalStateMetadata.cpp
@@ -58,7 +58,7 @@ namespace {
 uint32_t _generateClientId() {
   uint32_t result;
   do {
-    result = *reinterpret_cast<uint32_t*>(Random::PseudoRandom().getFixedSize<sizeof(uint32_t)>().data());
+    result = cpputils::deserialize<uint32_t>(Random::PseudoRandom().getFixedSize<sizeof(uint32_t)>().data());
   } while(result == KnownBlockVersions::CLIENT_ID_FOR_DELETED_BLOCK); // Safety check - CLIENT_ID_FOR_DELETED_BLOCK shouldn't be used by any valid client.
   return result;
 }
diff --git a/src/fspp/fstest/FsppFileTest.h b/src/fspp/fstest/FsppFileTest.h
index 10b0daa8..f88697d9 100644
--- a/src/fspp/fstest/FsppFileTest.h
+++ b/src/fspp/fstest/FsppFileTest.h
@@ -74,7 +74,7 @@ public:
   void Test_Chmod(fspp::File *file, fspp::Node *node) {
     node->chmod(S_IFREG | S_IRUSR | S_IWOTH);
     this->IN_STAT(file, node, [] (struct stat st){
-        EXPECT_EQ((mode_t)(S_IFREG | S_IRUSR | S_IWOTH), st.st_mode);
+        EXPECT_EQ(static_cast<mode_t>(S_IFREG | S_IRUSR | S_IWOTH), st.st_mode);
     });
   }
 
diff --git a/src/fspp/fstest/FsppOpenFileTest.h b/src/fspp/fstest/FsppOpenFileTest.h
index 3e113677..3c2f7bbb 100644
--- a/src/fspp/fstest/FsppOpenFileTest.h
+++ b/src/fspp/fstest/FsppOpenFileTest.h
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@ public:
 
     void EXPECT_SIZE(uint64_t expectedSize, fspp::OpenFile *openFile) {
         IN_STAT(openFile, [expectedSize] (struct stat st) {
-            EXPECT_EQ(expectedSize, (uint64_t)st.st_size);
+            EXPECT_EQ(expectedSize, static_cast<uint64_t>(st.st_size));
         });
 
         EXPECT_NUMBYTES_READABLE(expectedSize, openFile);
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@ public:
         //Try to read one byte more than the expected size
         ssize_t readBytes = openFile->read(data.data(), expectedSize+1, 0);
         //and check that it only read the expected size (but also not less)
-        EXPECT_EQ(expectedSize, (uint64_t)readBytes);
+        EXPECT_EQ(expectedSize, static_cast<uint64_t>(readBytes));
     }
 };
 
diff --git a/src/fspp/fstest/testutils/FileTest.h b/src/fspp/fstest/testutils/FileTest.h
index 773e53cb..95ae2d14 100644
--- a/src/fspp/fstest/testutils/FileTest.h
+++ b/src/fspp/fstest/testutils/FileTest.h
@@ -38,7 +38,7 @@ public:
 
   void EXPECT_SIZE(uint64_t expectedSize, fspp::File *file, fspp::Node *node) {
 	IN_STAT(file, node, [expectedSize] (struct stat st) {
-		EXPECT_EQ(expectedSize, (uint64_t)st.st_size);
+		EXPECT_EQ(expectedSize, static_cast<uint64_t>(st.st_size));
 	});
 
 	EXPECT_NUMBYTES_READABLE(expectedSize, file);
@@ -50,7 +50,7 @@ public:
 	//Try to read one byte more than the expected size
 	ssize_t readBytes = openFile->read(data.data(), expectedSize+1, 0);
 	//and check that it only read the expected size (but also not less)
-	EXPECT_EQ(expectedSize, (uint64_t)readBytes);
+	EXPECT_EQ(expectedSize, static_cast<uint64_t>(readBytes));
   }
 
   void EXPECT_ATIME_EQ(struct timespec expected, struct stat st) {
diff --git a/src/fspp/fstest/testutils/FsppNodeTest.h b/src/fspp/fstest/testutils/FsppNodeTest.h
index d656c66a..c227a592 100644
--- a/src/fspp/fstest/testutils/FsppNodeTest.h
+++ b/src/fspp/fstest/testutils/FsppNodeTest.h
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ public:
 
   void EXPECT_SIZE(uint64_t expectedSize, fspp::Node *node) {
     IN_STAT(node, [expectedSize] (struct stat st) {
-      EXPECT_EQ(expectedSize, (uint64_t)st.st_size);
+      EXPECT_EQ(expectedSize, static_cast<uint64_t>(st.st_size));
     });
   }
 };
diff --git a/src/fspp/fuse/Fuse.cpp b/src/fspp/fuse/Fuse.cpp
index e35ae3c6..0df6933c 100644
--- a/src/fspp/fuse/Fuse.cpp
+++ b/src/fspp/fuse/Fuse.cpp
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@ namespace bf = boost::filesystem;
 using namespace cpputils::logging;
 using namespace fspp::fuse;
 
-#define FUSE_OBJ ((Fuse *) fuse_get_context()->private_data)
+#define FUSE_OBJ (static_cast<Fuse *>(fuse_get_context()->private_data))
 
 // Remove the following line, if you don't want to output each fuse operation on the console
 //#define FSPP_LOG 1
@@ -236,7 +236,7 @@ void Fuse::run(const bf::path &mountdir, const vector<string> &fuseOptions) {
 
   _argv = _build_argv(mountdir, fuseOptions);
 
-  fuse_main(_argv.size(), _argv.data(), operations(), (void*)this);
+  fuse_main(_argv.size(), _argv.data(), operations(), this);
 }
 
 vector<char *> Fuse::_build_argv(const bf::path &mountdir, const vector<string> &fuseOptions) {
diff --git a/src/stats/main.cpp b/src/stats/main.cpp
index 5cee0ccc..76d01484 100644
--- a/src/stats/main.cpp
+++ b/src/stats/main.cpp
@@ -68,7 +68,7 @@ set<BlockId> _getBlockstoreUnaccountedBlocks(const CryConfig &config) {
             auto innerNode = dynamic_pointer_move<DataInnerNode>(*node);
             if (innerNode != none) {
                 for (uint32_t childIndex = 0; childIndex < (*innerNode)->numChildren(); ++childIndex) {
-                    auto child = (*innerNode)->getChild(childIndex)->blockId();
+                    auto child = (*innerNode)->readChild(childIndex).blockId();
                     unaccountedBlocks.erase(child);
                 }
             }
diff --git a/test/blobstore/implementations/onblocks/BlobReadWriteTest.cpp b/test/blobstore/implementations/onblocks/BlobReadWriteTest.cpp
index 9a6d995b..4b74b1a0 100644
--- a/test/blobstore/implementations/onblocks/BlobReadWriteTest.cpp
+++ b/test/blobstore/implementations/onblocks/BlobReadWriteTest.cpp
@@ -84,7 +84,7 @@ public:
     Data end(GetParam().blobsize - count - start);
 
     std::memcpy(begin.data(), expected.data(), start);
-    std::memcpy(end.data(), (uint8_t*)expected.data()+start+count, end.size());
+    std::memcpy(end.data(), expected.dataOffset(start+count), end.size());
 
     EXPECT_DATA_READS_AS(begin, blob, 0, start);
     EXPECT_DATA_READS_AS(end, blob, start + count, end.size());
@@ -152,7 +152,7 @@ TEST_P(BlobReadWriteDataTest, WriteWholeAndReadPart) {
   blob->write(this->backgroundData.data(), 0, GetParam().blobsize);
   Data read(GetParam().count);
   blob->read(read.data(), GetParam().offset, GetParam().count);
-  EXPECT_EQ(0, std::memcmp(read.data(), (uint8_t*)this->backgroundData.data()+GetParam().offset, GetParam().count));
+  EXPECT_EQ(0, std::memcmp(read.data(), this->backgroundData.dataOffset(GetParam().offset), GetParam().count));
 }
 
 TEST_P(BlobReadWriteDataTest, WritePartAndReadWhole) {
@@ -161,6 +161,6 @@ TEST_P(BlobReadWriteDataTest, WritePartAndReadWhole) {
   blob->write(this->foregroundData.data(), GetParam().offset, GetParam().count);
   Data read = readBlob(*blob);
   EXPECT_EQ(0, std::memcmp(read.data(), this->backgroundData.data(), GetParam().offset));
-  EXPECT_EQ(0, std::memcmp((uint8_t*)read.data()+GetParam().offset, this->foregroundData.data(), GetParam().count));
-  EXPECT_EQ(0, std::memcmp((uint8_t*)read.data()+GetParam().offset+GetParam().count, (uint8_t*)this->backgroundData.data()+GetParam().offset+GetParam().count, GetParam().blobsize-GetParam().count-GetParam().offset));
+  EXPECT_EQ(0, std::memcmp(read.dataOffset(GetParam().offset), this->foregroundData.data(), GetParam().count));
+  EXPECT_EQ(0, std::memcmp(read.dataOffset(GetParam().offset+GetParam().count), this->backgroundData.dataOffset(GetParam().offset+GetParam().count), GetParam().blobsize-GetParam().count-GetParam().offset));
 }
diff --git a/test/blobstore/implementations/onblocks/BlobSizeTest.cpp b/test/blobstore/implementations/onblocks/BlobSizeTest.cpp
index 5b7320f1..dcd9a998 100644
--- a/test/blobstore/implementations/onblocks/BlobSizeTest.cpp
+++ b/test/blobstore/implementations/onblocks/BlobSizeTest.cpp
@@ -152,7 +152,7 @@ TEST_F(BlobSizeDataTest, DataStaysIntactWhenGrowing) {
   blob->write(randomData.data(), 0, MEDIUM_SIZE);
   blob->resize(LARGE_SIZE);
   EXPECT_EQ(0, std::memcmp(readBlob(*blob).data(), randomData.data(), MEDIUM_SIZE));
-  EXPECT_EQ(0, std::memcmp((uint8_t*)readBlob(*blob).data() + MEDIUM_SIZE, ZEROES.data(), LARGE_SIZE-MEDIUM_SIZE));
+  EXPECT_EQ(0, std::memcmp(readBlob(*blob).dataOffset(MEDIUM_SIZE), ZEROES.data(), LARGE_SIZE-MEDIUM_SIZE));
 }
 
 TEST_F(BlobSizeDataTest, DataStaysIntactWhenShrinking) {
@@ -168,5 +168,5 @@ TEST_F(BlobSizeDataTest, ChangedAreaIsZeroedOutWhenShrinkingAndRegrowing) {
   blob->resize(MEDIUM_SIZE);
   blob->resize(LARGE_SIZE);
   EXPECT_EQ(0, std::memcmp(readBlob(*blob).data(), randomData.data(), MEDIUM_SIZE));
-  EXPECT_EQ(0, std::memcmp((uint8_t*)readBlob(*blob).data() + MEDIUM_SIZE, ZEROES.data(), LARGE_SIZE-MEDIUM_SIZE));
+  EXPECT_EQ(0, std::memcmp(readBlob(*blob).dataOffset(MEDIUM_SIZE), ZEROES.data(), LARGE_SIZE-MEDIUM_SIZE));
 }
diff --git a/test/blobstore/implementations/onblocks/BlobStoreTest.cpp b/test/blobstore/implementations/onblocks/BlobStoreTest.cpp
index e7c87a8a..aab75fc1 100644
--- a/test/blobstore/implementations/onblocks/BlobStoreTest.cpp
+++ b/test/blobstore/implementations/onblocks/BlobStoreTest.cpp
@@ -25,13 +25,13 @@ TEST_F(BlobStoreTest, BlobIsNotLoadableAfterDeletion_DeleteDirectly) {
   auto blob = blobStore->create();
   BlockId blockId = blob->blockId();
   blobStore->remove(std::move(blob));
-  EXPECT_FALSE((bool)blobStore->load(blockId));
+  EXPECT_FALSE(static_cast<bool>(blobStore->load(blockId)));
 }
 
 TEST_F(BlobStoreTest, BlobIsNotLoadableAfterDeletion_DeleteByKey) {
   auto blockId = blobStore->create()->blockId();
   blobStore->remove(blockId);
-  EXPECT_FALSE((bool)blobStore->load(blockId));
+  EXPECT_FALSE(static_cast<bool>(blobStore->load(blockId)));
 }
 
 TEST_F(BlobStoreTest, BlobIsNotLoadableAfterDeletion_DeleteAfterLoading) {
@@ -39,5 +39,5 @@ TEST_F(BlobStoreTest, BlobIsNotLoadableAfterDeletion_DeleteAfterLoading) {
   BlockId blockId = blob->blockId();
   reset(std::move(blob));
   blobStore->remove(loadBlob(blockId));
-  EXPECT_FALSE((bool)blobStore->load(blockId));
+  EXPECT_FALSE(static_cast<bool>(blobStore->load(blockId)));
 }
diff --git a/test/blobstore/implementations/onblocks/datanodestore/DataInnerNodeTest.cpp b/test/blobstore/implementations/onblocks/datanodestore/DataInnerNodeTest.cpp
index 35d8343c..6cb7b86c 100644
--- a/test/blobstore/implementations/onblocks/datanodestore/DataInnerNodeTest.cpp
+++ b/test/blobstore/implementations/onblocks/datanodestore/DataInnerNodeTest.cpp
@@ -124,7 +124,7 @@ TEST_F(DataInnerNodeTest, InitializesCorrectly) {
   auto node = DataInnerNode::CreateNewNode(blockStore, nodeStore->layout(), 1, {leaf->blockId()});
 
   EXPECT_EQ(1u, node->numChildren());
-  EXPECT_EQ(leaf->blockId(), node->getChild(0)->blockId());
+  EXPECT_EQ(leaf->blockId(), node->readChild(0).blockId());
 }
 
 TEST_F(DataInnerNodeTest, ReinitializesCorrectly) {
@@ -132,22 +132,22 @@ TEST_F(DataInnerNodeTest, ReinitializesCorrectly) {
   auto node = DataInnerNode::InitializeNewNode(blockStore->load(blockId).value(), nodeStore->layout(), 1, {leaf->blockId()});
 
   EXPECT_EQ(1u, node->numChildren());
-  EXPECT_EQ(leaf->blockId(), node->getChild(0)->blockId());
+  EXPECT_EQ(leaf->blockId(), node->readChild(0).blockId());
 }
 
 TEST_F(DataInnerNodeTest, IsCorrectlyInitializedAfterLoading) {
   auto loaded = CreateAndLoadNewInnerNode(*leaf);
 
   EXPECT_EQ(1u, loaded->numChildren());
-  EXPECT_EQ(leaf->blockId(), loaded->getChild(0)->blockId());
+  EXPECT_EQ(leaf->blockId(), loaded->readChild(0).blockId());
 }
 
 TEST_F(DataInnerNodeTest, AddingASecondLeaf) {
   BlockId leaf2_blockId = AddALeafTo(node.get());
 
   EXPECT_EQ(2u, node->numChildren());
-  EXPECT_EQ(leaf->blockId(), node->getChild(0)->blockId());
-  EXPECT_EQ(leaf2_blockId, node->getChild(1)->blockId());
+  EXPECT_EQ(leaf->blockId(), node->readChild(0).blockId());
+  EXPECT_EQ(leaf2_blockId, node->readChild(1).blockId());
 }
 
 TEST_F(DataInnerNodeTest, AddingASecondLeafAndReload) {
@@ -155,8 +155,8 @@ TEST_F(DataInnerNodeTest, AddingASecondLeafAndReload) {
   auto loaded = CreateAndLoadNewInnerNode(1, {leaf->blockId(), leaf2->blockId()});
 
   EXPECT_EQ(2u, loaded->numChildren());
-  EXPECT_EQ(leaf->blockId(), loaded->getChild(0)->blockId());
-  EXPECT_EQ(leaf2->blockId(), loaded->getChild(1)->blockId());
+  EXPECT_EQ(leaf->blockId(), loaded->readChild(0).blockId());
+  EXPECT_EQ(leaf2->blockId(), loaded->readChild(1).blockId());
 }
 
