Does IPsec require network applications to be IPsec aware?

IPsec operates at the network layer of the Internet Protocol Suite, which means it is transparent to network applications. This functionality allows existing applications to communicate over a secure IPsec-configured network without needing to be specifically designed to support IPsec. The encapsulation and secure communication facilitated by IPsec are handled by the network devices and the operating system, meaning that applications can benefit from the security features without requiring any awareness or modifications.

As a result, regardless of whether an application is designed with IPsec support, it can send and receive data securely over an IPsec-protected network. This characteristic makes IPsec a flexible and widely applicable standard for securing IP communications across various types of applications without necessitating changes at the application layer.