A method and system for preparing multimedia content, whereby the multimedia content comprises at least one file, comprising content data and associated security functions. The content data further comprises associated characteristics. The system comprises at least one server machine comprising storage for storing the file, at least one client machine comprising means for rendering the file and a network. Firstly, the client machine requests the file (e.g. a movie file). Next, the server machine determines whether it has the file stored in memory. If the file is present, the file's associated security functions (e.g. encryption etc.) are obtained and the file's content data is analyzed to obtain the associated characteristics (e.g. bit rate etc.). Finally, the associated security functions and the associated characteristics are combined into a data structure.