Network Encryption Protocols

Network Encryption Protocols

Protecting data in transit requires implementing appropriate network encryption protocols. While application-layer encryption like HTTPS provides end-to-end protection, network-layer encryption secures all traffic between systems. Understanding different protocols helps select appropriate solutions for specific scenarios.

Implement IPsec for network-layer encryption on Windows:

# Create IPsec policy for server-to-server encryption
$IPsecPolicy = @{
    DisplayName = "Server Encryption Policy"
    PolicyStore = "localhost"
    Profile = "Any"
    Phase1AuthSet = "Default"
    Phase2AuthSet = "Default"
}

New-NetIPsecRule @IPsecPolicy -InboundSecurity Require -OutboundSecurity Require -RemoteAddress "192.168.2.0/24"

# Configure with pre-shared key
$Proposal = New-NetIPsecAuthProposal -Machine -PreSharedKey "ComplexSharedKey123!"
$AuthSet = New-NetIPsecPhase1AuthSet -DisplayName "PSK Auth" -Proposal $Proposal
Set-NetIPsecRule -DisplayName "Server Encryption Policy" -Phase1AuthSet $AuthSet.Name

# Monitor IPsec connections
Get-NetIPsecQuickModeSA | Select-Object Name, LocalEndpoint, RemoteEndpoint, EncryptionAlgorithm

Configure IPsec on Linux with strongSwan:

# Install strongSwan
apt-get install strongswan

# Configure /etc/ipsec.conf
cat > /etc/ipsec.conf << EOF
config setup
    charondebug="all"
    uniqueids=yes

conn server-to-server
    type=transport
    auto=start
    keyexchange=ikev2
    authby=psk
    left=192.168.1.10
    right=192.168.2.10
    ike=aes256-sha256-modp2048
    esp=aes256-sha256
EOF

# Configure pre-shared key
echo "192.168.1.10 192.168.2.10 : PSK \"ComplexSharedKey123!\"" > /etc/ipsec.secrets

# Start IPsec
systemctl enable --now strongswan
ipsec status

Implement WireGuard for modern VPN encryption:

# Install WireGuard
apt-get install wireguard

# Generate keys
wg genkey | tee privatekey | wg pubkey > publickey

# Configure interface
cat > /etc/wireguard/wg0.conf << EOF
[Interface]
PrivateKey = $(cat privatekey)
Address = 10.0.0.1/24
ListenPort = 51820

[Peer]
PublicKey = PEER_PUBLIC_KEY_HERE
AllowedIPs = 10.0.0.2/32
Endpoint = peer.example.com:51820
PersistentKeepalive = 25
EOF

# Enable interface
systemctl enable --now wg-quick@wg0
wg show