 TEST_F(DataInnerNodeTest, BuildingAThreeLevelTree) {
@@ -164,8 +164,8 @@ TEST_F(DataInnerNodeTest, BuildingAThreeLevelTree) {
   auto parent = CreateNewInnerNode(node->depth()+1, {node->blockId(), node2->blockId()});
 
   EXPECT_EQ(2u, parent->numChildren());
-  EXPECT_EQ(node->blockId(), parent->getChild(0)->blockId());
-  EXPECT_EQ(node2->blockId(), parent->getChild(1)->blockId());
+  EXPECT_EQ(node->blockId(), parent->readChild(0).blockId());
+  EXPECT_EQ(node2->blockId(), parent->readChild(1).blockId());
 }
 
 TEST_F(DataInnerNodeTest, BuildingAThreeLevelTreeAndReload) {
@@ -173,8 +173,8 @@ TEST_F(DataInnerNodeTest, BuildingAThreeLevelTreeAndReload) {
   auto parent = CreateAndLoadNewInnerNode(node->depth()+1, {node->blockId(), node2->blockId()});
 
   EXPECT_EQ(2u, parent->numChildren());
-  EXPECT_EQ(node->blockId(), parent->getChild(0)->blockId());
-  EXPECT_EQ(node2->blockId(), parent->getChild(1)->blockId());
+  EXPECT_EQ(node->blockId(), parent->readChild(0).blockId());
+  EXPECT_EQ(node2->blockId(), parent->readChild(1).blockId());
 }
 
 TEST_F(DataInnerNodeTest, ConvertToInternalNode) {
@@ -183,7 +183,7 @@ TEST_F(DataInnerNodeTest, ConvertToInternalNode) {
   unique_ref<DataInnerNode> converted = DataNode::convertToNewInnerNode(std::move(node), nodeStore->layout(), *child);
 
   EXPECT_EQ(1u, converted->numChildren());
-  EXPECT_EQ(child->blockId(), converted->getChild(0)->blockId());
+  EXPECT_EQ(child->blockId(), converted->readChild(0).blockId());
   EXPECT_EQ(node_blockId, converted->blockId());
 }
 
@@ -191,7 +191,7 @@ TEST_F(DataInnerNodeTest, ConvertToInternalNodeZeroesOutChildrenRegion) {
   BlockId blockId = CreateNodeWithDataConvertItToInnerNodeAndReturnKey();
 
   auto block = blockStore->load(blockId).value();
-  EXPECT_EQ(0, std::memcmp(ZEROES.data(), (uint8_t*)block->data()+DataNodeLayout::HEADERSIZE_BYTES+sizeof(DataInnerNode::ChildEntry), nodeStore->layout().maxBytesPerLeaf()-sizeof(DataInnerNode::ChildEntry)));
+  EXPECT_EQ(0, std::memcmp(ZEROES.data(), static_cast<const uint8_t*>(block->data())+DataNodeLayout::HEADERSIZE_BYTES+sizeof(DataInnerNode::ChildEntry), nodeStore->layout().maxBytesPerLeaf()-sizeof(DataInnerNode::ChildEntry)));
 }
 
 TEST_F(DataInnerNodeTest, CopyingCreatesNewNode) {
@@ -203,7 +203,7 @@ TEST_F(DataInnerNodeTest, CopyInnerNodeWithOneChild) {
   auto copied = CopyInnerNode(*node);
 
   EXPECT_EQ(node->numChildren(), copied->numChildren());
-  EXPECT_EQ(node->getChild(0)->blockId(), copied->getChild(0)->blockId());
+  EXPECT_EQ(node->readChild(0).blockId(), copied->readChild(0).blockId());
 }
 
 TEST_F(DataInnerNodeTest, CopyInnerNodeWithTwoChildren) {
@@ -211,21 +211,21 @@ TEST_F(DataInnerNodeTest, CopyInnerNodeWithTwoChildren) {
   auto copied = CopyInnerNode(*node);
 
   EXPECT_EQ(node->numChildren(), copied->numChildren());
-  EXPECT_EQ(node->getChild(0)->blockId(), copied->getChild(0)->blockId());
-  EXPECT_EQ(node->getChild(1)->blockId(), copied->getChild(1)->blockId());
+  EXPECT_EQ(node->readChild(0).blockId(), copied->readChild(0).blockId());
+  EXPECT_EQ(node->readChild(1).blockId(), copied->readChild(1).blockId());
 }
 
 TEST_F(DataInnerNodeTest, LastChildWhenOneChild) {
-  EXPECT_EQ(leaf->blockId(), node->LastChild()->blockId());
+  EXPECT_EQ(leaf->blockId(), node->readLastChild().blockId());
 }
 
 TEST_F(DataInnerNodeTest, LastChildWhenTwoChildren) {
   BlockId blockId = AddALeafTo(node.get());
-  EXPECT_EQ(blockId, node->LastChild()->blockId());
+  EXPECT_EQ(blockId, node->readLastChild().blockId());
 }
 
 TEST_F(DataInnerNodeTest, LastChildWhenThreeChildren) {
   AddALeafTo(node.get());
   BlockId blockId = AddALeafTo(node.get());
-  EXPECT_EQ(blockId, node->LastChild()->blockId());
+  EXPECT_EQ(blockId, node->readLastChild().blockId());
 }
diff --git a/test/blobstore/implementations/onblocks/datanodestore/DataLeafNodeTest.cpp b/test/blobstore/implementations/onblocks/datanodestore/DataLeafNodeTest.cpp
index cff5b9c9..1647bb0b 100644
--- a/test/blobstore/implementations/onblocks/datanodestore/DataLeafNodeTest.cpp
+++ b/test/blobstore/implementations/onblocks/datanodestore/DataLeafNodeTest.cpp
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@ using cpputils::unique_ref;
 using cpputils::make_unique_ref;
 using std::string;
 using cpputils::DataFixture;
+using cpputils::deserialize;
 
 //TODO Split into multiple files
 
@@ -186,7 +187,7 @@ TEST_F(DataLeafNodeTest, SpaceGetsZeroFilledWhenShrinkingAndRegrowing) {
   leaf->resize(randomData.size());
 
   //Check that the space was filled with zeroes
-  EXPECT_EQ(0, std::memcmp(ZEROES.data(), ((uint8_t*)loadData(*leaf).data())+smaller_size, 100));
+  EXPECT_EQ(0, std::memcmp(ZEROES.data(), static_cast<const uint8_t*>(loadData(*leaf).data())+smaller_size, 100));
 }
 
 TEST_F(DataLeafNodeTest, DataGetsZeroFilledWhenShrinking) {
@@ -195,14 +196,14 @@ TEST_F(DataLeafNodeTest, DataGetsZeroFilledWhenShrinking) {
   {
     //At first, we expect there to be random data in the underlying data block
     auto block = blockStore->load(blockId).value();
-    EXPECT_EQ(0, std::memcmp((char*)randomData.data()+smaller_size, (uint8_t*)block->data()+DataNodeLayout::HEADERSIZE_BYTES+smaller_size, 100));
+    EXPECT_EQ(0, std::memcmp(randomData.dataOffset(smaller_size), static_cast<const uint8_t*>(block->data())+DataNodeLayout::HEADERSIZE_BYTES+smaller_size, 100));
   }
 
   //After shrinking, we expect there to be zeroes in the underlying data block
   ResizeLeaf(blockId, smaller_size);
   {
     auto block = blockStore->load(blockId).value();
-    EXPECT_EQ(0, std::memcmp(ZEROES.data(), (uint8_t*)block->data()+DataNodeLayout::HEADERSIZE_BYTES+smaller_size, 100));
+    EXPECT_EQ(0, std::memcmp(ZEROES.data(), static_cast<const uint8_t*>(block->data())+DataNodeLayout::HEADERSIZE_BYTES+smaller_size, 100));
   }
 }
 
@@ -221,7 +222,7 @@ TEST_F(DataLeafNodeTest, ConvertToInternalNode) {
   unique_ref<DataInnerNode> converted = DataNode::convertToNewInnerNode(std::move(leaf), LAYOUT, *child);
 
   EXPECT_EQ(1u, converted->numChildren());
-  EXPECT_EQ(child->blockId(), converted->getChild(0)->blockId());
+  EXPECT_EQ(child->blockId(), converted->readChild(0).blockId());
   EXPECT_EQ(leaf_blockId, converted->blockId());
 }
 
@@ -229,7 +230,7 @@ TEST_F(DataLeafNodeTest, ConvertToInternalNodeZeroesOutChildrenRegion) {
   BlockId blockId = CreateLeafWithDataConvertItToInnerNodeAndReturnKey();
 
   auto block = blockStore->load(blockId).value();
-  EXPECT_EQ(0, std::memcmp(ZEROES.data(), (uint8_t*)block->data()+DataNodeLayout::HEADERSIZE_BYTES+sizeof(DataInnerNode::ChildEntry), nodeStore->layout().maxBytesPerLeaf()-sizeof(DataInnerNode::ChildEntry)));
+  EXPECT_EQ(0, std::memcmp(ZEROES.data(), static_cast<const uint8_t*>(block->data())+DataNodeLayout::HEADERSIZE_BYTES+sizeof(DataInnerNode::ChildEntry), nodeStore->layout().maxBytesPerLeaf()-sizeof(DataInnerNode::ChildEntry)));
 }
 
 TEST_F(DataLeafNodeTest, CopyingCreatesANewLeaf) {
@@ -250,10 +251,10 @@ TEST_F(DataLeafNodeTest, CopyDataLeaf) {
   EXPECT_EQ(0, std::memcmp(loadData(*leaf).data(), loadData(*copied).data(), leaf->numBytes()));
 
   //Test that they have different data regions (changing the original one doesn't change the copy)
-  char data = '\0';
+  uint8_t data = 0;
   leaf->write(&data, 0, 1);
-  EXPECT_EQ(data, *(char*)loadData(*leaf).data());
-  EXPECT_NE(data, *(char*)loadData(*copied).data());
+  EXPECT_EQ(data, deserialize<uint8_t>(loadData(*leaf).data()));
+  EXPECT_NE(data, deserialize<uint8_t>(loadData(*copied).data()));
 }
 
 
@@ -292,7 +293,7 @@ public:
     Data end(GetParam().leafsize - count - start);
 
     std::memcpy(begin.data(), expected.data(), start);
-    std::memcpy(end.data(), (uint8_t*)expected.data()+start+count, end.size());
+    std::memcpy(end.data(), expected.dataOffset(start+count), end.size());
 
     EXPECT_DATA_READS_AS(begin, leaf, 0, start);
     EXPECT_DATA_READS_AS(end, leaf, start + count, end.size());
diff --git a/test/blobstore/implementations/onblocks/datanodestore/DataNodeStoreTest.cpp b/test/blobstore/implementations/onblocks/datanodestore/DataNodeStoreTest.cpp
index 19dc4981..98b3149d 100644
--- a/test/blobstore/implementations/onblocks/datanodestore/DataNodeStoreTest.cpp
+++ b/test/blobstore/implementations/onblocks/datanodestore/DataNodeStoreTest.cpp
@@ -92,7 +92,7 @@ TEST_F(DataNodeStoreTest, CreatedInnerNodeIsInitialized) {
   auto leaf = nodeStore->createNewLeafNode(Data(0));
   auto node = nodeStore->createNewInnerNode(1, {leaf->blockId()});
   EXPECT_EQ(1u, node->numChildren());
-  EXPECT_EQ(leaf->blockId(), node->getChild(0)->blockId());
+  EXPECT_EQ(leaf->blockId(), node->readChild(0).blockId());
 }
 
 TEST_F(DataNodeStoreTest, CreatedLeafNodeIsInitialized) {
diff --git a/test/blobstore/implementations/onblocks/datanodestore/DataNodeViewTest.cpp b/test/blobstore/implementations/onblocks/datanodestore/DataNodeViewTest.cpp
index b24f07a2..447f2b57 100644
--- a/test/blobstore/implementations/onblocks/datanodestore/DataNodeViewTest.cpp
+++ b/test/blobstore/implementations/onblocks/datanodestore/DataNodeViewTest.cpp
@@ -87,64 +87,12 @@ TEST_F(DataNodeViewTest, HeaderAndBodyDontOverlap) {
   EXPECT_EQ(0, std::memcmp(view.data(), randomData.data(), DATASIZE_BYTES));
 }
 
-TEST_F(DataNodeViewTest, DataBeginWorksWithOneByteEntries) {
+TEST_F(DataNodeViewTest, Data) {
   auto block = blockStore->create(Data(BLOCKSIZE_BYTES));
-  uint8_t *blockBegin = (uint8_t*)block->data();
+  const uint8_t *blockBegin = static_cast<const uint8_t*>(block->data());
   DataNodeView view(std::move(block));
 
-  EXPECT_EQ(blockBegin+DataNodeLayout::HEADERSIZE_BYTES, view.DataBegin<uint8_t>());
-}
-
-TEST_F(DataNodeViewTest, DataBeginWorksWithEightByteEntries) {
-  auto block = blockStore->create(Data(BLOCKSIZE_BYTES));
-  uint8_t *blockBegin = (uint8_t*)block->data();
-  DataNodeView view(std::move(block));
-
-  EXPECT_EQ(blockBegin+DataNodeLayout::HEADERSIZE_BYTES, (uint8_t*)view.DataBegin<uint64_t>());
-}
-
-TEST_F(DataNodeViewTest, DataEndWorksWithOneByteEntries) {
-  auto block = blockStore->create(Data(BLOCKSIZE_BYTES));
-  uint8_t *blockBegin = (uint8_t*)block->data();
-  DataNodeView view(std::move(block));
-
-  EXPECT_EQ(blockBegin+BLOCKSIZE_BYTES, view.DataEnd<uint8_t>());
-}
-
-TEST_F(DataNodeViewTest, DataEndWorksWithEightByteEntries) {
-  auto block = blockStore->create(Data(BLOCKSIZE_BYTES));
-  uint8_t *blockBegin = (uint8_t*)block->data();
-  DataNodeView view(std::move(block));
-
-  EXPECT_EQ(blockBegin+BLOCKSIZE_BYTES, (uint8_t*)view.DataEnd<uint64_t>());
-}
-
-struct SizedDataEntry {
-  uint8_t data[6];
-};
-BOOST_STATIC_ASSERT_MSG(DataNodeViewTest::DATASIZE_BYTES % sizeof(SizedDataEntry) != 0,
-  "This test case only makes sense, if the data entries don't fill up the whole space. "
-  "There should be some space left at the end that is not used, because it isn't enough space for a full entry. "
-  "If this static assertion fails, please use a different size for SizedDataEntry.");
-
-TEST_F(DataNodeViewTest, DataBeginWorksWithStructEntries) {
-  auto block = blockStore->create(Data(BLOCKSIZE_BYTES));
-  uint8_t *blockBegin = (uint8_t*)block->data();
-  DataNodeView view(std::move(block));
-
-  EXPECT_EQ(blockBegin+DataNodeLayout::HEADERSIZE_BYTES, (uint8_t*)view.DataBegin<SizedDataEntry>());
-}
-
-TEST_F(DataNodeViewTest, DataEndWorksWithStructByteEntries) {
-  auto block = blockStore->create(Data(BLOCKSIZE_BYTES));
-  uint8_t *blockBegin = (uint8_t*)block->data();
-  DataNodeView view(std::move(block));
-
-  unsigned int numFittingEntries = DATASIZE_BYTES / sizeof(SizedDataEntry);
-
-  uint8_t *dataEnd = (uint8_t*)view.DataEnd<SizedDataEntry>();
-  EXPECT_EQ(blockBegin+DataNodeLayout::HEADERSIZE_BYTES + numFittingEntries * sizeof(SizedDataEntry), dataEnd);
-  EXPECT_LT(dataEnd, blockBegin + BLOCKSIZE_BYTES);
+  EXPECT_EQ(blockBegin+DataNodeLayout::HEADERSIZE_BYTES, static_cast<const uint8_t*>(view.data()));
 }
 
