What is a network security protocol? What are some network security protocols?-DNS.IO

With the continuous development of the Internet, network security incidents such as data breaches, tampering, and malicious reading are becoming increasingly common. The emergence of network security protocols provides effective means to protect network communication, ensuring the security of network information transmission. So, what is a network security protocol? What are some network security protocols? Let’s delve into these questions.

What is a Network Security Protocol?

A network security protocol is a set of rules and standards designed to ensure the integrity and security of data transmitted across network connections. The specific network security protocol used depends on the type of data being protected and the network connection. Each network security protocol defines the techniques and procedures necessary to protect network data from unauthorized or malicious access or information leakage.

Network security protocols are the foundation of creating a secure network environment and are key technologies for building secure networks.

What are Some Network Security Protocols?

Here are several common network security protocols and the network layers they operate on:

1. Internet Protocol Security (IPsec) - OSI Layer 3 Network Layer

IPsec, short for Internet Protocol Security Protocol, is a suite of protocols and algorithms that ensure the security of data transmission over public networks such as the Internet. Released by the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) in the 1990s, IPsec encrypts and authenticates network data packets to provide IP layer security.

IPsec mainly includes the following four protocols:

• Encapsulating Security Payload (ESP) encrypts data and provides authentication.

• Authentication Header (AH) provides anti-replay protection and ensures data integrity.

• Internet Key Exchange (IKE) protocol.

• Shared keys for establishing Security Associations (SA).

These protocols can be encrypted and decrypted through firewalls or routers. IPsec can protect sensitive data and VPNs, providing tunnel-encrypted data transmission. It can encrypt data at the application layer and authenticate without encryption.

2. SSL and TLS - OSI Layer 5 Session Layer

Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) encrypts data, authenticates data sources, and ensures data integrity. It uses X.509 certificates for client and server authentication. SSL verifies the server through a handshake, negotiates secure session parameters, and generates session keys. It can then securely transmit data by verifying its source.

SSL sessions use encryption algorithms similar to those used by clients and servers (determined during the handshake). Servers can support encryption algorithms such as AES and Triple DES.

X.509 server certificates are necessary for SSL, allowing clients to verify servers. SSL can also use X.509 client certificates for authentication, which must be signed by trusted Certificate Authorities in the server’s keyring.

Transport Layer Security (TLS) is a protocol based on SSL defined by the IETF.

3. Datagram Transport Layer Security (DTLS) - OSI Layer 5 Session Layer

DTLS, short for Datagram Transport Layer Security, is a protocol based on TLS for securing datagram communications. It does not guarantee message delivery or order. DTLS introduces the advantages of datagram protocols, including lower latency and less overhead.

4. Kerberos - OSI Layer 7 Application Layer

Kerberos is a service request authentication protocol suitable for untrusted networks such as the public Internet. It authenticates requests between trusted hosts, providing built-in support for Windows, Mac, and Linux operating systems.

Windows uses Kerberos as the default authentication protocol and it is an important component of services like Active Directory (AD). Broadband service providers use it to authenticate set-top boxes and cable modems accessing their networks.

When using Kerberos, systems, services, and users only need to trust the Key Distribution Center (KDC). The KDC provides authentication and grants tickets, allowing nodes to authenticate each other. Kerberos uses shared ciphertext encryption techniques to authenticate packets and protect them during transmission.

5. Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP) - OSI Layer 7 Application Layer

SNMP, short for Simple Network Management Protocol, is a protocol for managing and monitoring network devices at the application layer. It ensures the security of devices on local or wide area networks. SNMP provides a shared language that allows devices like servers and routers to communicate through a network management system. It was originally part of the Internet Protocol Suite defined by the IETF.

The SNMP architecture consists of a manager, an agent, and a Management Information Base (MIB). The manager is the client, the agent is the server, and the MIB is the database. SNMP agents respond to the manager’s requests using the MIB. Although SNMP is widely used, administrators must adjust default settings to enable communication between the agent and the network management system for protocol execution.

With the introduction of SNMPv3 in 2004, SNMP gained three important security features: packet encryption to prevent eavesdropping, integrity checks to ensure packets are not tampered with during transmission, and authentication to verify communication from known sources.

6. HTTPS - OSI Layer 7 Application Layer

HTTPS, the secure version of HTTP, ensures secure communication between browsers and websites. HTTP is an application protocol that defines the rules for transferring web files, and users indirectly use it when opening web browsers. It runs on top of the Internet Protocol Suite. HTTPS helps prevent DNS spoofing and man-in-the-middle attacks, making it crucial for websites that transmit or receive sensitive information. Sites requiring user logins or handling financial transactions should use HTTPS. Search engines like Google also prefer HTTPS-enabled sites for better rankings.

HTTPS operates through SSL or TLS protocols, using public keys to achieve shared data encryption. It uses port 443 for secure transmission. When using HTTPS, the server and browser must establish communication parameters before starting data transmission.

7. SSH - OSI Layer 7 Application Layer

SSH (Secure Shell) is a protocol for secure communication between two devices, ensuring safe remote communication between computers. It provides strong authentication and encryption to ensure the integrity of communications. SSH is commonly used for accessing Unix-like operating systems but can also be used on Microsoft Windows.

Network security protocols use encryption and authentication technologies to protect internet communications across various fields, ensuring security and privacy. With ongoing technological advancements, network security protocols will continue to evolve, providing more comprehensive and reliable protection for network security.