IPsec vs. WireGuard Comparison - zenarmor.com (2024)

Most likely, if you are entrusted with choosing a VPN (Virtual Private Network) solution for your group or business, you have investigated IPsec-based and WireGuard-based VPNs as viable choices. The best solution must be safe, simple to use, and quick to manage. VPNs are frequently the recommended method for you and your colleagues to access private infrastructure like file servers.

Two of the most often used options for VPN use in both personal and business settings are WireGuard and IPsec. Because they are possibly the greatest solutions available, they are quite popular when site-to-site VPNs are necessary. since both IPSec and WireGuard are dependable protocols. They have shortcomings, but overall, they are stronger than they are thought to be. IPSec and WireGuard are therefore two of the safest ways to hide your traffic and ward off prying eyes.

In this article, we examine the differences between IPsec and WireGuard, two VPN protocols that let companies link distant networks. We examine IPSec and WireGuard from the perspectives of platform availability, security, and user experience, among others. Lastly, we offer advice on which might work better for your company and how to choose a VPN use case. Within this framework, we shall discuss the following subjects:

• What is a VPN?
• What is IPsec?
• What is WireGuard?
• Comparison of IPsec and WireGuard
  • Speed and Performance
  • Security Features
  • Ease of Use
  • Compatibility
  • User Reviews
• Make a Decision

What is a VPN?​

"Virtual Private Network" (VPN) refers to the ability to create a secure network connection when utilizing public networks. VPNs encrypt your online activity and conceal your identity. This makes it more difficult for outside parties to keep an eye on your online activities and steal information. Encryption in real-time is used.

With a VPN connection, an encrypted link is established between you and the internet. With the VPN, all of your data traffic is sent over an encrypted virtual tunnel. Your IP address is hidden while you use the internet, making its location invisible to outside observers. A VPN connection shields you from outside attacks. This is because only you have the key, meaning that no one else can access the data in the encrypted tunnel. You may access content that is geographically restricted from anywhere on the globe by using a VPN. Numerous streaming services are not available everywhere. You may still access them with the VPN.

Additionally, there are currently a lot of VPN service providers for smartphones that offer anonymous mobile data traffic. The Google Play Store and the iOS App Store list certified providers. But keep in mind that utilizing a VPN simply anonymizes and secures your internet data traffic. You are not protected from Trojan horses, viruses, hacker assaults, or other malware by a VPN connection. For this reason, you should rely on another reliable network security and end-point security solutions.

What is IPsec?​

A collection of protocols called IPsec is used to secure connections between devices. Secure data transmission over public networks is aided by IPsec. The way it works is by encrypting IP packets and verifying the source the packets come from. IPsec is frequently used to set up VPNs.

"IP" stands for "Internet Protocol," and "sec" stands for "secure" in the name "IPsec". The primary Internet routing protocol, or Internet Protocol, uses IP addresses to determine the destination of data. Because IPsec enhances this process with authentication and encryption, it is safe.

The method of hiding information by mathematically manipulating data to make it appear random is called encryption. The use of a "secret code" that only authorized parties can decipher is, to put it simply, encryption.

In order to guarantee data secrecy, integrity, and authenticity when connecting to public networks, the Internet Engineering Task Force created IPSec in the 1990s.

DARPA CSTO provided funding to the US Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) in 1992 so that it could implement IPv6 and conduct research on IP encryption in 4.4 BSD, which supported both x86 and SPARC CPU architectures. Through MIT, DARPA made its implementation publicly available. NRL created the IETF standards-track specifications (RFC 1825 through RFC 1827) for IPsec as part of a DARPA-funded research project. The IPsec implementation of NRL was detailed in a paper published in the Proceedings of the 1996 USENIX Conference. MIT released NRL's open-source IPsec implementation online, and it served as the foundation for the majority of early commercial versions.

The IP Security Working Group was established by the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) in 1992 with the goal of standardizing IPsec or openly stated security extensions to IP. A handful of the workshops with participants from the five firms (TIS, Cisco, FTP, Checkpoint, etc.) were arranged by the working group in 1995. The NRL specifications and the Cisco and TIS software were standardized as public references during the IPsec workshops and published as RFC-1825 through RFC-1827.