 //TODO Test that header fields (and data) are also stored over reloads
diff --git a/test/blobstore/implementations/onblocks/datatreestore/DataTreeTest_NumStoredBytes.cpp b/test/blobstore/implementations/onblocks/datatreestore/DataTreeTest_NumStoredBytes.cpp
index 85f54be6..12859550 100644
--- a/test/blobstore/implementations/onblocks/datatreestore/DataTreeTest_NumStoredBytes.cpp
+++ b/test/blobstore/implementations/onblocks/datatreestore/DataTreeTest_NumStoredBytes.cpp
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@ TEST_F(DataTreeTest_NumStoredBytes, CreatedTreeIsEmpty) {
 class DataTreeTest_NumStoredBytes_P: public DataTreeTest_NumStoredBytes, public WithParamInterface<uint32_t> {};
 INSTANTIATE_TEST_CASE_P(EmptyLastLeaf, DataTreeTest_NumStoredBytes_P, Values(0u));
 INSTANTIATE_TEST_CASE_P(HalfFullLastLeaf, DataTreeTest_NumStoredBytes_P, Values(5u, 10u));
-INSTANTIATE_TEST_CASE_P(FullLastLeaf, DataTreeTest_NumStoredBytes_P, Values((uint32_t)DataNodeLayout(DataTreeTest_NumStoredBytes::BLOCKSIZE_BYTES).maxBytesPerLeaf()));
+INSTANTIATE_TEST_CASE_P(FullLastLeaf, DataTreeTest_NumStoredBytes_P, Values(static_cast<uint32_t>(DataNodeLayout(DataTreeTest_NumStoredBytes::BLOCKSIZE_BYTES).maxBytesPerLeaf())));
 
 TEST_P(DataTreeTest_NumStoredBytes_P, SingleLeaf) {
   BlockId blockId = CreateLeafWithSize(GetParam())->blockId();
diff --git a/test/blobstore/implementations/onblocks/datatreestore/DataTreeTest_ResizeByTraversing.cpp b/test/blobstore/implementations/onblocks/datatreestore/DataTreeTest_ResizeByTraversing.cpp
index 604f2162..70357975 100644
--- a/test/blobstore/implementations/onblocks/datatreestore/DataTreeTest_ResizeByTraversing.cpp
+++ b/test/blobstore/implementations/onblocks/datatreestore/DataTreeTest_ResizeByTraversing.cpp
@@ -70,9 +70,9 @@ public:
     DataInnerNode *inner = dynamic_cast<DataInnerNode*>(root.get());
     if (inner != nullptr) {
       for (uint32_t i = 0; i < inner->numChildren()-1; ++i) {
-        EXPECT_IS_MAXDATA_TREE(inner->getChild(i)->blockId());
+        EXPECT_IS_MAXDATA_TREE(inner->readChild(i).blockId());
       }
-      EXPECT_IS_LEFTMAXDATA_TREE(inner->LastChild()->blockId());
+      EXPECT_IS_LEFTMAXDATA_TREE(inner->readLastChild().blockId());
     }
   }
 
@@ -81,7 +81,7 @@ public:
     DataInnerNode *inner = dynamic_cast<DataInnerNode*>(root.get());
     if (inner != nullptr) {
       for (uint32_t i = 0; i < inner->numChildren(); ++i) {
-        EXPECT_IS_MAXDATA_TREE(inner->getChild(i)->blockId());
+        EXPECT_IS_MAXDATA_TREE(inner->readChild(i).blockId());
       }
     } else {
       DataLeafNode *leaf = dynamic_cast<DataLeafNode*>(root.get());
@@ -122,7 +122,7 @@ public:
       return std::move(*leaf);
     }
     auto inner = dynamic_pointer_move<DataInnerNode>(root).value();
-    return LastLeaf(inner->LastChild()->blockId());
+    return LastLeaf(inner->readLastChild().blockId());
   }
 
   uint32_t oldLastLeafSize;
@@ -208,7 +208,7 @@ TEST_P(DataTreeTest_ResizeByTraversing_P, KeyDoesntChange) {
 }
 
 TEST_P(DataTreeTest_ResizeByTraversing_P, DataStaysIntact) {
-  uint32_t oldNumberOfLeaves = std::max(UINT64_C(1), ceilDivision(tree->numStoredBytes(), (uint64_t)nodeStore->layout().maxBytesPerLeaf()));
+  uint32_t oldNumberOfLeaves = std::max(UINT64_C(1), ceilDivision(tree->numStoredBytes(), static_cast<uint64_t>(nodeStore->layout().maxBytesPerLeaf())));
   TwoLevelDataFixture data(nodeStore, TwoLevelDataFixture::SizePolicy::Unchanged);
   BlockId blockId = tree->blockId();
   cpputils::destruct(std::move(tree));
diff --git a/test/blobstore/implementations/onblocks/datatreestore/DataTreeTest_ResizeNumBytes.cpp b/test/blobstore/implementations/onblocks/datatreestore/DataTreeTest_ResizeNumBytes.cpp
index 9a06e121..bf076b77 100644
--- a/test/blobstore/implementations/onblocks/datatreestore/DataTreeTest_ResizeNumBytes.cpp
+++ b/test/blobstore/implementations/onblocks/datatreestore/DataTreeTest_ResizeNumBytes.cpp
@@ -69,9 +69,9 @@ public:
     DataInnerNode *inner = dynamic_cast<DataInnerNode*>(root.get());
     if (inner != nullptr) {
       for (uint32_t i = 0; i < inner->numChildren()-1; ++i) {
-        EXPECT_IS_MAXDATA_TREE(inner->getChild(i)->blockId());
+        EXPECT_IS_MAXDATA_TREE(inner->readChild(i).blockId());
       }
-      EXPECT_IS_LEFTMAXDATA_TREE(inner->LastChild()->blockId());
+      EXPECT_IS_LEFTMAXDATA_TREE(inner->readLastChild().blockId());
     }
   }
 
@@ -80,7 +80,7 @@ public:
     DataInnerNode *inner = dynamic_cast<DataInnerNode*>(root.get());
     if (inner != nullptr) {
       for (uint32_t i = 0; i < inner->numChildren(); ++i) {
-        EXPECT_IS_MAXDATA_TREE(inner->getChild(i)->blockId());
+        EXPECT_IS_MAXDATA_TREE(inner->readChild(i).blockId());
       }
     } else {
       DataLeafNode *leaf = dynamic_cast<DataLeafNode*>(root.get());
@@ -114,7 +114,7 @@ public:
       return std::move(*leaf);
     }
     auto inner = dynamic_pointer_move<DataInnerNode>(root).value();
-    return LastLeaf(inner->LastChild()->blockId());
+    return LastLeaf(inner->readLastChild().blockId());
   }
 
   uint32_t oldLastLeafSize;
@@ -208,7 +208,7 @@ TEST_P(DataTreeTest_ResizeNumBytes_P, KeyDoesntChange) {
 }
 
 TEST_P(DataTreeTest_ResizeNumBytes_P, DataStaysIntact) {
-  uint32_t oldNumberOfLeaves = std::max(UINT64_C(1), ceilDivision(tree->numStoredBytes(), (uint64_t)nodeStore->layout().maxBytesPerLeaf()));
+  uint32_t oldNumberOfLeaves = std::max(UINT64_C(1), ceilDivision(tree->numStoredBytes(), static_cast<uint64_t>(nodeStore->layout().maxBytesPerLeaf())));
   TwoLevelDataFixture data(nodeStore, TwoLevelDataFixture::SizePolicy::Unchanged);
   BlockId blockId = tree->blockId();
   cpputils::destruct(std::move(tree));
diff --git a/test/blobstore/implementations/onblocks/datatreestore/DataTreeTest_TraverseLeaves.cpp b/test/blobstore/implementations/onblocks/datatreestore/DataTreeTest_TraverseLeaves.cpp
index 217b926a..91119f95 100644
--- a/test/blobstore/implementations/onblocks/datatreestore/DataTreeTest_TraverseLeaves.cpp
+++ b/test/blobstore/implementations/onblocks/datatreestore/DataTreeTest_TraverseLeaves.cpp
@@ -61,7 +61,7 @@ public:
 
   void EXPECT_TRAVERSE_ALL_CHILDREN_OF(const DataInnerNode &node, bool isRightBorderNode, uint32_t firstLeafIndex) {
     for (unsigned int i = 0; i < node.numChildren(); ++i) {
-      EXPECT_TRAVERSE_LEAF(node.getChild(i)->blockId(), isRightBorderNode && i == node.numChildren()-1, firstLeafIndex+i);
+      EXPECT_TRAVERSE_LEAF(node.readChild(i).blockId(), isRightBorderNode && i == node.numChildren()-1, firstLeafIndex+i);
     }
   }
 
@@ -106,21 +106,21 @@ TEST_F(DataTreeTest_TraverseLeaves, TraverseNothingInSingleLeafTree2) {
 
 TEST_F(DataTreeTest_TraverseLeaves, TraverseFirstLeafOfFullTwolevelTree) {
   auto root = CreateFullTwoLevel();
-  EXPECT_TRAVERSE_LEAF(root->getChild(0)->blockId(), false, 0);
+  EXPECT_TRAVERSE_LEAF(root->readChild(0).blockId(), false, 0);
 
   TraverseLeaves(root.get(), 0, 1);
 }
 
 TEST_F(DataTreeTest_TraverseLeaves, TraverseMiddleLeafOfFullTwolevelTree) {
   auto root = CreateFullTwoLevel();
-  EXPECT_TRAVERSE_LEAF(root->getChild(5)->blockId(), false, 5);
+  EXPECT_TRAVERSE_LEAF(root->readChild(5).blockId(), false, 5);
 
   TraverseLeaves(root.get(), 5, 6);
 }
 
 TEST_F(DataTreeTest_TraverseLeaves, TraverseLastLeafOfFullTwolevelTree) {
   auto root = CreateFullTwoLevel();
-  EXPECT_TRAVERSE_LEAF(root->getChild(nodeStore->layout().maxChildrenPerInnerNode()-1)->blockId(), true, nodeStore->layout().maxChildrenPerInnerNode()-1);
+  EXPECT_TRAVERSE_LEAF(root->readChild(nodeStore->layout().maxChildrenPerInnerNode()-1).blockId(), true, nodeStore->layout().maxChildrenPerInnerNode()-1);
 
   TraverseLeaves(root.get(), nodeStore->layout().maxChildrenPerInnerNode()-1, nodeStore->layout().maxChildrenPerInnerNode());
 }
@@ -141,21 +141,21 @@ TEST_F(DataTreeTest_TraverseLeaves, TraverseNothingInFullTwolevelTree2) {
 
 TEST_F(DataTreeTest_TraverseLeaves, TraverseFirstLeafOfThreeLevelMinDataTree) {
   auto root = CreateThreeLevelMinData();
-  EXPECT_TRAVERSE_LEAF(LoadInnerNode(root->getChild(0)->blockId())->getChild(0)->blockId(), false, 0);
+  EXPECT_TRAVERSE_LEAF(LoadInnerNode(root->readChild(0).blockId())->readChild(0).blockId(), false, 0);
 
   TraverseLeaves(root.get(), 0, 1);
 }
 
 TEST_F(DataTreeTest_TraverseLeaves, TraverseMiddleLeafOfThreeLevelMinDataTree) {
   auto root = CreateThreeLevelMinData();
-  EXPECT_TRAVERSE_LEAF(LoadInnerNode(root->getChild(0)->blockId())->getChild(5)->blockId(), false, 5);
+  EXPECT_TRAVERSE_LEAF(LoadInnerNode(root->readChild(0).blockId())->readChild(5).blockId(), false, 5);
 
   TraverseLeaves(root.get(), 5, 6);
 }
 
 TEST_F(DataTreeTest_TraverseLeaves, TraverseLastLeafOfThreeLevelMinDataTree) {
   auto root = CreateThreeLevelMinData();
-  EXPECT_TRAVERSE_LEAF(LoadInnerNode(root->getChild(1)->blockId())->getChild(0)->blockId(), true, nodeStore->layout().maxChildrenPerInnerNode());
+  EXPECT_TRAVERSE_LEAF(LoadInnerNode(root->readChild(1).blockId())->readChild(0).blockId(), true, nodeStore->layout().maxChildrenPerInnerNode());
 
   TraverseLeaves(root.get(), nodeStore->layout().maxChildrenPerInnerNode(), nodeStore->layout().maxChildrenPerInnerNode()+1);
 }
@@ -169,15 +169,15 @@ TEST_F(DataTreeTest_TraverseLeaves, TraverseAllLeavesOfFullTwolevelTree) {
 
 TEST_F(DataTreeTest_TraverseLeaves, TraverseAllLeavesOfThreelevelMinDataTree) {
   auto root = CreateThreeLevelMinData();
-  EXPECT_TRAVERSE_ALL_CHILDREN_OF(*LoadInnerNode(root->getChild(0)->blockId()), false, 0);
-  EXPECT_TRAVERSE_LEAF(LoadInnerNode(root->getChild(1)->blockId())->getChild(0)->blockId(), true, nodeStore->layout().maxChildrenPerInnerNode());
+  EXPECT_TRAVERSE_ALL_CHILDREN_OF(*LoadInnerNode(root->readChild(0).blockId()), false, 0);
+  EXPECT_TRAVERSE_LEAF(LoadInnerNode(root->readChild(1).blockId())->readChild(0).blockId(), true, nodeStore->layout().maxChildrenPerInnerNode());
 
   TraverseLeaves(root.get(), 0, nodeStore->layout().maxChildrenPerInnerNode()+1);
 }
 
 TEST_F(DataTreeTest_TraverseLeaves, TraverseFirstChildOfThreelevelMinDataTree) {
   auto root = CreateThreeLevelMinData();
-  EXPECT_TRAVERSE_ALL_CHILDREN_OF(*LoadInnerNode(root->getChild(0)->blockId()), false, 0);
+  EXPECT_TRAVERSE_ALL_CHILDREN_OF(*LoadInnerNode(root->readChild(0).blockId()), false, 0);
 
   TraverseLeaves(root.get(), 0, nodeStore->layout().maxChildrenPerInnerNode());
 }
@@ -185,7 +185,7 @@ TEST_F(DataTreeTest_TraverseLeaves, TraverseFirstChildOfThreelevelMinDataTree) {
 TEST_F(DataTreeTest_TraverseLeaves, TraverseFirstPartOfFullTwolevelTree) {
   auto root = CreateFullTwoLevel();
   for (unsigned int i = 0; i < 5; ++i) {
-    EXPECT_TRAVERSE_LEAF(root->getChild(i)->blockId(), false, i);
+    EXPECT_TRAVERSE_LEAF(root->readChild(i).blockId(), false, i);
   }
 
   TraverseLeaves(root.get(), 0, 5);
@@ -194,7 +194,7 @@ TEST_F(DataTreeTest_TraverseLeaves, TraverseFirstPartOfFullTwolevelTree) {
 TEST_F(DataTreeTest_TraverseLeaves, TraverseInnerPartOfFullTwolevelTree) {
   auto root = CreateFullTwoLevel();
   for (unsigned int i = 5; i < 10; ++i) {
-    EXPECT_TRAVERSE_LEAF(root->getChild(i)->blockId(), false, i);
+    EXPECT_TRAVERSE_LEAF(root->readChild(i).blockId(), false, i);
   }
 
