Method and apparatus for a secure multicast transmission

A method and apparatus for a secure multicast transmission is provided. A secure multicast transmission reservation, received at a multicast session security platform, is sent from a sender of a secure multicast transmission and may include, for example, information about the secure multicast transmission and information about which multicast receivers are authorized to receive the secure multicast transmission. The multicast session security platform also receives a request for security information from a requesting multicast receiver. The multicast session security platform may include, for example, a multicast session security server capable of communicating with a plurality of senders and a plurality of requesting receivers. It is determined, using information from the reservation, if the requesting receiver is authorized to receive the secure multicast transmission. If so, multicast transmission security information, such as IPSEC SA information needed to receive the secure multicast transmission, is sent to the requesting receiver.