What is an IPsec VPN? Learn About it in this Simple Guide

What is an IPsec VPN? If you’re familiar with a VPN and its protocols, you’ll understand this a little more clearly.

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IPsec stands for Internet Protocol security and is a group of networking protocols. It is one of the two most important VPN protocols, used to establish a secure connection.

You’ll find that it creates an encrypted and virtual shield over unsecured internet connections. You can use this VPN using the IKEv2 and L2TP protocols on the Android and Windows app, and IPsec alone on iOS and macOS.

What are the attributes/advantages of an IPsec VPN?

It enables protection against replayed attacks, called Anti-Replay Protection. It’ll detect any packets with a duplicate sequence number and drop it.
An IPsec VPN uses Perfect Forward Secrecy. It generates a new key for every session to ensure maximum security.
Adds a layer of transparency in the use of security for its users, so that they don’t have to make any further changes in configuration.
It handles Data Origin Authentication through HMAC, a code to ensure the consistency of the packets.
Encrypts IP packets right down to its source.
Compatible with all the major devices.

What protocols are used for IPsec VPN?

There are three kinds:

Authentication Header (AH)
Encapsulating Security Protocol (ESP)
Internet Key Exchange (IKE)

Are there any disadvantages to using it?

There’s a lack of communication performance..
Requires a client software, leading to support issues in other system software.
Doesn’t work well with Firewall and NAT solutions. It’s is more of an end-to-end service.

Is an IPsec VPN secure? How does it work?

Now that you know what an IPsec VPN is, let’s talk about how safe it is.

Shielded by solid encryption, it works by scrambling data received so that it can’t be broken down and compromised. However, the data can be unscrambled, if the user or interceptor has the right keys to unscramble it.

This VPN works by providing a user with a secure and new key in every session, to ensure maximum security. This VPN is password protected, which depends on the user to create solid and impenetrable codes.