   TraverseLeaves(root.get(), 5, 10);
@@ -203,7 +203,7 @@ TEST_F(DataTreeTest_TraverseLeaves, TraverseInnerPartOfFullTwolevelTree) {
 TEST_F(DataTreeTest_TraverseLeaves, TraverseLastPartOfFullTwolevelTree) {
   auto root = CreateFullTwoLevel();
   for (unsigned int i = 5; i < nodeStore->layout().maxChildrenPerInnerNode(); ++i) {
-    EXPECT_TRAVERSE_LEAF(root->getChild(i)->blockId(), i==nodeStore->layout().maxChildrenPerInnerNode()-1, i);
+    EXPECT_TRAVERSE_LEAF(root->readChild(i).blockId(), i==nodeStore->layout().maxChildrenPerInnerNode()-1, i);
   }
 
   TraverseLeaves(root.get(), 5, nodeStore->layout().maxChildrenPerInnerNode());
@@ -211,9 +211,9 @@ TEST_F(DataTreeTest_TraverseLeaves, TraverseLastPartOfFullTwolevelTree) {
 
 TEST_F(DataTreeTest_TraverseLeaves, TraverseFirstPartOfThreelevelMinDataTree) {
   auto root = CreateThreeLevelMinData();
-  auto node = LoadInnerNode(root->getChild(0)->blockId());
+  auto node = LoadInnerNode(root->readChild(0).blockId());
   for (unsigned int i = 0; i < 5; ++i) {
-    EXPECT_TRAVERSE_LEAF(node->getChild(i)->blockId(), false, i);
+    EXPECT_TRAVERSE_LEAF(node->readChild(i).blockId(), false, i);
   }
 
   TraverseLeaves(root.get(), 0, 5);
@@ -221,9 +221,9 @@ TEST_F(DataTreeTest_TraverseLeaves, TraverseFirstPartOfThreelevelMinDataTree) {
 
 TEST_F(DataTreeTest_TraverseLeaves, TraverseInnerPartOfThreelevelMinDataTree) {
   auto root = CreateThreeLevelMinData();
-  auto node = LoadInnerNode(root->getChild(0)->blockId());
+  auto node = LoadInnerNode(root->readChild(0).blockId());
   for (unsigned int i = 5; i < 10; ++i) {
-    EXPECT_TRAVERSE_LEAF(node->getChild(i)->blockId(), false, i);
+    EXPECT_TRAVERSE_LEAF(node->readChild(i).blockId(), false, i);
   }
 
   TraverseLeaves(root.get(), 5, 10);
@@ -231,18 +231,18 @@ TEST_F(DataTreeTest_TraverseLeaves, TraverseInnerPartOfThreelevelMinDataTree) {
 
 TEST_F(DataTreeTest_TraverseLeaves, TraverseLastPartOfThreelevelMinDataTree) {
   auto root = CreateThreeLevelMinData();
-  auto node = LoadInnerNode(root->getChild(0)->blockId());
+  auto node = LoadInnerNode(root->readChild(0).blockId());
   for (unsigned int i = 5; i < nodeStore->layout().maxChildrenPerInnerNode(); ++i) {
-    EXPECT_TRAVERSE_LEAF(node->getChild(i)->blockId(), false, i);
+    EXPECT_TRAVERSE_LEAF(node->readChild(i).blockId(), false, i);
   }
-  EXPECT_TRAVERSE_LEAF(LoadInnerNode(root->getChild(1)->blockId())->getChild(0)->blockId(), true, nodeStore->layout().maxChildrenPerInnerNode());
+  EXPECT_TRAVERSE_LEAF(LoadInnerNode(root->readChild(1).blockId())->readChild(0).blockId(), true, nodeStore->layout().maxChildrenPerInnerNode());
 
   TraverseLeaves(root.get(), 5, nodeStore->layout().maxChildrenPerInnerNode()+1);
 }
 
 TEST_F(DataTreeTest_TraverseLeaves, TraverseFirstLeafOfThreelevelTree) {
   auto root = CreateThreeLevel();
-  EXPECT_TRAVERSE_LEAF(LoadInnerNode(root->getChild(0)->blockId())->getChild(0)->blockId(), false, 0);
+  EXPECT_TRAVERSE_LEAF(LoadInnerNode(root->readChild(0).blockId())->readChild(0).blockId(), false, 0);
 
   TraverseLeaves(root.get(), 0, 1);
 }
@@ -250,7 +250,7 @@ TEST_F(DataTreeTest_TraverseLeaves, TraverseFirstLeafOfThreelevelTree) {
 TEST_F(DataTreeTest_TraverseLeaves, TraverseLastLeafOfThreelevelTree) {
   auto root = CreateThreeLevel();
   uint32_t numLeaves = nodeStore->layout().maxChildrenPerInnerNode() * 5 + 3;
-  EXPECT_TRAVERSE_LEAF(LoadInnerNode(root->LastChild()->blockId())->LastChild()->blockId(), true, numLeaves-1);
+  EXPECT_TRAVERSE_LEAF(LoadInnerNode(root->readLastChild().blockId())->readLastChild().blockId(), true, numLeaves-1);
 
   TraverseLeaves(root.get(), numLeaves-1, numLeaves);
 }
@@ -258,7 +258,7 @@ TEST_F(DataTreeTest_TraverseLeaves, TraverseLastLeafOfThreelevelTree) {
 TEST_F(DataTreeTest_TraverseLeaves, TraverseMiddleLeafOfThreelevelTree) {
   auto root = CreateThreeLevel();
   uint32_t wantedLeafIndex = nodeStore->layout().maxChildrenPerInnerNode() * 2 + 5;
-  EXPECT_TRAVERSE_LEAF(LoadInnerNode(root->getChild(2)->blockId())->getChild(5)->blockId(), false, wantedLeafIndex);
+  EXPECT_TRAVERSE_LEAF(LoadInnerNode(root->readChild(2).blockId())->readChild(5).blockId(), false, wantedLeafIndex);
 
   TraverseLeaves(root.get(), wantedLeafIndex, wantedLeafIndex+1);
 }
@@ -267,12 +267,12 @@ TEST_F(DataTreeTest_TraverseLeaves, TraverseFirstPartOfThreelevelTree) {
   auto root = CreateThreeLevel();
   //Traverse all leaves in the first two children of the root
   for(unsigned int i = 0; i < 2; ++i) {
-    EXPECT_TRAVERSE_ALL_CHILDREN_OF(*LoadInnerNode(root->getChild(i)->blockId()), false, i * nodeStore->layout().maxChildrenPerInnerNode());
+    EXPECT_TRAVERSE_ALL_CHILDREN_OF(*LoadInnerNode(root->readChild(i).blockId()), false, i * nodeStore->layout().maxChildrenPerInnerNode());
   }
   //Traverse some of the leaves in the third child of the root
-  auto child = LoadInnerNode(root->getChild(2)->blockId());
+  auto child = LoadInnerNode(root->readChild(2).blockId());
   for(unsigned int i = 0; i < 5; ++i) {
-    EXPECT_TRAVERSE_LEAF(child->getChild(i)->blockId(), false, 2 * nodeStore->layout().maxChildrenPerInnerNode() + i);
+    EXPECT_TRAVERSE_LEAF(child->readChild(i).blockId(), false, 2 * nodeStore->layout().maxChildrenPerInnerNode() + i);
   }
 
   TraverseLeaves(root.get(), 0, 2 * nodeStore->layout().maxChildrenPerInnerNode() + 5);
@@ -281,18 +281,18 @@ TEST_F(DataTreeTest_TraverseLeaves, TraverseFirstPartOfThreelevelTree) {
 TEST_F(DataTreeTest_TraverseLeaves, TraverseMiddlePartOfThreelevelTree_OnlyFullChildren) {
   auto root = CreateThreeLevel();
   //Traverse some of the leaves in the second child of the root
-  auto child = LoadInnerNode(root->getChild(1)->blockId());
+  auto child = LoadInnerNode(root->readChild(1).blockId());
   for(unsigned int i = 5; i < nodeStore->layout().maxChildrenPerInnerNode(); ++i) {
-    EXPECT_TRAVERSE_LEAF(child->getChild(i)->blockId(), false, nodeStore->layout().maxChildrenPerInnerNode() + i);
+    EXPECT_TRAVERSE_LEAF(child->readChild(i).blockId(), false, nodeStore->layout().maxChildrenPerInnerNode() + i);
   }
   //Traverse all leaves in the third and fourth child of the root
   for(unsigned int i = 2; i < 4; ++i) {
-    EXPECT_TRAVERSE_ALL_CHILDREN_OF(*LoadInnerNode(root->getChild(i)->blockId()),false, i * nodeStore->layout().maxChildrenPerInnerNode());
+    EXPECT_TRAVERSE_ALL_CHILDREN_OF(*LoadInnerNode(root->readChild(i).blockId()),false, i * nodeStore->layout().maxChildrenPerInnerNode());
   }
   //Traverse some of the leaves in the fifth child of the root
-  child = LoadInnerNode(root->getChild(4)->blockId());
+  child = LoadInnerNode(root->readChild(4).blockId());
   for(unsigned int i = 0; i < 5; ++i) {
-    EXPECT_TRAVERSE_LEAF(child->getChild(i)->blockId(), false, 4 * nodeStore->layout().maxChildrenPerInnerNode() + i);
+    EXPECT_TRAVERSE_LEAF(child->readChild(i).blockId(), false, 4 * nodeStore->layout().maxChildrenPerInnerNode() + i);
   }
 
   TraverseLeaves(root.get(), nodeStore->layout().maxChildrenPerInnerNode() + 5, 4 * nodeStore->layout().maxChildrenPerInnerNode() + 5);
@@ -301,18 +301,18 @@ TEST_F(DataTreeTest_TraverseLeaves, TraverseMiddlePartOfThreelevelTree_OnlyFullC
 TEST_F(DataTreeTest_TraverseLeaves, TraverseMiddlePartOfThreelevelTree_AlsoLastNonfullChild) {
   auto root = CreateThreeLevel();
   //Traverse some of the leaves in the second child of the root
-  auto child = LoadInnerNode(root->getChild(1)->blockId());
+  auto child = LoadInnerNode(root->readChild(1).blockId());
   for(unsigned int i = 5; i < nodeStore->layout().maxChildrenPerInnerNode(); ++i) {
-    EXPECT_TRAVERSE_LEAF(child->getChild(i)->blockId(), false, nodeStore->layout().maxChildrenPerInnerNode() + i);
+    EXPECT_TRAVERSE_LEAF(child->readChild(i).blockId(), false, nodeStore->layout().maxChildrenPerInnerNode() + i);
   }
   //Traverse all leaves in the third, fourth and fifth child of the root
   for(unsigned int i = 2; i < 5; ++i) {
-    EXPECT_TRAVERSE_ALL_CHILDREN_OF(*LoadInnerNode(root->getChild(i)->blockId()), false, i * nodeStore->layout().maxChildrenPerInnerNode());
+    EXPECT_TRAVERSE_ALL_CHILDREN_OF(*LoadInnerNode(root->readChild(i).blockId()), false, i * nodeStore->layout().maxChildrenPerInnerNode());
   }
   //Traverse some of the leaves in the sixth child of the root
-  child = LoadInnerNode(root->getChild(5)->blockId());
+  child = LoadInnerNode(root->readChild(5).blockId());
   for(unsigned int i = 0; i < 2; ++i) {
-    EXPECT_TRAVERSE_LEAF(child->getChild(i)->blockId(), false, 5 * nodeStore->layout().maxChildrenPerInnerNode() + i);
+    EXPECT_TRAVERSE_LEAF(child->readChild(i).blockId(), false, 5 * nodeStore->layout().maxChildrenPerInnerNode() + i);
   }
 
   TraverseLeaves(root.get(), nodeStore->layout().maxChildrenPerInnerNode() + 5, 5 * nodeStore->layout().maxChildrenPerInnerNode() + 2);
@@ -321,18 +321,18 @@ TEST_F(DataTreeTest_TraverseLeaves, TraverseMiddlePartOfThreelevelTree_AlsoLastN
 TEST_F(DataTreeTest_TraverseLeaves, TraverseLastPartOfThreelevelTree) {
   auto root = CreateThreeLevel();
   //Traverse some of the leaves in the second child of the root
-  auto child = LoadInnerNode(root->getChild(1)->blockId());
+  auto child = LoadInnerNode(root->readChild(1).blockId());
   for(unsigned int i = 5; i < nodeStore->layout().maxChildrenPerInnerNode(); ++i) {
-    EXPECT_TRAVERSE_LEAF(child->getChild(i)->blockId(), false, nodeStore->layout().maxChildrenPerInnerNode() + i);
+    EXPECT_TRAVERSE_LEAF(child->readChild(i).blockId(), false, nodeStore->layout().maxChildrenPerInnerNode() + i);
   }
   //Traverse all leaves in the third, fourth and fifth child of the root
   for(unsigned int i = 2; i < 5; ++i) {
-    EXPECT_TRAVERSE_ALL_CHILDREN_OF(*LoadInnerNode(root->getChild(i)->blockId()), false, i * nodeStore->layout().maxChildrenPerInnerNode());
+    EXPECT_TRAVERSE_ALL_CHILDREN_OF(*LoadInnerNode(root->readChild(i).blockId()), false, i * nodeStore->layout().maxChildrenPerInnerNode());
   }
   //Traverse all of the leaves in the sixth child of the root
-  child = LoadInnerNode(root->getChild(5)->blockId());
+  child = LoadInnerNode(root->readChild(5).blockId());
   for(unsigned int i = 0; i < child->numChildren(); ++i) {
-    EXPECT_TRAVERSE_LEAF(child->getChild(i)->blockId(), i == child->numChildren()-1, 5 * nodeStore->layout().maxChildrenPerInnerNode() + i);
+    EXPECT_TRAVERSE_LEAF(child->readChild(i).blockId(), i == child->numChildren()-1, 5 * nodeStore->layout().maxChildrenPerInnerNode() + i);
   }
 
   TraverseLeaves(root.get(), nodeStore->layout().maxChildrenPerInnerNode() + 5, 5 * nodeStore->layout().maxChildrenPerInnerNode() + child->numChildren());
@@ -342,12 +342,12 @@ TEST_F(DataTreeTest_TraverseLeaves, TraverseAllLeavesOfThreelevelTree) {
   auto root = CreateThreeLevel();
   //Traverse all leaves in the third, fourth and fifth child of the root
   for(unsigned int i = 0; i < 5; ++i) {
-    EXPECT_TRAVERSE_ALL_CHILDREN_OF(*LoadInnerNode(root->getChild(i)->blockId()), false, i * nodeStore->layout().maxChildrenPerInnerNode());
+    EXPECT_TRAVERSE_ALL_CHILDREN_OF(*LoadInnerNode(root->readChild(i).blockId()), false, i * nodeStore->layout().maxChildrenPerInnerNode());
   }
   //Traverse all of the leaves in the sixth child of the root
-  auto child = LoadInnerNode(root->getChild(5)->blockId());
+  auto child = LoadInnerNode(root->readChild(5).blockId());
   for(unsigned int i = 0; i < child->numChildren(); ++i) {
-    EXPECT_TRAVERSE_LEAF(child->getChild(i)->blockId(), i==child->numChildren()-1, 5 * nodeStore->layout().maxChildrenPerInnerNode() + i);
+    EXPECT_TRAVERSE_LEAF(child->readChild(i).blockId(), i==child->numChildren()-1, 5 * nodeStore->layout().maxChildrenPerInnerNode() + i);
   }
 
