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  1. VPN Introduction
  2. IPSEC Introduction
  3. IPSEC Security Associations
  4. Authentication Header
  5. IPSEC Encapsulating Security Payloads
  6. Key Management
  7. Terms
  8. Credits

IPSEC Security Associations

Since IPSEC is designed to be able to use various security protocols, it uses Security Associations (SA) to specify the protocols to be used. SA is a database record which specify security parameters controlling security operations. They are referenced by the sending host and established by the receiving host. An index parameter called the Security Parameters Index (SPI) is used. SAs are in one direction only and a second SA must be established for the transmission to be bi-directional.