A method and apparatus are disclosed for providing data from a service to
a client based on the encryption capabilities of the client. Cipher suite
lists are exchanged between a client and an endpoint. On the endpoint,
the cipher suite list incorporates a mapping of cipher suite names to
services. The endpoint uses the client's list of cipher suites in
conjunction with the mapping of cipher suite names to services to
determine a cipher suite match. A service is selected based on the cipher
suite match. A server farm is selected based on the service. The client
is informed of this cipher suite match and the endpoint retains knowledge
of the cipher suite match throughout the session. Therefore, the
encrypted connection between the client and the endpoint can be
disconnected and later reestablished to provide data from the particular
server.