Updated: July 11, 2020 (January 14, 2002)
Analyst ReportIPSec Enhances Windows Virtual Private Network Security
This is the third in a series of articles on Microsoft technologies that use public key cryptography. The first two, “Windows Public Key Infrastructure Extends Security” and “Smart Cards Provide Stronger Log-On Security,” were published in the Dec. 2001 Update.
Internet Protocol Security (IPSec) allows organizations to create virtual private networks that protect private communications sent over the Internet or other insecure connections. Included in Windows 2000 and its successors, IPSec is a relatively inexpensive way to guarantee the authenticity, integrity, and confidentiality of network traffic. In conjunction with related protocols, IPSec can also enable secure access to corporate resources by remote users. However, readers should be aware of some limitations of IPSec (particularly in organizations that use private network addresses) and be alert to interoperability problems between Windows IPSec and network devices from other companies.
When Are VPNs Needed?
Virtual private networks (VPNs) enable organizations to create their own “private” networks on top of exposed networks, such as the Internet and wireless local-area networks (LANs), that are potentially open to eavesdroppers or intruders. VPNs provide some combination of the following three functions:
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