What is WireGuard?​

A modern, quick, and incredibly easy VPN that makes use of cutting-edge cryptography is called WireGuard. It seeks to avoid the enormous headache of IPsec and instead be faster, easier to use, leaner, and more beneficial. It aims to outperform OpenVPN by a significant margin. Comparing WireGuard to other VPN protocols, its tiny codebase and simplified design make it easy to audit and maintain for security flaws. This contributes to its simplicity. A single cryptographic suite founded on state-of-the-art cryptography principles is used, removing the possibility of configuration errors that can lead to vulnerabilities.

With its versatile design, WireGuard can function as a general-purpose VPN on both supercomputers and embedded interfaces, making it suitable for a wide range of scenarios. It was first made available for the Linux kernel, but it is now widely deployable and cross-platform (Windows, macOS, BSD, iOS, and Android). Though it is still in the early stages of development, it may already be considered the most straightforward, safest, and user-friendly VPN available. It's possible that WireGuard is a reference to the app that you can use on your devices. Major operating systems have WireGuard implementations available, and the program is free and open-source.

WireGuard does not support handshake protocols; it only supports UDP. It's quick in part because of this. It is not required to complete the checks that OpenVPN TCP must. In the realm of VPNs, WireGuard is revolutionary, and its many benefits are crucial to the cybersecurity industry.

Comparison of IPsec and WireGuard​

We will compare IPsec and WireGuard VPN protocols to see which is superior. Two of the most often used options for VPN use in both personal and business settings are WireGuard and IPsec. Because they are possibly the greatest solutions available, they are quite popular when site-to-site VPNs are necessary.

Businesses offering virtual private network (VPN) solutions concentrate on contrasting the protocols, especially for use in commercial settings. Strong encryption, ease of use and operation, and client availability for all relevant devices and operating systems are essential requirements for a VPN protocol.

VPNs encrypt and tunnel traffic as it moves to and from your device using various protocols. The top two choices now available are IPSec and WireGuard. Both are excellent choices, but which is superior? Users frequently have to select between these, and our thorough comparison of IPsec vs. WireGuard will assist them in doing so.

Speed and Performance​

VPN providers use the Linux kernel to implement IPSec- and WireGuard-based tunneling technologies. They're a lot faster than their userspace counterparts.

They virtually never run over UDP. They can decrease latency and increase your regular internet connection speeds by skipping so many verifications.

An extensive performance analysis was carried out by WireGuard itself, evaluating the throughput and latency of IPsec and WireGuard connections with comparable encryption choices on a potent Linux workstation. Compared to IPsec, the WireGuard connection has a 20% lower latency and a 15% higher throughput.

When it comes to performance, WireGuard usually performs better than IPSec and even quicker than other VPN protocols like OpenVPN. Its contemporary encryption techniques and simplified code base, which reduce overall CPU utilization, are the reasons for this speed boost. Higher throughput and reduced latency are the results, leading to faster overall performance.

Furthermore, WireGuard requires little computing power. It doesn't quickly deplete battery life, slow down other programs, or affect device performance. Regarding IPSec, which is infamous for consuming a lot of CPU power, the same cannot be said.

In terms of speed, WireGuard's cryptographic code provides an advantage over IPSec-based protocols. It's interesting to note that IPsec has access to the same integrity protection (Poly1305) and encryption techniques (ChaCha20) as WireGuard. Nonetheless, WireGuard is still quicker than IPsec, even with identical algorithms, because the protocol has less overhead and is simpler for CPUs and network hardware to process.

Because of its extensive interaction with the operating system kernel and incredibly fast cryptographic primitives, WireGuard offers very high speeds with minimal overhead.

Security Features​

While IPsec provides a wide range of encryption options, many of which can become insecure if not configured appropriately, WireGuard restricts the possibilities to contemporary, secure encryption techniques. This method guarantees that the majority of WireGuard users, if not all of them, will rely on current encryption standards, as neither the client nor the server can provide an insecure encryption option.

Because WireGuard has a tiny code base and little legacy functionality, it is easy for security flaws to be found and fixed by the open-source community. Researchers Benjamin Downling and Kenneth G. Paterson's study, A Cryptographic Analysis of the WireGuard Protocol, details the formal verification procedure conducted on the WireGuard code. This kind of verification has not been done for IPsec, and given the size of the IPsec code base, a formal verification would be very difficult to carry out.

