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SSCP · Question #1205

IPSEC resides at which layer of the OSI model?

The correct answer is B. Layer 3 - Network. IPsec (Internet Protocol Security) provides security services such as authentication and encryption for IP traffic and operates at Layer 3, the Network layer, of the OSI model.

Submitted by yaw92· Apr 18, 2026Network and Communications Security

Question

IPSEC resides at which layer of the OSI model?

Options

  • ALayer 6 - Presentation
  • BLayer 3 - Network
  • CLayer 4 - Transport
  • DLayer 5 - Session
  • ELayer 2 - Data Link
  • FLayer 1 - Physical

How the community answered

(61 responses)
  • A
    2% (1)
  • B
    90% (55)
  • C
    2% (1)
  • D
    2% (1)
  • F
    5% (3)

Why each option

IPsec (Internet Protocol Security) provides security services such as authentication and encryption for IP traffic and operates at Layer 3, the Network layer, of the OSI model.

ALayer 6 - Presentation

Layer 6 (Presentation) is responsible for data translation and encryption/decryption for the application layer, not network-level packet security.

BLayer 3 - NetworkCorrect

IPsec operates at Layer 3, the Network Layer, of the OSI model, providing security services directly to the Internet Protocol (IP). It encrypts and authenticates IP packets, securing communication at the network level before they are passed to the transport layer.

CLayer 4 - Transport

Layer 4 (Transport) handles end-to-end communication and data segmentation, exemplified by TCP and UDP, but IPsec functions below this layer.

DLayer 5 - Session

Layer 5 (Session) establishes, manages, and terminates communication sessions between applications.

ELayer 2 - Data Link

Layer 2 (Data Link) provides node-to-node data transfer and error correction from the physical layer.

FLayer 1 - Physical

Layer 1 (Physical) deals with the physical transmission of raw bit streams over a medium.

Concept tested: IPsec OSI layer

Source: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/security/threat-protection/windows-firewall/ipsec-how-it-works

Topics

#IPsec#OSI Model#Network Layer#Network Security

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