Internet Protocol Security (IPsec)
Security+ 🏆 • Network Security 🌐 • Protocols 🔗 • Cryptography 🔒
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Definition
IPsec is a suite of protocols that secures IP traffic by encrypting and/or authenticating packets. It is commonly used to build VPNs by protecting data as it travels across untrusted networks.
Examples
- A site-to-site VPN uses IPsec to securely connect two office networks over the internet.
- A remote worker uses an IPsec VPN client to encrypt traffic between their laptop and the corporate network.
Discover 🔎
IPsec is one of the most common ways to protect network traffic at the IP layer. Instead of securing a single application, it can secure many different types of traffic because it sits lower in the network stack. This is why IPsec is widely used for VPNs, connecting sites, users, and sometimes even individual hosts.
Remember: IPsec protects IP packets in transit. It is a network-layer approach to confidentiality, integrity, and authentication.
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