   TraverseLeaves(root.get(), 0, 5 * nodeStore->layout().maxChildrenPerInnerNode() + child->numChildren());
@@ -356,19 +356,19 @@ TEST_F(DataTreeTest_TraverseLeaves, TraverseAllLeavesOfThreelevelTree) {
 TEST_F(DataTreeTest_TraverseLeaves, TraverseAllLeavesOfFourLevelTree) {
   auto root = CreateFourLevel();
   //Traverse all leaves of the full threelevel tree in the first child
-  auto firstChild = LoadInnerNode(root->getChild(0)->blockId());
+  auto firstChild = LoadInnerNode(root->readChild(0).blockId());
   for(unsigned int i = 0; i < firstChild->numChildren(); ++i) {
-    EXPECT_TRAVERSE_ALL_CHILDREN_OF(*LoadInnerNode(firstChild->getChild(i)->blockId()), false, i * nodeStore->layout().maxChildrenPerInnerNode());
+    EXPECT_TRAVERSE_ALL_CHILDREN_OF(*LoadInnerNode(firstChild->readChild(i).blockId()), false, i * nodeStore->layout().maxChildrenPerInnerNode());
   }
   //Traverse all leaves of the full threelevel tree in the second child
-  auto secondChild = LoadInnerNode(root->getChild(1)->blockId());
+  auto secondChild = LoadInnerNode(root->readChild(1).blockId());
   for(unsigned int i = 0; i < secondChild->numChildren(); ++i) {
-    EXPECT_TRAVERSE_ALL_CHILDREN_OF(*LoadInnerNode(secondChild->getChild(i)->blockId()), false, (nodeStore->layout().maxChildrenPerInnerNode() + i) * nodeStore->layout().maxChildrenPerInnerNode());
+    EXPECT_TRAVERSE_ALL_CHILDREN_OF(*LoadInnerNode(secondChild->readChild(i).blockId()), false, (nodeStore->layout().maxChildrenPerInnerNode() + i) * nodeStore->layout().maxChildrenPerInnerNode());
   }
   //Traverse all leaves of the non-full threelevel tree in the third child
-  auto thirdChild = LoadInnerNode(root->getChild(2)->blockId());
-  EXPECT_TRAVERSE_ALL_CHILDREN_OF(*LoadInnerNode(thirdChild->getChild(0)->blockId()), false, 2 * nodeStore->layout().maxChildrenPerInnerNode() * nodeStore->layout().maxChildrenPerInnerNode());
-  EXPECT_TRAVERSE_LEAF(LoadInnerNode(thirdChild->getChild(1)->blockId())->getChild(0)->blockId(), true, 2 * nodeStore->layout().maxChildrenPerInnerNode() * nodeStore->layout().maxChildrenPerInnerNode() + nodeStore->layout().maxChildrenPerInnerNode());
+  auto thirdChild = LoadInnerNode(root->readChild(2).blockId());
+  EXPECT_TRAVERSE_ALL_CHILDREN_OF(*LoadInnerNode(thirdChild->readChild(0).blockId()), false, 2 * nodeStore->layout().maxChildrenPerInnerNode() * nodeStore->layout().maxChildrenPerInnerNode());
+  EXPECT_TRAVERSE_LEAF(LoadInnerNode(thirdChild->readChild(1).blockId())->readChild(0).blockId(), true, 2 * nodeStore->layout().maxChildrenPerInnerNode() * nodeStore->layout().maxChildrenPerInnerNode() + nodeStore->layout().maxChildrenPerInnerNode());
 
   TraverseLeaves(root.get(), 0, 2*nodeStore->layout().maxChildrenPerInnerNode()*nodeStore->layout().maxChildrenPerInnerNode() + nodeStore->layout().maxChildrenPerInnerNode() + 1);
 }
@@ -376,24 +376,24 @@ TEST_F(DataTreeTest_TraverseLeaves, TraverseAllLeavesOfFourLevelTree) {
 TEST_F(DataTreeTest_TraverseLeaves, TraverseMiddlePartOfFourLevelTree) {
   auto root = CreateFourLevel();
   //Traverse some leaves of the full threelevel tree in the first child
-  auto firstChild = LoadInnerNode(root->getChild(0)->blockId());
-  auto secondChildOfFirstChild = LoadInnerNode(firstChild->getChild(1)->blockId());
+  auto firstChild = LoadInnerNode(root->readChild(0).blockId());
+  auto secondChildOfFirstChild = LoadInnerNode(firstChild->readChild(1).blockId());
   for(unsigned int i = 5; i < secondChildOfFirstChild->numChildren(); ++i) {
-    EXPECT_TRAVERSE_LEAF(secondChildOfFirstChild->getChild(i)->blockId(), false, nodeStore->layout().maxChildrenPerInnerNode()+i);
+    EXPECT_TRAVERSE_LEAF(secondChildOfFirstChild->readChild(i).blockId(), false, nodeStore->layout().maxChildrenPerInnerNode()+i);
   }
   for(unsigned int i = 2; i < firstChild->numChildren(); ++i) {
-    EXPECT_TRAVERSE_ALL_CHILDREN_OF(*LoadInnerNode(firstChild->getChild(i)->blockId()), false, i * nodeStore->layout().maxChildrenPerInnerNode());
+    EXPECT_TRAVERSE_ALL_CHILDREN_OF(*LoadInnerNode(firstChild->readChild(i).blockId()), false, i * nodeStore->layout().maxChildrenPerInnerNode());
   }
   //Traverse all leaves of the full threelevel tree in the second child
-  auto secondChild = LoadInnerNode(root->getChild(1)->blockId());
+  auto secondChild = LoadInnerNode(root->readChild(1).blockId());
   for(unsigned int i = 0; i < secondChild->numChildren(); ++i) {
-    EXPECT_TRAVERSE_ALL_CHILDREN_OF(*LoadInnerNode(secondChild->getChild(i)->blockId()), false, (nodeStore->layout().maxChildrenPerInnerNode() + i) * nodeStore->layout().maxChildrenPerInnerNode());
+    EXPECT_TRAVERSE_ALL_CHILDREN_OF(*LoadInnerNode(secondChild->readChild(i).blockId()), false, (nodeStore->layout().maxChildrenPerInnerNode() + i) * nodeStore->layout().maxChildrenPerInnerNode());
   }
   //Traverse some leaves of the non-full threelevel tree in the third child
-  auto thirdChild = LoadInnerNode(root->getChild(2)->blockId());
-  auto firstChildOfThirdChild = LoadInnerNode(thirdChild->getChild(0)->blockId());
+  auto thirdChild = LoadInnerNode(root->readChild(2).blockId());
+  auto firstChildOfThirdChild = LoadInnerNode(thirdChild->readChild(0).blockId());
   for(unsigned int i = 0; i < firstChildOfThirdChild->numChildren()-1; ++i) {
-    EXPECT_TRAVERSE_LEAF(firstChildOfThirdChild->getChild(i)->blockId(), false, 2 * nodeStore->layout().maxChildrenPerInnerNode()*nodeStore->layout().maxChildrenPerInnerNode()+i);
+    EXPECT_TRAVERSE_LEAF(firstChildOfThirdChild->readChild(i).blockId(), false, 2 * nodeStore->layout().maxChildrenPerInnerNode()*nodeStore->layout().maxChildrenPerInnerNode()+i);
   }
 
   TraverseLeaves(root.get(), nodeStore->layout().maxChildrenPerInnerNode()+5, 2*nodeStore->layout().maxChildrenPerInnerNode()*nodeStore->layout().maxChildrenPerInnerNode() + nodeStore->layout().maxChildrenPerInnerNode() -1);
diff --git a/test/blobstore/implementations/onblocks/datatreestore/impl/GetLowestRightBorderNodeWithMoreThanOneChildOrNullTest.cpp b/test/blobstore/implementations/onblocks/datatreestore/impl/GetLowestRightBorderNodeWithMoreThanOneChildOrNullTest.cpp
index e3000cac..fe6d8747 100644
--- a/test/blobstore/implementations/onblocks/datatreestore/impl/GetLowestRightBorderNodeWithMoreThanOneChildOrNullTest.cpp
+++ b/test/blobstore/implementations/onblocks/datatreestore/impl/GetLowestRightBorderNodeWithMoreThanOneChildOrNullTest.cpp
@@ -66,7 +66,7 @@ public:
 
   TestData CreateFullThreeLevelTree() {
     auto root = CreateFullThreeLevel();
-    return TestData{root->blockId(), root->LastChild()->blockId()};
+    return TestData{root->blockId(), root->readLastChild().blockId()};
   }
 };
 
diff --git a/test/blobstore/implementations/onblocks/datatreestore/testutils/DataTreeTest.cpp b/test/blobstore/implementations/onblocks/datatreestore/testutils/DataTreeTest.cpp
index 82d69965..4f54a6df 100644
--- a/test/blobstore/implementations/onblocks/datatreestore/testutils/DataTreeTest.cpp
+++ b/test/blobstore/implementations/onblocks/datatreestore/testutils/DataTreeTest.cpp
@@ -137,9 +137,9 @@ unique_ref<DataInnerNode> DataTreeTest::CreateTwoLeafWithSecondLeafSize(uint32_t
 unique_ref<DataInnerNode> DataTreeTest::CreateFullTwoLevelWithLastLeafSize(uint32_t size) {
   auto root = CreateFullTwoLevel();
   for (uint32_t i = 0; i < root->numChildren()-1; ++i) {
-    LoadLeafNode(root->getChild(i)->blockId())->resize(nodeStore->layout().maxBytesPerLeaf());
+    LoadLeafNode(root->readChild(i).blockId())->resize(nodeStore->layout().maxBytesPerLeaf());
   }
-  LoadLeafNode(root->LastChild()->blockId())->resize(size);
+  LoadLeafNode(root->readLastChild().blockId())->resize(size);
   return root;
 }
 
@@ -176,12 +176,12 @@ unique_ref<DataInnerNode> DataTreeTest::CreateThreeLevelWithThreeChildrenAndLast
 unique_ref<DataInnerNode> DataTreeTest::CreateFullThreeLevelWithLastLeafSize(uint32_t size) {
   auto root = CreateFullThreeLevel();
   for (uint32_t i = 0; i < root->numChildren(); ++i) {
-    auto node = LoadInnerNode(root->getChild(i)->blockId());
+    auto node = LoadInnerNode(root->readChild(i).blockId());
     for (uint32_t j = 0; j < node->numChildren(); ++j) {
-      LoadLeafNode(node->getChild(j)->blockId())->resize(nodeStore->layout().maxBytesPerLeaf());
+      LoadLeafNode(node->readChild(j).blockId())->resize(nodeStore->layout().maxBytesPerLeaf());
     }
   }
-  LoadLeafNode(LoadInnerNode(root->LastChild()->blockId())->LastChild()->blockId())->resize(size);
+  LoadLeafNode(LoadInnerNode(root->readLastChild().blockId())->readLastChild().blockId())->resize(size);
   return root;
 }
 
@@ -205,14 +205,14 @@ void DataTreeTest::EXPECT_IS_INNER_NODE(const BlockId &blockId) {
 void DataTreeTest::EXPECT_IS_TWONODE_CHAIN(const BlockId &blockId) {
   auto node = LoadInnerNode(blockId);
   EXPECT_EQ(1u, node->numChildren());
-  EXPECT_IS_LEAF_NODE(node->getChild(0)->blockId());
+  EXPECT_IS_LEAF_NODE(node->readChild(0).blockId());
 }
 
 void DataTreeTest::EXPECT_IS_FULL_TWOLEVEL_TREE(const BlockId &blockId) {
   auto node = LoadInnerNode(blockId);
   EXPECT_EQ(nodeStore->layout().maxChildrenPerInnerNode(), node->numChildren());
   for (unsigned int i = 0; i < node->numChildren(); ++i) {
-    EXPECT_IS_LEAF_NODE(node->getChild(i)->blockId());
+    EXPECT_IS_LEAF_NODE(node->readChild(i).blockId());
   }
 }
 
@@ -220,10 +220,10 @@ void DataTreeTest::EXPECT_IS_FULL_THREELEVEL_TREE(const BlockId &blockId) {
   auto root = LoadInnerNode(blockId);
   EXPECT_EQ(nodeStore->layout().maxChildrenPerInnerNode(), root->numChildren());
   for (unsigned int i = 0; i < root->numChildren(); ++i) {
-    auto node = LoadInnerNode(root->getChild(i)->blockId());
+    auto node = LoadInnerNode(root->readChild(i).blockId());
     EXPECT_EQ(nodeStore->layout().maxChildrenPerInnerNode(), node->numChildren());
     for (unsigned int j = 0; j < node->numChildren(); ++j) {
-      EXPECT_IS_LEAF_NODE(node->getChild(j)->blockId());
+      EXPECT_IS_LEAF_NODE(node->readChild(j).blockId());
     }
   }
 }
@@ -235,7 +235,7 @@ void DataTreeTest::CHECK_DEPTH(int depth, const BlockId &blockId) {
     auto node = LoadInnerNode(blockId);
     EXPECT_EQ(depth, node->depth());
     for (uint32_t i = 0; i < node->numChildren(); ++i) {
-      CHECK_DEPTH(depth-1, node->getChild(i)->blockId());
+      CHECK_DEPTH(depth-1, node->readChild(i).blockId());
     }
   }
 }
diff --git a/test/blobstore/implementations/onblocks/datatreestore/testutils/LeafDataFixture.h b/test/blobstore/implementations/onblocks/datatreestore/testutils/LeafDataFixture.h
index 4b00e533..a9fdabd9 100644
--- a/test/blobstore/implementations/onblocks/datatreestore/testutils/LeafDataFixture.h
+++ b/test/blobstore/implementations/onblocks/datatreestore/testutils/LeafDataFixture.h
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@ public:
       EXPECT_EQ(_data.size(), leaf.numBytes());
       EXPECT_EQ(0, std::memcmp(_data.data(), loadData(leaf).data(), _data.size()));
     } else {
-      EXPECT_LE(onlyCheckNumBytes, (int)leaf.numBytes());
+      EXPECT_LE(onlyCheckNumBytes, static_cast<int>(leaf.numBytes()));
       EXPECT_EQ(0, std::memcmp(_data.data(), loadData(leaf).data(), onlyCheckNumBytes));
     }
   }
diff --git a/test/blobstore/implementations/onblocks/datatreestore/testutils/TwoLevelDataFixture.h b/test/blobstore/implementations/onblocks/datatreestore/testutils/TwoLevelDataFixture.h
index a27497e5..b5cbbd53 100644
--- a/test/blobstore/implementations/onblocks/datatreestore/testutils/TwoLevelDataFixture.h
+++ b/test/blobstore/implementations/onblocks/datatreestore/testutils/TwoLevelDataFixture.h
@@ -51,7 +51,7 @@ private:
       auto inner = dynamic_cast<blobstore::onblocks::datanodestore::DataInnerNode*>(node);
       int leafIndex = firstLeafIndex;
       for (uint32_t i = 0; i < inner->numChildren(); ++i) {
-        auto child = _dataNodeStore->load(inner->getChild(i)->blockId()).value();
+        auto child = _dataNodeStore->load(inner->readChild(i).blockId()).value();
         leafIndex = ForEachLeaf(child.get(), leafIndex, endLeafIndex, action);
       }
       return leafIndex;
diff --git a/test/blobstore/implementations/onblocks/testutils/BlobStoreTest.h b/test/blobstore/implementations/onblocks/testutils/BlobStoreTest.h
index d521602d..38bc4d33 100644
--- a/test/blobstore/implementations/onblocks/testutils/BlobStoreTest.h
+++ b/test/blobstore/implementations/onblocks/testutils/BlobStoreTest.h
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@ public:
 
   cpputils::unique_ref<blobstore::Blob> loadBlob(const blockstore::BlockId &blockId) {
     auto loaded = blobStore->load(blockId);
-    EXPECT_TRUE((bool)loaded);
+    EXPECT_TRUE(static_cast<bool>(loaded));
     return std::move(*loaded);
   }
 
