SSL vs. IPsec for encryption and authentication of data

Your use, either for customer or internal employees, should pretty much drive your decision. If using Web pages for customer use, then SSL will work the best because it's so dynamic. IPsec will work well for internal employees, or if the same people always return to your site. Your decision should be based on the use (client or company) and how dynamic you want to make it.

With the new advances in certificate management by Cisco and other vendors, the use of IPsec has become easier. Several methods are now available that enable easier certificate management for IPsec, but be forewarned, certificate management and obtaining certificates are not cheap and sometime involve extra man-hours in the beginning.

As well with everything automated by computers, you will need someone who is knowledgeable and knows how to use certificates and the many support devices it will entail.

SSL on the other hand remains the easier choice, but still requires someone on staff with the knowledge and experience.