Microsoft® Windows® 2000 Security Handbook

IPSec: The Standards-based Solution to IP Security

Okay, now that you are elbow-deep in the paranoia of network security issues, I'll talk about the direction the industry is taking to provide answers to these security issues. IPSec is the long-term direction for secure networking. It provides an essential line of defense against private network and Internet attacks, balancing ease of use with security. IPSec is an extension of the existing IP protocol designed to protect IP packets from snooping or modification as well as providing a defense against network attacks.

IPSec meets these goals through the extensive use of the cryptographic tools I discussed in Chapter 8. IPSec provides both the strength and flexibility to protect virtually any type ...