diff --git a/test/blobstore/implementations/onblocks/utils/CeilDivisionTest.cpp b/test/blobstore/implementations/onblocks/utils/CeilDivisionTest.cpp
index af863111..959c3b8e 100644
--- a/test/blobstore/implementations/onblocks/utils/CeilDivisionTest.cpp
+++ b/test/blobstore/implementations/onblocks/utils/CeilDivisionTest.cpp
@@ -84,5 +84,5 @@ TEST_F(CeilDivisionTest, DivideLargeByItself) {
 TEST_F(CeilDivisionTest, 64bit) {
   uint64_t base = UINT64_C(1024)*1024*1024*1024;
   EXPECT_GT(base, std::numeric_limits<uint32_t>::max());
-  EXPECT_EQ(base/1024, ceilDivision(base, (uint64_t)1024));
+  EXPECT_EQ(base/1024, ceilDivision(base, UINT64_C(1024)));
 }
diff --git a/test/blobstore/implementations/onblocks/utils/CeilLogTest.cpp b/test/blobstore/implementations/onblocks/utils/CeilLogTest.cpp
index 064f1b7c..c5bb67d4 100644
--- a/test/blobstore/implementations/onblocks/utils/CeilLogTest.cpp
+++ b/test/blobstore/implementations/onblocks/utils/CeilLogTest.cpp
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@ TEST_F(CeilLogTest, Log3_4) {
 TEST_F(CeilLogTest, 64bit) {
  uint64_t value = UINT64_C(1024)*1024*1024*1024;
  EXPECT_GT(value, std::numeric_limits<uint32_t>::max());
- EXPECT_EQ(4u, ceilLog((uint64_t)1024, value));
+ EXPECT_EQ(4u, ceilLog(UINT64_C(1024), value));
 }
 
 
diff --git a/test/blobstore/implementations/onblocks/utils/IntPowTest.cpp b/test/blobstore/implementations/onblocks/utils/IntPowTest.cpp
index f7533b69..6e925388 100644
--- a/test/blobstore/implementations/onblocks/utils/IntPowTest.cpp
+++ b/test/blobstore/implementations/onblocks/utils/IntPowTest.cpp
@@ -73,5 +73,5 @@ TEST_F(IntPowTest, ArbitraryNumbers3) {
 TEST_F(IntPowTest, 64bit) {
   uint64_t value = UINT64_C(1024)*1024*1024*1024;
   EXPECT_GT(value, std::numeric_limits<uint32_t>::max());
-  EXPECT_EQ(value*value*value, intPow(value, (uint64_t)3));
+  EXPECT_EQ(value*value*value, intPow(value, UINT64_C(3)));
 }
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/test/blockstore/implementations/caching/cache/CacheTest_PushAndPop.cpp b/test/blockstore/implementations/caching/cache/CacheTest_PushAndPop.cpp
index 9337cf7a..86c48796 100644
--- a/test/blockstore/implementations/caching/cache/CacheTest_PushAndPop.cpp
+++ b/test/blockstore/implementations/caching/cache/CacheTest_PushAndPop.cpp
@@ -47,7 +47,7 @@ TEST_F(CacheTest_PushAndPop, FullCache) {
     push(i, 2*i);
   }
   for(unsigned int i = 0; i < MAX_ENTRIES; ++i) {
-    EXPECT_EQ((signed int)(2*i), pop(i).value());
+    EXPECT_EQ(static_cast<signed int>(2*i), pop(i).value());
   }
 }
 
@@ -59,7 +59,7 @@ TEST_F(CacheTest_PushAndPop, FullCache_PushNonOrdered_PopOrdered) {
     push(i, 2*i);
   }
   for(unsigned int i = 0; i < MAX_ENTRIES; ++i) {
-    EXPECT_EQ((signed int)(2*i), pop(i).value());
+    EXPECT_EQ(static_cast<signed int>(2*i), pop(i).value());
   }
 }
 
@@ -68,10 +68,10 @@ TEST_F(CacheTest_PushAndPop, FullCache_PushOrdered_PopNonOrdered) {
     push(i, 2*i);
   }
   for(unsigned int i = 1; i < MAX_ENTRIES; i += 2) {
-    EXPECT_EQ((signed int)(2*i), pop(i).value());
+    EXPECT_EQ(static_cast<signed int>(2*i), pop(i).value());
   }
   for(unsigned int i = 0; i < MAX_ENTRIES; i += 2) {
-    EXPECT_EQ((signed int)(2*i), pop(i).value());
+    EXPECT_EQ(static_cast<signed int>(2*i), pop(i).value());
   }
 }
 
@@ -99,10 +99,10 @@ TEST_F(CacheTest_PushAndPop, FullCache_PushNonOrdered_PopNonOrdered) {
     push(i, 2*i);
   }
   for(int i = roundDownToOdd(MAX_ENTRIES-1); i >= 0; i -= 2) {
-    EXPECT_EQ((signed int)(2*i), pop(i).value());
+    EXPECT_EQ(static_cast<signed int>(2*i), pop(i).value());
   }
   for(unsigned int i = 0; i < MAX_ENTRIES; i += 2) {
-    EXPECT_EQ((signed int)(2*i), pop(i).value());
+    EXPECT_EQ(static_cast<signed int>(2*i), pop(i).value());
   }
 }
 
@@ -115,7 +115,7 @@ TEST_F(CacheTest_PushAndPop, MoreThanFullCache) {
   EXPECT_EQ(boost::none, pop(1));
   //Check the other elements are still there
   for(unsigned int i = 2; i < MAX_ENTRIES + 2; ++i) {
-    EXPECT_EQ((signed int)(2*i), pop(i).value());
+    EXPECT_EQ(static_cast<signed int>(2*i), pop(i).value());
   }
 }
 
diff --git a/test/blockstore/implementations/encrypted/EncryptedBlockStoreTest_Specific.cpp b/test/blockstore/implementations/encrypted/EncryptedBlockStoreTest_Specific.cpp
index 5c410328..b38efb57 100644
--- a/test/blockstore/implementations/encrypted/EncryptedBlockStoreTest_Specific.cpp
+++ b/test/blockstore/implementations/encrypted/EncryptedBlockStoreTest_Specific.cpp
@@ -47,7 +47,7 @@ public:
 
   void ModifyBaseBlock(const blockstore::BlockId &blockId) {
     auto block = baseBlockStore->load(blockId).value();
-    byte* middle_byte = ((CryptoPP::byte*)block.data()) + 10;
+    byte* middle_byte = static_cast<CryptoPP::byte*>(block.data()) + 10;
     *middle_byte = *middle_byte + 1;
     baseBlockStore->store(blockId, block);
   }
diff --git a/test/blockstore/implementations/integrity/IntegrityBlockStoreTest_Specific.cpp b/test/blockstore/implementations/integrity/IntegrityBlockStoreTest_Specific.cpp
index b7af3e4a..677cc4fa 100644
--- a/test/blockstore/implementations/integrity/IntegrityBlockStoreTest_Specific.cpp
+++ b/test/blockstore/implementations/integrity/IntegrityBlockStoreTest_Specific.cpp
@@ -13,6 +13,8 @@ using cpputils::Data;
 using cpputils::unique_ref;
 using cpputils::make_unique_ref;
 using cpputils::TempFile;
+using cpputils::serialize;
+using cpputils::deserialize;
 using boost::none;
 using std::make_unique;
 using std::unique_ptr;
@@ -66,7 +68,7 @@ public:
 
   void modifyBlock(const blockstore::BlockId &blockId) {
     auto block = blockStore->load(blockId).value();
-    byte* first_byte = (byte*)block.data();
+    byte* first_byte = static_cast<byte*>(block.data());
     *first_byte = *first_byte + 1;
     blockStore->store(blockId, block);
   }
@@ -77,23 +79,26 @@ public:
 
   void decreaseVersionNumber(const blockstore::BlockId &blockId) {
     auto baseBlock = baseBlockStore->load(blockId).value();
-    uint64_t* version = (uint64_t*)((uint8_t*)baseBlock.data()+IntegrityBlockStore2::VERSION_HEADER_OFFSET);
-    ASSERT(*version > 1, "Can't decrease the lowest allowed version number");
-    *version -= 1;
+    void* versionPtr = static_cast<uint8_t*>(baseBlock.data()) + IntegrityBlockStore2::VERSION_HEADER_OFFSET;
+    uint64_t version = deserialize<uint64_t>(versionPtr);
+    ASSERT(version > 1, "Can't decrease the lowest allowed version number");
+    serialize<uint64_t>(versionPtr, version-1);
     baseBlockStore->store(blockId, baseBlock);
   }
 
   void increaseVersionNumber(const blockstore::BlockId &blockId) {
     auto baseBlock = baseBlockStore->load(blockId).value();
-    uint64_t* version = (uint64_t*)((uint8_t*)baseBlock.data()+IntegrityBlockStore2::VERSION_HEADER_OFFSET);
-    *version += 1;
+    void* versionPtr = static_cast<uint8_t*>(baseBlock.data()) + IntegrityBlockStore2::VERSION_HEADER_OFFSET;
+    uint64_t version = deserialize<uint64_t>(versionPtr);
+    serialize<uint64_t>(versionPtr, version+1);
     baseBlockStore->store(blockId, baseBlock);
   }
 
   void changeClientId(const blockstore::BlockId &blockId) {
     auto baseBlock = baseBlockStore->load(blockId).value();
-    uint32_t* clientId = (uint32_t*)((uint8_t*)baseBlock.data()+IntegrityBlockStore2::CLIENTID_HEADER_OFFSET);
-    *clientId += 1;
+    void* clientIdPtr = static_cast<uint8_t*>(baseBlock.data()) + IntegrityBlockStore2::CLIENTID_HEADER_OFFSET;
+    uint64_t clientId = deserialize<uint64_t>(clientIdPtr);
+    serialize<uint64_t>(clientIdPtr, clientId+1);
     baseBlockStore->store(blockId, baseBlock);
   }
 
diff --git a/test/blockstore/testutils/BlockStoreTest_Data.h b/test/blockstore/testutils/BlockStoreTest_Data.h
index 6be3c920..6a0eac74 100644
--- a/test/blockstore/testutils/BlockStoreTest_Data.h
+++ b/test/blockstore/testutils/BlockStoreTest_Data.h
@@ -118,7 +118,7 @@ private:
 
   void EXPECT_DATA_READS_AS(const cpputils::Data &expected, const blockstore::Block &block, off_t offset, size_t count) {
     cpputils::Data read(count);
-    std::memcpy(read.data(), (uint8_t*)block.data() + offset, count);
+    std::memcpy(read.data(), static_cast<const uint8_t*>(block.data()) + offset, count);
     EXPECT_EQ(expected, read);
   }
 
@@ -127,7 +127,7 @@ private:
     cpputils::Data end(testData.blocksize - count - start);
 
     std::memcpy(begin.data(), expected.data(), start);
-    std::memcpy(end.data(), (uint8_t*)expected.data()+start+count, end.size());
+    std::memcpy(end.data(), expected.dataOffset(start+count), end.size());
 
     EXPECT_DATA_READS_AS(begin, block, 0, start);
     EXPECT_DATA_READS_AS(end, block, start + count, end.size());
diff --git a/test/cpp-utils/CMakeLists.txt b/test/cpp-utils/CMakeLists.txt
index 0acc127a..392a8f56 100644
--- a/test/cpp-utils/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/test/cpp-utils/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -34,6 +34,7 @@ set(SOURCES
     data/DataFixtureTest.cpp
     data/DataTest.cpp
     data/FixedSizeDataIncludeTest.cpp
+    data/SerializationHelperTest.cpp
     data/DataIncludeTest.cpp
     logging/LoggingLevelTest.cpp
     logging/LoggerTest.cpp
diff --git a/test/cpp-utils/crypto/symmetric/CipherTest.cpp b/test/cpp-utils/crypto/symmetric/CipherTest.cpp
index dc606916..10c8bfbe 100644
--- a/test/cpp-utils/crypto/symmetric/CipherTest.cpp
+++ b/test/cpp-utils/crypto/symmetric/CipherTest.cpp
@@ -40,16 +40,16 @@ public:
   }
 
   void ExpectDoesntDecrypt(const Data &ciphertext) {
-    auto decrypted = Cipher::decrypt((CryptoPP::byte*)ciphertext.data(), ciphertext.size(), this->encKey);
+    auto decrypted = Cipher::decrypt(static_cast<const CryptoPP::byte*>(ciphertext.data()), ciphertext.size(), this->encKey);
     EXPECT_FALSE(decrypted);
   }
 
   Data Encrypt(const Data &plaintext) {
-    return Cipher::encrypt((CryptoPP::byte*)plaintext.data(), plaintext.size(), this->encKey);
+    return Cipher::encrypt(static_cast<const CryptoPP::byte*>(plaintext.data()), plaintext.size(), this->encKey);
   }
 
   Data Decrypt(const Data &ciphertext) {
-    return Cipher::decrypt((CryptoPP::byte*)ciphertext.data(), ciphertext.size(), this->encKey).value();
+    return Cipher::decrypt(static_cast<const CryptoPP::byte*>(ciphertext.data()), ciphertext.size(), this->encKey).value();
   }
 
   static Data CreateZeroes(unsigned int size) {
@@ -149,49 +149,57 @@ TYPED_TEST_CASE_P(AuthenticatedCipherTest);
 
 TYPED_TEST_P(AuthenticatedCipherTest, ModifyFirstByte_Zeroes_Size1) {
   Data ciphertext = this->Encrypt(this->zeroes1);
-  *(CryptoPP::byte*)ciphertext.data() = *(CryptoPP::byte*)ciphertext.data() + 1;
+  void* firstByte = ciphertext.data();
+  serialize<CryptoPP::byte>(firstByte, deserialize<CryptoPP::byte>(firstByte) + 1);
   this->ExpectDoesntDecrypt(ciphertext);
 }
 
 TYPED_TEST_P(AuthenticatedCipherTest, ModifyFirstByte_Data_Size1) {
   Data ciphertext = this->Encrypt(this->plaintext1);
-  *(CryptoPP::byte*)ciphertext.data() = *(CryptoPP::byte*)ciphertext.data() + 1;
+  void* firstByte = ciphertext.data();
+  serialize<CryptoPP::byte>(firstByte, deserialize<CryptoPP::byte>(firstByte) + 1);
   this->ExpectDoesntDecrypt(ciphertext);
 }
 
 TYPED_TEST_P(AuthenticatedCipherTest, ModifyFirstByte_Zeroes) {
   Data ciphertext = this->Encrypt(this->zeroes2);
-  *(CryptoPP::byte*)ciphertext.data() = *(CryptoPP::byte*)ciphertext.data() + 1;
+  void* firstByte = ciphertext.data();
+  serialize<CryptoPP::byte>(firstByte, deserialize<CryptoPP::byte>(firstByte) + 1);
   this->ExpectDoesntDecrypt(ciphertext);
 }
 
 TYPED_TEST_P(AuthenticatedCipherTest, ModifyFirstByte_Data) {
   Data ciphertext = this->Encrypt(this->plaintext2);
-  *(CryptoPP::byte*)ciphertext.data() = *(CryptoPP::byte*)ciphertext.data() + 1;
+  void* firstByte = ciphertext.data();
+  serialize<CryptoPP::byte>(firstByte, deserialize<CryptoPP::byte>(firstByte) + 1);
   this->ExpectDoesntDecrypt(ciphertext);
 }
 
 TYPED_TEST_P(AuthenticatedCipherTest, ModifyLastByte_Zeroes) {
   Data ciphertext = this->Encrypt(this->zeroes2);
-  ((CryptoPP::byte*)ciphertext.data())[ciphertext.size() - 1] = ((CryptoPP::byte*)ciphertext.data())[ciphertext.size() - 1] + 1;
+  void* lastByte = ciphertext.dataOffset(ciphertext.size() - 1);
+  serialize<CryptoPP::byte>(lastByte, deserialize<CryptoPP::byte>(lastByte) + 1);
   this->ExpectDoesntDecrypt(ciphertext);
 }
 
