In a client-server system employing protocols such as RTP (real-time protocol), RTCP (real-time control protocol) and RTSP (real-time streaming protocol) for communicating real-time data stream, a method for using the same security parameters to secure by encryption and/or authentication, communication of the real-time data stream. The method includes establishing two or more security parameters for securing communications during the streaming session; establishing a session identifier associated with the security parameters; transmitting, from client to server, an RTSP message for requesting the real-time data stream, the RTSP message being secured with the security parameters; establishing a streaming session for streaming an RTP message containing the real-time data, the RTP message being secured with the security parameters; transmitting, from client to server, an RTCP protocol message containing statistics relating to the streaming session, the RTCP message being secured with the security parameters, and exchanging any one or more additional RTSP, RTP and RTCP messages in any order, each message being secured with the security parameters which are identifiable with the session identifier.