A network device is provided which can include logic associated with the operations of a data communications protocol stack. The logic can operate to receive a packet to the network device and apply a first error checking technique, having a first modification complexity, to a header of the packet. The logic can apply a second error checking technique, having a second modification complexity that is greater than the first modification complexity, to a body of the packet. A first verification key can be provided to a first header associated with the packet and a second verification key, having a different modification complexity from the first verification key, can be provided for a second header associated with the packet.