Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) Cybersecurity Practice Test

What does Encapsulating Security Payload (ESP) provide in the IPsec framework?

1. Only encryption of data

2. Authentication and encryption of data

3. Data compression only

4. User authentication only

The correct answer is: Authentication and encryption of data

Encapsulating Security Payload (ESP) plays a crucial role within the IPsec framework by providing both authentication and encryption of data. This dual capability is essential for ensuring the confidentiality and integrity of the transmitted information over networks. Encryption offered by ESP ensures that data packets are scrambled and can only be read by intended recipients, thereby protecting sensitive information from unauthorized access. This is critical for maintaining privacy in communication, especially in environments that may be susceptible to eavesdropping. The authentication aspect of ESP verifies the origin of the data packets, ensuring that they have not been altered during transmission. This protects against various attacks, such as man-in-the-middle, where an attacker might intercept and modify data. By providing both encryption and authentication, ESP effectively safeguards the data from both disclosure and tampering. While other choices mention concepts like data compression or user authentication, these do not encapsulate the full functionality that ESP delivers. ESP is primarily focused on securing the data itself through both methods, which is why the correct answer highlights its comprehensive security features.