Establishing a security association and authentication to secure communication between an initiator and a responder

Abstract

Provided are a computer program product, system and method embodiments for secure communication between an initiator and a responder over a network. The initiator sends a security association initialization message to the responder to establish a security association including key material used to generate a key for the security association. In response to receiving a security association initialization response to accept the security association, the initiator sends an authentication message to the responder to establish authentication between the responder and the initiator. In response to receiving an authentication message response to the authentication message, the initiator is programmed with the security association. An authentication done message is received from the responder after receiving the authentication message response. The initiator activates the security association to use the key to secure communication between the responder and initiator in response to receiving the authentication done message.