TCP/IP Wasn’t Designed for Security

Starting right at the top, TCP/IP wasn’t designed with security as a high priority. One of the drawbacks to being the first at anything is the inability to see how others might manipulate and transform a technology into something else. The designers were looking for a reliable vehicle to allow research organizations to share information. The many early protocols and tools that make up the TCP/IP suite were developed in an environment of trust and openness.

Today, various Request for Comments (RFCs), security best practices, security services, and an array of products from many vendors work together to reduce the risks inherent in the environment.