Can IPsec encrypt data?

IPsec, or Internet Protocol Security, is indeed designed to provide encryption for data being transmitted over a network. It operates at the network layer of the OSI model and secures Internet Protocol (IP) communications by authenticating and encrypting each IP packet within a communication session. This makes it particularly useful for Virtual Private Networks (VPNs), where secure communication over potentially insecure networks like the internet is necessary.

By employing various encryption algorithms, IPsec can ensure the confidentiality of data in transit. It does this by securing the data payload and the headers of the IP packets, thus preventing unauthorized access and maintaining data integrity.

This ability to encrypt data is one of the primary reasons why IPsec is widely used in securing network communications, making the assertion that it can encrypt data unequivocally true.