IPSEC-VERARBEITUNG

A network device for implementing IPSec and comprising at least one IP forwarder (IPFW) arranged to receive IP packets each of which is associated with a Security Association (SA). The IP forwarder(s) determines the destinations of the packets, and forwards the packets to their destinations. A plurality of security procedure modules (SecProcs) are coupled to the IP forwarder(s) and are arranged to implement security procedures for received IP packets in parallel. A security controller (SC) is arranged to allocate negotiated SAs amongst the security procedure modules and to notify the security procedure modules and the IP forwarder(s) of the allocation, whereby the IP forwarder(s) can send IP packets to the security procedure module implementing the associated SA.