Question

What is IPSec?

Answer

Internet Protocol Security is a robust VPN standard that covers authentication and encryption of data traffic over the Internet. VPN technology using IPSec encrypts outgoing data and decrypts incoming data.

IPSec has two encryption modes: transport and tunnel. Transport mode encrypts the packet data but leaves the header unencrypted. The more secure the tunnel mode encrypts both the header and the data. At the receiving end, an IPSec-compliant device decrypts each packet. For IPSec to work, the sending and receiving devices must share a key.

IKE protocol is a key management protocol standard which is commonly used in conjunction with the IPSec standard.

Unlike PPTP, IPSec is specific only to the Internet Protocol (IP) and does not provide security for other protocols.

PPTP supports multiple protocols, but is not as secure.

Doc ID: N100702.asp