- Function: ESP is a component of the IPsec protocol suite that encrypts IP packets to ensure their confidentiality and integrity.
- ESP Header
- Content: Contains information indicating which Security Association (SA) to use and includes the packet sequence number.
- Purpose: Helps to sequence every packet, preventing replay attacks by ensuring each packet is unique and processed only once.
- ESP Payload
- Content: The encrypted portion of the packet that contains the actual data being transmitted.
- Purpose: Provides confidentiality by encrypting the data and integrity by ensuring that the data has not been tampered with during transit.
ESP is crucial for securing data transmitted over IP networks, ensuring that both the content and integrity of the packets are protected.