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IPsec is a set of standards created by IETF to encrypt and filter data packets. It authenticates communicating computers and encrypts communications sent to and from authenticated hosts. It can be used to build a VPN, but it can be complicated for novice users.
IPsec stands for Internet Protocol security. It is a collection of standards created by the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) to help a user filter and encrypt data packets. Data packets sent over networks can also be called network packets and are essentially blocks of data packed together for easy travel. The IPsec protocol usually refers directly to the set of standards that define IPsec. A collection of protocols such as IPsec is often referred to as a network security framework.
Typically used by network administrators who manage corporate and government networks that require up-to-date security, the IPsec protocol increases the security of network data when exchanging data packets. It does this by authenticating communicating computers and hosts at both ends of the communication chain. This means that all hosts and computers that send and receive information must be verified by the IPsec protocol. Once the security authorization of computers and hosts to access the network has been verified, the IPsec protocol encrypts communications sent to and from authenticated hosts and computers on the network.
Protocol usually denotes a set of format rules and guidelines. The Internet Protocol is a protocol that standardizes communication within a network. A network is a series of computers connected for the purpose of sharing and exchanging data. A network usually has two or more computers and a network hub or router to connect the computers on the network. Internet-connected networks often connect through a modem that connects to the router.
Network types include public networks and private networks. A private network might include a home or office network where security requires authentication or encryption. Usually, a public network is the Internet, but some open private networks, such as a wireless coffee shop network, may also be called a public network. Some networks use a shared server to connect multiple computers to an archived database.
IPsec can be used in conjunction with a firewall or security gateway to build a virtual private network (VPN). A VPN is a means of transmitting data over the internet or other public network. This feature uses a process called tunneling to create a secure, encrypted connection used to transfer private data across the Internet, usually between computers or networks in different geographic locations.
While the IPsec protocol allows the user to take advantage of a wider range of encryption levels, it can prove too complicated for novice users. The controls in the IPsec protocol give the network administrator more control over when and how IPsec encrypts communications. It can also be much more difficult and complicated to set up. Most administrators with limited network security experience or programming patience often opt for transport layer security (TSL) or related secure socket layer (SSL) for less flexible but simpler security.
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