 TYPED_TEST_P(AuthenticatedCipherTest, ModifyLastByte_Data) {
   Data ciphertext = this->Encrypt(this->plaintext2);
-  ((CryptoPP::byte*)ciphertext.data())[ciphertext.size() - 1] = ((CryptoPP::byte*)ciphertext.data())[ciphertext.size() - 1] + 1;
+  void* lastByte = ciphertext.dataOffset(ciphertext.size() - 1);
+  serialize<CryptoPP::byte>(lastByte, deserialize<CryptoPP::byte>(lastByte) + 1);
   this->ExpectDoesntDecrypt(ciphertext);
 }
 
 TYPED_TEST_P(AuthenticatedCipherTest, ModifyMiddleByte_Zeroes) {
   Data ciphertext = this->Encrypt(this->zeroes2);
-  ((CryptoPP::byte*)ciphertext.data())[ciphertext.size()/2] = ((CryptoPP::byte*)ciphertext.data())[ciphertext.size()/2] + 1;
+  void* middleByte = ciphertext.dataOffset(ciphertext.size()/2);
+  serialize<CryptoPP::byte>(middleByte, deserialize<CryptoPP::byte>(middleByte) + 1);
   this->ExpectDoesntDecrypt(ciphertext);
 }
 
 TYPED_TEST_P(AuthenticatedCipherTest, ModifyMiddleByte_Data) {
   Data ciphertext = this->Encrypt(this->plaintext2);
-  ((CryptoPP::byte*)ciphertext.data())[ciphertext.size()/2] = ((CryptoPP::byte*)ciphertext.data())[ciphertext.size()/2] + 1;
+  void* middleByte = ciphertext.dataOffset(ciphertext.size()/2);
+  serialize<CryptoPP::byte>(middleByte, deserialize<CryptoPP::byte>(middleByte) + 1);
   this->ExpectDoesntDecrypt(ciphertext);
 }
 
diff --git a/test/cpp-utils/data/DataTest.cpp b/test/cpp-utils/data/DataTest.cpp
index 7c0e7141..8076fca8 100644
--- a/test/cpp-utils/data/DataTest.cpp
+++ b/test/cpp-utils/data/DataTest.cpp
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 #include "cpp-utils/data/DataFixture.h"
 #include "cpp-utils/data/Data.h"
+#include "cpp-utils/data/SerializationHelper.h"
 #include <gtest/gtest.h>
-
 #include "cpp-utils/tempfile/TempFile.h"
 
 #include <fstream>
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ class DataTest: public Test {
 public:
   bool DataIsZeroes(const Data &data) {
     for (size_t i = 0; i != data.size(); ++ i) {
-      if (((char*)data.data())[i] != 0) {
+      if (deserialize<uint8_t>(data.dataOffset(i)) != 0) {
         return false;
       }
     }
@@ -40,7 +40,7 @@ public:
 
   static void StoreData(const Data &data, const bf::path &filepath) {
     ofstream file(filepath.c_str(), std::ios::binary | std::ios::trunc);
-    file.write((char*)data.data(), data.size());
+    file.write(static_cast<const char*>(data.data()), data.size());
   }
 
   static void EXPECT_STORED_FILE_DATA_CORRECT(const Data &data, const bf::path &filepath) {
@@ -118,7 +118,7 @@ TEST_P(DataTestWithSizeParam, Copy) {
 TEST_F(DataTest, ChangingCopyDoesntChangeOriginal) {
   Data original = DataFixture::generate(1024);
   Data copy = original.copy();
-  ((uint8_t*)copy.data())[0] = ((uint8_t*)copy.data())[0] + 1;
+  serialize<uint8_t>(copy.data(), deserialize<uint8_t>(copy.data()) + 1);
   EXPECT_EQ(DataFixture::generate(1024), original);
   EXPECT_NE(copy, original);
 }
@@ -171,7 +171,7 @@ TEST_F(DataTest, Inequality_DifferentSize) {
 TEST_F(DataTest, Inequality_DifferentFirstByte) {
   Data data1 = DataFixture::generate(1024);
   Data data2 = DataFixture::generate(1024);
-  ((uint8_t*)data2.data())[0] = ((uint8_t*)data2.data())[0] + 1;
+  serialize<uint8_t>(data2.data(), deserialize<uint8_t>(data2.data()) + 1);
   EXPECT_FALSE(data1 == data2);
   EXPECT_TRUE(data1 != data2);
 }
@@ -179,7 +179,7 @@ TEST_F(DataTest, Inequality_DifferentFirstByte) {
 TEST_F(DataTest, Inequality_DifferentMiddleByte) {
   Data data1 = DataFixture::generate(1024);
   Data data2 = DataFixture::generate(1024);
-  ((uint8_t*)data2.data())[500] = ((uint8_t*)data2.data())[500] + 1;
+  serialize<uint8_t>(data2.dataOffset(500), deserialize<uint8_t>(data2.dataOffset(500)) + 1);
   EXPECT_FALSE(data1 == data2);
   EXPECT_TRUE(data1 != data2);
 }
@@ -187,7 +187,7 @@ TEST_F(DataTest, Inequality_DifferentMiddleByte) {
 TEST_F(DataTest, Inequality_DifferentLastByte) {
   Data data1 = DataFixture::generate(1024);
   Data data2 = DataFixture::generate(1024);
-  ((uint8_t*)data2.data())[1023] = ((uint8_t*)data2.data())[1023] + 1;
+  serialize<uint8_t>(data2.dataOffset(1023), deserialize<uint8_t>(data2.dataOffset(1023)) + 1);
   EXPECT_FALSE(data1 == data2);
   EXPECT_TRUE(data1 != data2);
 }
diff --git a/test/cpp-utils/data/FixedSizeDataTest.cpp b/test/cpp-utils/data/FixedSizeDataTest.cpp
index 024cb4de..4c7ea27d 100644
--- a/test/cpp-utils/data/FixedSizeDataTest.cpp
+++ b/test/cpp-utils/data/FixedSizeDataTest.cpp
@@ -89,19 +89,19 @@ const Data FixedSizeDataTestWithBinaryParam::VALUE2(DataFixture::generate(SIZE,
 INSTANTIATE_TEST_CASE_P(FixedSizeDataTestWithBinaryParam, FixedSizeDataTestWithBinaryParam, Values(&FixedSizeDataTestWithBinaryParam::VALUE1, &FixedSizeDataTestWithBinaryParam::VALUE2));
 
 TEST_P(FixedSizeDataTestWithBinaryParam, FromBinary) {
-  FixedSizeData<SIZE> data = FixedSizeData<SIZE>::FromBinary((uint8_t*)GetParam()->data());
+  FixedSizeData<SIZE> data = FixedSizeData<SIZE>::FromBinary(GetParam()->data());
   EXPECT_DATA_EQ(*GetParam(), data);
 }
 
 TEST_P(FixedSizeDataTestWithBinaryParam, FromAndToBinary) {
-  FixedSizeData<SIZE> data = FixedSizeData<SIZE>::FromBinary((uint8_t*)GetParam()->data());
+  FixedSizeData<SIZE> data = FixedSizeData<SIZE>::FromBinary(GetParam()->data());
   Data output(FixedSizeData<SIZE>::BINARY_LENGTH);
   data.ToBinary(output.data());
   EXPECT_EQ(*GetParam(), output);
 }
 
 TEST_P(FixedSizeDataTestWithBinaryParam, ToAndFromBinary) {
-  FixedSizeData<SIZE> data = FixedSizeData<SIZE>::FromBinary((uint8_t*)GetParam()->data());
+  FixedSizeData<SIZE> data = FixedSizeData<SIZE>::FromBinary(GetParam()->data());
   Data stored(FixedSizeData<SIZE>::BINARY_LENGTH);
   data.ToBinary(stored.data());
   FixedSizeData<SIZE> loaded = FixedSizeData<SIZE>::FromBinary(stored.data());
diff --git a/test/cpp-utils/data/SerializationHelperTest.cpp b/test/cpp-utils/data/SerializationHelperTest.cpp
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..e252ee5f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/cpp-utils/data/SerializationHelperTest.cpp
@@ -0,0 +1,205 @@
+#include <gtest/gtest.h>
+#include <cpp-utils/data/SerializationHelper.h>
+#include <cpp-utils/data/Data.h>
+
+using cpputils::serialize;
+using cpputils::deserialize;
+using cpputils::deserializeWithOffset;
+using cpputils::Data;
+
+TEST(SerializationHelperTest, uint8) {
+    Data data(1);
+    serialize<uint8_t>(data.data(), 5u);
+    EXPECT_EQ(5u, deserialize<uint8_t>(data.data()));
+}
+
+TEST(SerializationHelperTest, int8_positive) {
+    Data data(1);
+    serialize<int8_t>(data.data(), 5);
+    EXPECT_EQ(5, deserialize<int8_t>(data.data()));
+}
+
+TEST(SerializationHelperTest, int8_negative) {
+    Data data(1);
+    serialize<int8_t>(data.data(), -5);
+    EXPECT_EQ(-5, deserialize<int8_t>(data.data()));
+}
+
+TEST(SerializationHelperTest, uint16_aligned) {
+    Data data(2);
+    serialize<uint16_t>(data.data(), 1000u);
+    EXPECT_EQ(1000u, deserialize<uint16_t>(data.data()));
+}
+
+TEST(SerializationHelperTest, uint16_unaligned) {
+    Data data(3);
+    serialize<uint16_t>(data.dataOffset(1), 1000u);
+    EXPECT_EQ(1000u, deserialize<uint16_t>(data.dataOffset(1)));
+}
+
+TEST(SerializationHelperTest, int16_postive_aligned) {
+    Data data(2);
+    serialize<int16_t>(data.data(), 1000);
+    EXPECT_EQ(1000, deserialize<int16_t>(data.data()));
+}
+
+TEST(SerializationHelperTest, int16_positive_unaligned) {
+    Data data(3);
+    serialize<int16_t>(data.dataOffset(1), 1000);
+    EXPECT_EQ(1000, deserialize<int16_t>(data.dataOffset(1)));
+}
+
+TEST(SerializationHelperTest, int16_negative_aligned) {
+    Data data(2);
+    serialize<int16_t>(data.data(), -1000);
+    EXPECT_EQ(-1000, deserialize<int16_t>(data.data()));
+}
+
+TEST(SerializationHelperTest, int16_negative_unaligned) {
+    Data data(3);
+    serialize<int16_t>(data.dataOffset(1), -1000);
+    EXPECT_EQ(-1000, deserialize<int16_t>(data.dataOffset(1)));
+}
+
+TEST(SerializationHelperTest, uint32_aligned) {
+    Data data(4);
+    serialize<uint32_t>(data.data(), 100000u);
+    EXPECT_EQ(100000u, deserialize<uint32_t>(data.data()));
+}
+
+TEST(SerializationHelperTest, uint32_unaligned) {
+    Data data(5);
+    serialize<uint32_t>(data.dataOffset(1), 100000u);
+    EXPECT_EQ(100000u, deserialize<uint32_t>(data.dataOffset(1)));
+}
+
+TEST(SerializationHelperTest, int32_positive_aligned) {
+    Data data(4);
+    serialize<int32_t>(data.data(), 100000);
+    EXPECT_EQ(100000, deserialize<int32_t>(data.data()));
+}
+
+TEST(SerializationHelperTest, int32_positive_unaligned) {
+    Data data(5);
+    serialize<int32_t>(data.dataOffset(1), 100000);
+    EXPECT_EQ(100000, deserialize<int32_t>(data.dataOffset(1)));
+}
+
+TEST(SerializationHelperTest, int32_negative_aligned) {
+    Data data(4);
+    serialize<int32_t>(data.data(), -100000);
+    EXPECT_EQ(-100000, deserialize<int32_t>(data.data()));
+}
+
+TEST(SerializationHelperTest, int32_negative_unaligned) {
+    Data data(5);
+    serialize<int32_t>(data.dataOffset(1), -100000);
+    EXPECT_EQ(-100000, deserialize<int32_t>(data.dataOffset(1)));
+}
+
+TEST(SerializationHelperTest, uint64_aligned) {
+    Data data(8);
+    serialize<uint64_t>(data.data(), 10000000000u);
+    EXPECT_EQ(10000000000u, deserialize<uint64_t>(data.data()));
+}
+
+TEST(SerializationHelperTest, uint64_unaligned) {
+    Data data(9);
+    serialize<uint64_t>(data.dataOffset(1), 10000000000u);
+    EXPECT_EQ(10000000000u, deserialize<uint64_t>(data.dataOffset(1)));
+}
+
+TEST(SerializationHelperTest, int64_positive_aligned) {
+    Data data(8);
+    serialize<int64_t>(data.data(), 10000000000);
+    EXPECT_EQ(10000000000, deserialize<int64_t>(data.data()));
+}
+
+TEST(SerializationHelperTest, int64_positive_unaligned) {
+    Data data(9);
+    serialize<int64_t>(data.dataOffset(1), 10000000000);
+    EXPECT_EQ(10000000000, deserialize<int64_t>(data.dataOffset(1)));
+}
+
+TEST(SerializationHelperTest, int64_negative_aligned) {
+    Data data(8);
+    serialize<int64_t>(data.data(), -10000000000);
+    EXPECT_EQ(-10000000000, deserialize<int64_t>(data.data()));
+}
+
+TEST(SerializationHelperTest, int64_negative_unaligned) {
+    Data data(9);
+    serialize<int64_t>(data.dataOffset(1), -10000000000);
+    EXPECT_EQ(-10000000000, deserialize<int64_t>(data.dataOffset(1)));
+}
+
+TEST(SerializationHelperTest, float_aligned) {
+    Data data(sizeof(float));
+    serialize<float>(data.data(), 3.1415f);
+    EXPECT_EQ(3.1415f, deserialize<float>(data.data()));
+}
+
+TEST(SerializationHelperTest, float_unaligned) {
+    Data data(sizeof(float) + 1);
+    serialize<float>(data.dataOffset(1), 3.1415f);
+    EXPECT_EQ(3.1415f, deserialize<float>(data.dataOffset(1)));
+}
+
+TEST(SerializationHelperTest, double_aligned) {
+    Data data(sizeof(double));
+    serialize<double>(data.data(), 3.1415);
+    EXPECT_EQ(3.1415, deserialize<double>(data.data()));
+}
+
+TEST(SerializationHelperTest, double_unaligned) {
+    Data data(sizeof(double) + 1);
+    serialize<double>(data.dataOffset(1), 3.1415);
+    EXPECT_EQ(3.1415, deserialize<double>(data.dataOffset(1)));
+}
+
+namespace {
+struct DataStructure final {
+    uint64_t v1;
+    uint32_t v2;
+    uint16_t v3;
+    uint8_t v4;
+};
+
+bool operator==(const DataStructure &lhs, const DataStructure &rhs) {
+    return lhs.v1 == rhs.v1 && lhs.v2 == rhs.v2 && lhs.v3 == rhs.v3 && lhs.v4 == rhs.v4;
+}
+}
+
+TEST(SerializationHelperTest, struct_aligned) {
+    Data data(sizeof(DataStructure));
+    const DataStructure fixture {10000000000u, 100000u, 1000u, 5u};
+    serialize<DataStructure>(data.data(), fixture);
+    EXPECT_EQ(fixture, deserialize<DataStructure>(data.data()));
+}
+
+TEST(SerializationHelperTest, struct_unaligned) {
+    Data data(sizeof(DataStructure) + 1);
+    const DataStructure fixture {10000000000u, 100000u, 1000u, 5u};
+    serialize<DataStructure>(data.dataOffset(1), fixture);
+    EXPECT_EQ(fixture, deserialize<DataStructure>(data.dataOffset(1)));
+}
+
+namespace {
+struct OneByteStruct final {
+    uint8_t v;
+};
+static_assert(sizeof(OneByteStruct) == 1, "");
+}
+
+TEST(SerializationHelperTest, onebytestruct) {
+    Data data(1);
+    OneByteStruct fixture {5};
+    serialize<OneByteStruct>(data.data(), fixture);
+    EXPECT_EQ(fixture.v, deserialize<OneByteStruct>(data.data()).v);
+}
+
+TEST(SerializationHelperTest, deserializeWithOffset) {
+    Data data(5);
+    serialize<uint16_t>(data.dataOffset(1), 1000);
+    EXPECT_EQ(1000, deserializeWithOffset<uint16_t>(data.data(), 1));
+}
diff --git a/test/cpp-utils/pointer/optional_ownership_ptr_test.cpp b/test/cpp-utils/pointer/optional_ownership_ptr_test.cpp
index a44691ee..69fcba55 100644
--- a/test/cpp-utils/pointer/optional_ownership_ptr_test.cpp
+++ b/test/cpp-utils/pointer/optional_ownership_ptr_test.cpp
@@ -115,7 +115,7 @@ TEST_F(OptionalOwnershipPointerTest, DoesntCrashWhenDestructingNullptr1) {
 }
 
