Encapsulating Security Payload - IP Protocol

This page provides IP protocol information on the Encapsulating Security Payload IP protocol (ESP) detected by the Netify DPI engine. Please see the IP protocol catalog for information on other IP protocols.

ESP is Encapsulating Security Payload, the IPsec protocol that provides confidentiality, integrity, and authentication for IP packet payloads. Linux has a native handler for this IP protocol.

IP Protocol Details

Name
Encapsulating Security Payload
Abbreviation
ESP
Status
Active
IANA Number
50
IANA Keyword
ESP

IP Protocol Status - Active

ESP was standardized in RFC 4303 (2005), building on earlier 1990s work, and is actively and widely used today to secure VPNs and IP traffic.

IP Protocol Network Policy

ESP carries encrypted IPsec VPN traffic; allow on VPN gateways and hosts that terminate IPsec tunnels, but ESP is unnecessary on systems not participating in IPsec.