Secure network access devices with data encryption

Secure point to point network communications. Secure point to point network communications are accomplished by sending data across a secure link. Trusted partners at the link are matched to each other. To ensure that no un-trusted partners are on the link, authentication is performed. One of the points may be a secure tap. The secure tap authenticates a trusted partner by receiving a hardware embedded encryption key or value derived from the hardware embedded encryption key from the trusted partner. Data sent on the trusted link is encrypted to prevent interception of the data. The secure tap polices the link to ensure that no un-trusted are attached to the link and that the trusted partner is not removed from the link. If un-trusted partners are added to the link or trusted partners removed from the link, the secure tap ceases sending data.