SSL vs IPsec VPN: Detailed Comparison

Rashmi Bhardwaj | Blog,BUZZ,Security
Advertisements

Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) have now become the de facto standard for a company’s employees or its partners/contractors.

In fact, with the concept of “Work from Home” picking up pace and employees preferring to work from their home locations, it becomes more so important that VPN technologies like IPsec and SSL VPNs be leveraged. This way VPN addresses the security policy and confidentiality of company data over unsecured Internet.

Access to your office resources like Files, websites, applications, administrative tools and business from any location is something that has been possible for many years – thanks to VPN Technology.

Advertisements

It’s worth mentioning that in the early days of remote access, we had to use a dial up modem and phone line and call into your office using a serial line which was both slow and expensive.  High speed domestic broadband has resolved this issue as they are cheap high bandwidth circuits. There have been quite a few VPN technologies over the years and keep getting better and better in terms of functionality and security.

There are two types that are the most popular VPN of choice – IPsec VPN and SSL VPN. Let’s understand their differences, features and how they protect and add security to our access.

Related- DMVPN Over IPSEC

SSL VPN

SSL, also known as Secure Sockets Layer, functions at the application layer within the OSI model. Its primary purpose is to secure and encrypt the data that is transmitted between a user’s web browser and the web server.

Features:

  • Its purpose is to provide  remote access from anywhere to company’s headquarters or head office by to secure transmissions between servers and client.
  • IPsec originally was intended for securing the communications between locations using site-to-site tunneling and it therefore had its limitations when it was used in securing the remote access. SSL VPN solves this problem; it operates using the Secure Sockets Layer protocol which also secures HTTPS and which makes the most common VPN solution that is in use today for user access. 
  • SSL encrypts the data generated by applications.

ssl vs ipsec vpn

IPsec VPN

IPsec, also known as Internet Protocol Security, provides security for internet communication on the network layer. It consists of a collection of protocols that encrypt and authenticate network traffic.

Features:

  • Simply creates an IPsec tunnel between branch offices to a company’s headquarters or head office or different branch offices by providing secure connection.
  • Lowers the cost by using the internet rather than a dedicated private network. 
  • Data is digitally signed and encrypted prior to transmission, this provides end-to-end protection, which means transportation is secured until it reaches its destination.
  •  IPsec is an extension to the IP protocol; any traffic that takes the form of IP datagrams can be encrypted and it doesn’t matter type of information is carried within, this means any layer above network layer are not aware that the traffic has been encrypted or part of a VPN in the first place.

Comparison: IPsec vs SSL

Now, we attempt to explain the difference between two popular VPN types and how to decide between them.

IPsec and SSL VPN work on different types of security sets. Let’s walk through their mechanisms of protection/ security of data –

Security/ Protection

SSL VPN

IPSec VPN

 

Spoofing Prevention

Server and clients provide their

Credentials in order to confirm the identity of both systems

Recipient cannot be tricked as the identity of each end point is verified.
 

Modification Prevention

Every packet is signed with a hash function called HMAC which ensures that there has not been any modification to the packet. Packet cannot be

·Captured

·Payload modified

And then sent further without it being detected.

 

Protection

Data is encrypted by the public key which makes sure that only the recipient is able to decrypt and receive the information. Data is encrypted and one cannot read the content of the packet payload.
   

Reuse Prevention

Packets cannot be re-used or any passwords or keys discovered. Packets cannot be re-used or discover any passwords or keys.
Download the comparison table

Let’s further have a feature comparison for these two VPN’s for much better understanding –

Features SSL

IPSEC

Application for Web based applications IP based applications
VPN Type Client to Site only (Remote Access) Site to Site or Client to Site (Remote Access)
Encryption Moderate to Strong Strong
Encryption Key Length 40 bits to 256 bits 56 bits to 256 bits
Authentication One way or two-way authentication Two-way authentication using shared leys or digital certificates.
Connection Complexity Low

Requires only web browser

Medium

Full configuration, end-to-end tunnel establishment

Connection Options Any device can connect Only specific devices
Encryption of TCP and Application Layer Application Layer Both TCP and Application layer
IP Header Authentication No Yes
Pre-shared Key No Yes
UDP Support No Yes
Handshake Time Fast Slow
Connectivity Connects users to specific applications and services Connects remote hosts to entire networks
Scalability High Low
Configuration Easy Hard
OSI Layer of operation Layer 4-7 Layer 3
QoS Not-supported Limited support
Download the comparison table

ssl vs ipsec vpn compariosn table

Continue Reading:

GRE vs IPSEC

SSL vs TLS

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Advertisements

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Shopping Cart
Select your currency
USD United States (US) dollar
Scroll to Top