 TEST_F(OptionalOwnershipPointerTest, DoesntCrashWhenDestructingNullptrWithoutOwnership) {
-  optional_ownership_ptr<TestObject> ptr = WithoutOwnership((TestObject*)nullptr);
+  optional_ownership_ptr<TestObject> ptr = WithoutOwnership(static_cast<TestObject*>(nullptr));
   UNUSED(ptr);
 }
 
diff --git a/test/cpp-utils/pointer/unique_ref_test.cpp b/test/cpp-utils/pointer/unique_ref_test.cpp
index f8d8e941..27459bc8 100644
--- a/test/cpp-utils/pointer/unique_ref_test.cpp
+++ b/test/cpp-utils/pointer/unique_ref_test.cpp
@@ -91,36 +91,36 @@ TEST(MakeUniqueRefTest, CanAssignToBaseClassSharedPtr) {
 
 TEST(NullcheckTest, givenUniquePtrToInt_withNullptr_whenNullcheckCalled_thenReturnsNone) {
   boost::optional<unique_ref<int>> var = nullcheck(std::unique_ptr<int>(nullptr));
-  EXPECT_FALSE((bool)var);
+  EXPECT_FALSE(static_cast<bool>(var));
 }
 
 TEST(NullcheckTest, givenUniquePtrToObject_withNullptr_whenNullcheckCalled_thenReturnsNone) {
   boost::optional<unique_ref<SomeClass0Parameters>> var = nullcheck(std::unique_ptr<SomeClass0Parameters>(nullptr));
-  EXPECT_FALSE((bool)var);
+  EXPECT_FALSE(static_cast<bool>(var));
 }
 
 TEST(NullcheckTest, givenUniquePtrToInt_withNonNullptr_whenNullcheckCalled_thenReturnsUniqueRef) {
   boost::optional<unique_ref<int>> var = nullcheck(std::make_unique<int>(3));
-  EXPECT_TRUE((bool)var);
+  EXPECT_TRUE(static_cast<bool>(var));
   EXPECT_EQ(3, **var);
 }
 
 TEST(NullcheckTest, givenUniquePtrToObject_withNonNullptr_whenNullcheckCalled_thenReturnsUniqueRef) {
   boost::optional<unique_ref<SomeClass0Parameters>> var = nullcheck(std::make_unique<SomeClass0Parameters>());
-  EXPECT_TRUE((bool)var);
+  EXPECT_TRUE(static_cast<bool>(var));
   //Check that the type is correct
   EXPECT_EQ(var->get(), dynamic_cast<SomeClass0Parameters*>(var->get()));
 }
 
 TEST(NullcheckTest, givenUniquePtrToObjectWith1Parameter_withNonNullptr_whenNullcheckCalled_thenReturnsUniqueRef) {
   boost::optional<unique_ref<SomeClass1Parameter>> var = nullcheck(std::make_unique<SomeClass1Parameter>(5));
-  EXPECT_TRUE((bool)var);
+  EXPECT_TRUE(static_cast<bool>(var));
   EXPECT_EQ(5, (*var)->param);
 }
 
 TEST(NullcheckTest, givenUniquePtrToObjectWith2Parameters_withNonNullptr_whenNullcheckCalled_thenReturnsUniqueRef) {
   boost::optional<unique_ref<SomeClass2Parameters>> var = nullcheck(std::make_unique<SomeClass2Parameters>(7,2));
-  EXPECT_TRUE((bool)var);
+  EXPECT_TRUE(static_cast<bool>(var));
   EXPECT_EQ(7, (*var)->param1);
   EXPECT_EQ(2, (*var)->param2);
 }
diff --git a/test/cryfs/config/CompatibilityTest.cpp b/test/cryfs/config/CompatibilityTest.cpp
index eb24b3f6..4768bd45 100644
--- a/test/cryfs/config/CompatibilityTest.cpp
+++ b/test/cryfs/config/CompatibilityTest.cpp
@@ -37,7 +37,7 @@ private:
         Data result(hex.size()/2);
         CryptoPP::StringSource(hex, true,
              new CryptoPP::HexDecoder(
-                   new CryptoPP::ArraySink((CryptoPP::byte*)result.data(), result.size())
+                   new CryptoPP::ArraySink(static_cast<CryptoPP::byte*>(result.data()), result.size())
              )
         );
         return result;
diff --git a/test/cryfs/config/crypto/CryConfigEncryptorTest.cpp b/test/cryfs/config/crypto/CryConfigEncryptorTest.cpp
index df046928..36242100 100644
--- a/test/cryfs/config/crypto/CryConfigEncryptorTest.cpp
+++ b/test/cryfs/config/crypto/CryConfigEncryptorTest.cpp
@@ -13,6 +13,8 @@ using cpputils::AES128_CFB;
 using cpputils::AES256_GCM;
 using cpputils::Twofish256_GCM;
 using cpputils::Twofish128_CFB;
+using cpputils::serialize;
+using cpputils::deserialize;
 using boost::none;
 using namespace cryfs;
 
@@ -102,7 +104,7 @@ TEST_F(CryConfigEncryptorTest, EncryptAndDecrypt_EmptyData) {
 TEST_F(CryConfigEncryptorTest, InvalidCiphertext) {
     auto encryptor = makeEncryptor();
     Data encrypted = encryptor->encrypt(DataFixture::generate(400), AES256_GCM::NAME);
-    *(char*)encrypted.data() = *(char*)encrypted.data()+1; //Modify ciphertext
+    serialize<uint8_t>(encrypted.data(), deserialize<uint8_t>(encrypted.data()) + 1); //Modify ciphertext
     auto decrypted = encryptor->decrypt(encrypted);
     EXPECT_EQ(none, decrypted);
 }
diff --git a/test/cryfs/config/crypto/inner/ConcreteInnerEncryptorTest.cpp b/test/cryfs/config/crypto/inner/ConcreteInnerEncryptorTest.cpp
index c463a027..35a52870 100644
--- a/test/cryfs/config/crypto/inner/ConcreteInnerEncryptorTest.cpp
+++ b/test/cryfs/config/crypto/inner/ConcreteInnerEncryptorTest.cpp
@@ -12,6 +12,8 @@ using cpputils::make_unique_ref;
 using cpputils::AES256_GCM;
 using cpputils::AES256_CFB;
 using cpputils::Twofish128_CFB;
+using cpputils::serialize;
+using cpputils::deserialize;
 using namespace cryfs;
 
 // This is needed for google test
@@ -63,7 +65,7 @@ TEST_F(ConcreteInnerEncryptorTest, DoesntDecryptWithWrongCipherName) {
 TEST_F(ConcreteInnerEncryptorTest, InvalidCiphertext) {
     auto encryptor = makeInnerEncryptor<AES256_GCM>();
     InnerConfig encrypted = encryptor->encrypt(DataFixture::generate(200));
-    *(char*)encrypted.encryptedConfig.data() = *(char*)encrypted.encryptedConfig.data()+1; //Modify ciphertext
+    serialize<uint8_t>(encrypted.encryptedConfig.data(), deserialize<uint8_t>(encrypted.encryptedConfig.data()) + 1); //Modify ciphertext
     auto decrypted = encryptor->decrypt(encrypted);
     EXPECT_EQ(none, decrypted);
 }
diff --git a/test/cryfs/config/crypto/outer/OuterEncryptorTest.cpp b/test/cryfs/config/crypto/outer/OuterEncryptorTest.cpp
index 7fa5fe65..9b50b7f1 100644
--- a/test/cryfs/config/crypto/outer/OuterEncryptorTest.cpp
+++ b/test/cryfs/config/crypto/outer/OuterEncryptorTest.cpp
@@ -9,6 +9,8 @@ using cpputils::Data;
 using cpputils::DataFixture;
 using cpputils::unique_ref;
 using cpputils::make_unique_ref;
+using cpputils::serialize;
+using cpputils::deserialize;
 using namespace cryfs;
 
 // This is needed for google test
@@ -48,7 +50,7 @@ TEST_F(OuterEncryptorTest, EncryptAndDecrypt_EmptyData) {
 TEST_F(OuterEncryptorTest, InvalidCiphertext) {
     auto encryptor = makeOuterEncryptor();
     OuterConfig encrypted = encryptor->encrypt(DataFixture::generate(200));
-    *(char*)encrypted.encryptedInnerConfig.data() = *(char*)encrypted.encryptedInnerConfig.data()+1; //Modify ciphertext
+    serialize<uint8_t>(encrypted.encryptedInnerConfig.data(), deserialize<uint8_t>(encrypted.encryptedInnerConfig.data()) + 1); //Modify ciphertext
     auto decrypted = encryptor->decrypt(encrypted);
     EXPECT_EQ(none, decrypted);
 }
diff --git a/test/fspp/fuse/read/testutils/FuseReadTest.h b/test/fspp/fuse/read/testutils/FuseReadTest.h
index 0afc2a9b..ab8bc3dc 100644
--- a/test/fspp/fuse/read/testutils/FuseReadTest.h
+++ b/test/fspp/fuse/read/testutils/FuseReadTest.h
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ public:
 
   ::testing::Action<size_t(int, void*, size_t, off_t)> ReturnSuccessfulReadRegardingSize(size_t filesize) {
     return ::testing::Invoke([filesize](int, void *, size_t count, off_t offset) {
-      size_t ableToReadCount = std::min(count, (size_t)(filesize - offset));
+      size_t ableToReadCount = std::min(count, static_cast<size_t>(filesize - offset));
       return ableToReadCount;
     });
   }
diff --git a/test/fspp/testutils/FuseTest.h b/test/fspp/testutils/FuseTest.h
index 1cf3d345..a6a4edee 100644
--- a/test/fspp/testutils/FuseTest.h
+++ b/test/fspp/testutils/FuseTest.h
@@ -19,25 +19,25 @@
   RETURNTYPE NAME(const boost::filesystem::path &path) override {  \
     return NAME(path.c_str());                                     \
   }                                                                \
-  MOCK_METHOD1(NAME, RETURNTYPE(const char*));                     \
+  MOCK_METHOD1(NAME, RETURNTYPE(const char*))                      \
 
 #define MOCK_PATH_METHOD2(NAME, RETURNTYPE, PARAM1)                               \
   RETURNTYPE NAME(const boost::filesystem::path &path, PARAM1 param1) override {  \
     return NAME(path.c_str(), param1);                                            \
   }                                                                               \
-  MOCK_METHOD2(NAME, RETURNTYPE(const char*, PARAM1));                            \
+  MOCK_METHOD2(NAME, RETURNTYPE(const char*, PARAM1))                             \
 
 #define MOCK_PATH_METHOD3(NAME, RETURNTYPE, PARAM1, PARAM2)                              \
   RETURNTYPE NAME(const boost::filesystem::path &path, PARAM1 p1, PARAM2 p2) override {  \
     return NAME(path.c_str(), p1, p2);                                                   \
   }                                                                                      \
-  MOCK_METHOD3(NAME, RETURNTYPE(const char*, PARAM1, PARAM2));                           \
+  MOCK_METHOD3(NAME, RETURNTYPE(const char*, PARAM1, PARAM2))                            \
 
 #define MOCK_PATH_METHOD4(NAME, RETURNTYPE, PARAM1, PARAM2, PARAM3)                                 \
   RETURNTYPE NAME(const boost::filesystem::path &path, PARAM1 p1, PARAM2 p2, PARAM3 p3) override {  \
     return NAME(path.c_str(), p1, p2, p3);                                                          \
   }                                                                                                 \
-  MOCK_METHOD4(NAME, RETURNTYPE(const char*, PARAM1, PARAM2, PARAM3));                              \
+  MOCK_METHOD4(NAME, RETURNTYPE(const char*, PARAM1, PARAM2, PARAM3))                               \
 
 class MockFilesystem: public fspp::fuse::Filesystem {
 public:
diff --git a/test/fspp/testutils/InMemoryFile.cpp b/test/fspp/testutils/InMemoryFile.cpp
index 78df5f7d..684e4974 100644
--- a/test/fspp/testutils/InMemoryFile.cpp
+++ b/test/fspp/testutils/InMemoryFile.cpp
@@ -9,8 +9,8 @@ InMemoryFile::~InMemoryFile() {
 }
 
 int InMemoryFile::read(void *buf, size_t count, off_t offset) const {
-  size_t realCount = std::min(count, (size_t)(_data.size() - offset));
-  std::memcpy(buf, (uint8_t*)_data.data() + offset, realCount);
+  size_t realCount = std::min(count, static_cast<size_t>(_data.size() - offset));
+  std::memcpy(buf, _data.dataOffset(offset), realCount);
   return realCount;
 }
 
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@ const void *InMemoryFile::data() const {
 }
 
 bool InMemoryFile::fileContentEquals(const Data &expected, off_t offset) const {
-  return 0 == std::memcmp((uint8_t*)expected.data(), (uint8_t*)_data.data() + offset, expected.size());
+  return 0 == std::memcmp(expected.data(), _data.dataOffset(offset), expected.size());
 }
 
 size_t InMemoryFile::size() const {
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@ WriteableInMemoryFile::WriteableInMemoryFile(Data data): InMemoryFile(std::move(
 void WriteableInMemoryFile::write(const void *buf, size_t count, off_t offset) {
   _extendFileSizeIfNecessary(count + offset);
 
-  std::memcpy((uint8_t*)_data.data() + offset, buf, count);
+  std::memcpy(_data.dataOffset(offset), buf, count);
 }
 
 void WriteableInMemoryFile::_extendFileSizeIfNecessary(size_t size) {
@@ -52,5 +52,5 @@ bool WriteableInMemoryFile::sizeUnchanged() const {
 }
 
 bool WriteableInMemoryFile::regionUnchanged(off_t offset, size_t count) const {
-  return 0 == std::memcmp((uint8_t*)_data.data() + offset, (uint8_t*)_originalData.data() + offset, count);
+  return 0 == std::memcmp(_data.dataOffset(offset), _originalData.dataOffset(offset), count);
 }
diff --git a/utils.cmake b/utils.cmake
index 7c239269..823fde23 100644
--- a/utils.cmake
+++ b/utils.cmake
@@ -51,7 +51,7 @@ endif()
 #################################################
 function(target_enable_style_warnings TARGET)
     # Enable compiler options
-    target_compile_options(${TARGET} PRIVATE -Wall -Wextra)
+    target_compile_options(${TARGET} PRIVATE -Wall -Wextra -Wold-style-cast -Wcast-align) # TODO consider -Wpedantic -Wchkp -Wcast-qual -Wctor-dtor-privacy -Wdisabled-optimization -Wformat=2 -Winit-self -Wlogical-op -Wmissing-include-dirs -Wnoexcept -Wold-style-cast -Woverloaded-virtual -Wredundant-decls -Wshadow -Wsign-promo -Wstrict-null-sentinel -Wstrict-overflow=5 -Wundef -Wno-unused -Wno-variadic-macros -Wno-parentheses -fdiagnostics-show-option -Wconversion and others?
 
     # Enable clang-tidy
     #set_target_properties(