This standard specifies how all or part of a network can be secured transparently to peer protocol entities that use the MAC Service provided by IEEE 802® LANs to communicate. MAC security (MACsec) provides connectionless user data confidentiality, frame data integrity, and data origin authenticity.

The scope of this standard is to specify provision of connectionless user data confidentiality, frame data integrity, and data origin authenticity by media access independent protocols and entities that operate transparently to MAC Clients.

This standard will facilitate secure communication over publicly accessible LAN/MAN media for which security has not already been defined, and allow the use of IEEE Std 802.1X, already widespread and supported by multiple vendors, in additional applications.