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The Skinny on IPSec vs. MACsec

March 19, 2015
IPSec, which provides security by using end-to-end tunnels, is complex, while MACsec supports easy upgrades and high-speed connectivity up to 100G at low power and low cost.

IPSec functions at Layer 3, providing security by using end-to-end tunnels. These are encrypted only at the ends of each tunnel. A major drawback to IPSec is its complexity. Not only does it typically entail a dedicated encryption engine, but IPSec significantly enlarges the size of the Ethernet header. This compounds network inefficiencies and adds to overall solution cost.

In contrast, MACsec is a relatively simple protocol, which only minimally expands the header. Because MACsec is usually PHY port-based, it supports easy upgrades and high-speed connectivity up to 100G at low power and low cost. Unlike IPSec, it’s possible to implement MACsec as a simple line-card upgrade and without a dedicated security processor (see "Security Essentials for the Internet of Things").

Furthermore, MACsec can scale linearly with the number of links in hop-by-hop scenarios, and with the number of endpoints in end-to-end applications. An IPSec engine, on the other hand, can support only a certain amount of total capacity and a specific number of tunnels per port.

However, the two protocols are compatible and can be very complementary. A tag- and flow-based MACsec enhances IPSec on two levels. First, in network equipment that’s either too costly or overly power-hungry, it’s now feasible to convert it to something MACsec-based only. Second, looking at wireless network security to the level of small cells, the last mile-link between the small cell and central office no longer must be IPSec—it, too, could be purely MACsec-based.

About the Author

Martin Nuss | CTO and Vice President

Martin Nuss is the CTO and vice president, technology and strategy, of Vitesse Semiconductor. He also serves on the board of directors for the Alliance for Telecommunications Industry Solutions (ATIS). He is a fellow of the Optical Society of America and a member of IEEE as well. He has a doctorate in applied physics from the Technical University in Munich, Germany. 

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