5 Implementing encryption in networks

5.3 End-to-end encryption

I shall consider end-to-end encryption at the network layer and the application layer separately.

5.3.1 Network layer encryption

Network layer encryption is normally implemented between specific source and destination nodes as identified, for example, by IP addresses. As Figure 10(b) indicates, the network layer headers remain unencrypted.

SAQ 8

What threats that you have previously encountered in this unit are still present with network layer encryption?

Now read the answer

Network layer encryption may be applied to sections of a network rather than end-to-end; in this case the network layer packets are encapsulated within IP packets. A major advantage of network layer encryption is that it need not normally be concerned with the details of the transmission medium.

A feature of encryption up to and including the network layer is that it is generally transparent to the user. This means that users may be unaware of security breaches, and a single breach could have implications for many users. This is not the case for application layer encryption. As with link layer encryption, delays associated with encryption and decryption processes need to be kept to an acceptable level, but hardware-based devices capable of carrying out these processes have become increasingly available.

An important set of standards that has been introduced to provide network layer encryption, as well as other security services such as authentication, integrity and access control in IP networks, is IPSec from the IP Security Working Group of the Internet Engineering Task Force. You should refer to RFC 2401 if you need further details on these standards.

5.3.2 Application layer encryption

In application layer encryption, end-to-end security is provided at a user level by encryption applications at client workstations and server hosts. Of necessity, encryption will be as close to the source, and decryption as close to the destination, as is possible. As Figure 10(c) shows, in application layer encryption only the data is encrypted.

Examples of application layer encryption are S/MIME (secure/multipurpose internet mail extensions), S-HTTP (secure hypertext transfer protocol), PGP (Pretty Good Privacy) and MSP (message security protocol). Another example is SET (secure electronic transactions), which is used for bank card transactions over public networks. ‘Host layer encryption’ is a term sometimes used to refer to programs that perform encryption and decryption on behalf of the applications that access them. An example is secure socket layer.