A network address translation gateway (20) provides normal network translation for IP datagrams traveling from a local area network (10) using local IP addresses to an external network (30), but suspends source service address translation when the port is reserved for a specific protocol, such as the ISAKMP "handshaking" protocol that is part of the IPSec protocol model (FIGS. 2&3). ISAKMP exchanges require both source and target computers to use the same service address. By providing a network interface that does not translate the source service address, this gateway enables the initiation and maintenance of secure, encrypted transmissions using IPSec protocol between a local area network using local IP addresses and servers on the internet.