Compared to WireGuard, IPsec provides more encryption choices. For instance, it allows the use of pre-shared keys for authentication and the RSA algorithm. The IPsec user might choose to employ these outdated encryption techniques even if they are no longer thought to be secure, in case they need to add legacy clients to an already-existing IPsec VPN. IPsec is a worse alternative for new VPN configurations because of the extra encryption choices, which leave it vulnerable to misconfiguration.

Because IPsec includes older protocols, its code base is much bigger than WireGuard's. Larger code bases are typically more difficult to audit. OpenSwan, a well-known IPsec implementation for Linux, for instance, has more than 8MB of code written in multiple languages; if each byte were allocated to a line, this would translate to 100,000 lines of code. That kind of codebase is larger than WireGuard's and requires more verification work.

However, we don't need to generate a key in WireGuard, unlike with IPsec. The fact that every node automatically generates a unique encryption key pair and distributes its public key across the IO gives WireGuard an advantage over IPsec.

There are no known serious vulnerabilities in WireGuard. Since it is still relatively young, complete audits by individuals rather than simply big companies are feasible due to their incredibly small code base. In-tree with the Linux Kernel 5.6, WireGuard has undergone external auditing.

The following reasons make WireGuard much less vulnerable to cyberattacks:

• Modern cryptography techniques with safe defaults
• Minimal code base, lacking legacy features
• Design that is open-source
• Easy to put into practice.

On the other hand, in an IPSec-based network, granting access to one device might grant the same rights to all of the others. Malware infections might, therefore, spread throughout the network like wildfire.When a secure encryption technique and certificates are used for authentication, IPSec is usually regarded as secure and has no known significant flaws. Leaked NSA slides, however, suggest that there may be an unidentified way to use IKE to decode IPSec data.

Ease of Use​

The configuration and usage ease of WireGuard and IPsec will depend on the particular needs of your virtual private network. However, certain aspects at the protocol level, such as connection management and available configuration options, have limitations on the experiences that are possible with WireGuard and IPsec.

WireGuard does not understand the concept of an open connection or tunnel, in sharp contrast to IPsec. WireGuard does not handle active connections; instead, it forwards the UDP-encapsulated packets to the designated IP address.

Using WireGuard VPNs with this connectionless method leads to fewer disconnections, quicker reconnections when a disconnect occurs, and simple reconnection in the event that the device's IP address changes (roaming). Users who frequently travel, such as remote workers who may need to access the VPN within a single workday at home, at a coffee shop, and at the workplace, see a big improvement in the latter scenario. Users of mobile devices whose IP address may change due to their devices connecting to different cell towers benefit from WireGuard's roaming feature.

IPsec manages connections in a more conventional manner; in order to utilize the VPN, users must establish a connection with an IPsec server using one of the many IPsec VPN clients. If there is a brief communication breakdown between the client and the server, an IPsec connection may become stuck. Reestablishing the connection requires time and might negatively impact end users' productivity.

Firewalls are a hindrance to IPsec. The process of implementing a secure VPN becomes more complicated when NAT and IPSec are allowed to flow across firewalls. Because WireGuard was developed with firewalls in mind, it is easier to connect to WireGuard endpoints from behind a NAT or firewall, such as in homes or public Wi-Fi hotspots.

In conclusion, because of its simplicity, WireGuard is thought to be more user-friendly. Therefore, most IT specialists ought to be able to quickly and easily set it up on a server. You may anticipate quick connections and reconnects from WireGuard, as it doesn't require active connection management.

On the other hand, implementing IPSec can get complicated, particularly if you require your traffic to go past firewalls.

Compatibility​

Make sure the operating system on your device is compatible with the VPN protocol you have chosen. For instance, because IPSec is natively supported on Apple devices, it might be a preferable option if you utilize iOS.

RFC 1825 served as the protocol's initial draft standard, and IPsec has been in existence since 1995. These days, IPsec is integrated into a wide range of popular operating systems, including Windows, Linux, iOS, and Android.

