Internet Protocol Security

What Does Internet Protocol Security Mean?

Internet protocol security (IPsec) is a set of protocols that provides security for Internet Protocol. It can use cryptography to provide security. IPsec can be used for the setting up of virtual private networks (VPNs) in a secure manner.

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Also known as IP Security.

Techopedia Explains Internet Protocol Security

IPsec involves two security services:

  • Authentication Header (AH): This authenticates the sender and it discovers any changes in data during transmission.
  • Encapsulating Security Payload (ESP): This not only performs authentication for the sender but also encrypts the data being sent.

There are two modes of IPsec:

  • Tunnel Mode: This will take the whole IP packet to form secure communication between two places, or gateways.
  • Transport Mode: This only encapsulates the IP payload (not the entire IP packet as in tunnel mode) to ensure a secure channel of communication.
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Margaret Rouse

Margaret Rouse is an award-winning technical writer and teacher known for her ability to explain complex technical subjects to a non-technical, business audience. Over the past twenty years her explanations have appeared on TechTarget websites and she's been cited as an authority in articles by the New York Times, Time Magazine, USA Today, ZDNet, PC Magazine and Discovery Magazine.Margaret's idea of a fun day is helping IT and business professionals learn to speak each other’s highly specialized languages. If you have a suggestion for a new definition or how to improve a technical explanation, please email Margaret or contact her…