In Quick Mode negotiating a range of SAs will speed up the "re-keying." When one peer feels it is time to change SAs they simply use the next one within the stated range. A range of SAs can be established by negotiating multiple SAs (identical attributes, different SPIs) with one Quick Mode.

Establishing SAs with peers before they are needed ensures there will be no delays due to key management before initial data transmission. Multiple negotiations are performed, and those not immediately used are cached. To make things even faster, if ISAKMP is alerted that a SA will soon be needed (say, to replace an expiring SA) then it can establish the new SA before that new SA is needed.