There are IPsec implementations within major routers, such as Cisco and Juniper. In order to achieve quicker performance with hundreds of simultaneous connections, some routers offer hardware acceleration for IPsec traffic with chips like NVIDIA's BlueField digital processing unit. It is probable that an IPsec implementation that is supported will be found if your use case includes Internet of Things (IoT) devices.

Though it is currently included in the Linux kernel and is available on all major platforms, the WireGuard protocol was developed more recently and is not natively supported on iOS or Android yet!. However, the WireGuard iOS and Android apps let you use WireGuard on these devices. WireGuard connections established by iOS and Android apps may use more energy and perform worse than equivalent IPsec connections, depending on your configuration.

Not all IoT devices, embedded platforms, or some older operating systems might support a WireGuard implementation. You could be able to use IPsec but not WireGuard if, for example, your needs call for an embedded chip; that is unless you want to create the WireGuard protocol from scratch.

Since WireGuard is now a component of the Linux kernel, its great performance and broad applicability are guaranteed. This makes it possible for low-powered gadgets to serve as WireGuard VPN servers, such as Raspberry Pis. However, while IPsec was also created with Linux in mind, it lacks WireGuard's direct kernel inclusion, which gives WireGuard a tiny edge when used on Linux servers.

User Reviews​

The benefits of WireGuard for customers include a significantly lower codebase, highly specialized and modern cryptographic protocols, and the aforementioned performance efficiencies. But the reason people find IPSec so beautiful is because it's a widely-used standard (native clients are available for Windows, Mac OS, Android, and iOS), which makes the client side of it appear a lot easier to use. They realize that because of its widely known ports and packet header layout, IPSec may be stopped considerably more simply; nonetheless, they discover that this vulnerability usually relates more to the privacy element than the remote access component. They are aware that IPSec is only a layer 3 protocol, which means that a single client can configure it or use gateways to tunnel or carry communications between large networks.They believe that utilizing Wireguard is significantly quicker than using IPsec.The fact that the clients are incorporated into the OS is a huge benefit. That is quite lovely. There is some support for non-Linux OSs in Wireguard.Wireguard functions incredibly well under Linux. For instance, Wireguard connects in less than a second on Android.Additionally, many believe Wireguard to be fantastic. It uses far less power on mobile devices, connects more quickly, and is extremely secure. much greater throughput than IPsec or OpenVPN.

Make a Decision​

Individual needs, tastes, and technical expertise should preferably be taken into consideration when choosing between IPsec and WireGuard. For optimal outcomes, one should take into account their specific use case, the necessary security degree, the kind of network, and the VPN services that are offered.

IPsec and WireGuard both indicate their significance in the VPN market. The question between WireGuard and IPsec is not which is better; rather, it is which option is best for a certain situation.

The primary distinction between IPSec and WireGuard is that the former is more complex and outdated than the latter. Compared to IPSec, WireGuard is thought to provide faster performance and more security because of its smaller codebase. On the other hand, IPSec is a well-developed protocol with a wealth of features and compatibility.

Actually, we can display the following table as a summary of the preceding general explanations of the distinctions between IPSec and WireGuard.

Table 1. IPsec vs WireGuard

WireGuard is a more advanced and user-friendly VPN protocol than IPsec, and it is more secure by default if that helps you make up your mind.

For the majority of VPN use cases, such as giving staff members access to private infrastructure that is protected by a firewall and permitting connections between workstations so that they may collaborate, we advise WireGuard.

The IPsec protocol is appropriate for settings where old encryption methods or encryption methods not supported by WireGuard, are mandated to be utilized by regulations, legacy operating systems, or Internet of Things devices.

Unless you fall into one of the aforementioned categories, WireGuard is a better VPN option for setting up private network connections between companies and employees because IPsec configurations are more complex and require more work from both the user and the administrator to set up and maintain secure VPN connections.

IPSec is more suited for regulatory compliance and legacy tech compatibility than WireGuard, which is perfect for streaming, gaming, peer-to-peer (P2P) networking, and remote employee access.

In summary, WireGuard is a promising VPN protocol with user-friendly interfaces, effective security features, and quick performance. It is a formidable rival in the VPN market thanks to its minimal code base and ease of auditing.

In the interim, IPsec continues to be a dependable and tested option that offers strong security and broad interoperability. IPsec is still a VPN protocol that is widely used, even in the face of new protocols.