A method and apparatus for providing routing protocol support for
distributing encryption information is presented. Subnet prefixes
reachable on a first customer site in an encrypted manner are identified,
as are security groups the subnet prefixes belong to. An advertisement is
received at a first Customer Edge (CE) device in the first customer site,
the advertisement originating from a Customer (C) device in the first
customer site. The advertisement indicates links, subnets to be
encrypted, and security group identifiers. The prefixes and the security
group identifiers are then propagated across a service provider network
to a second CE device located in a second customer site. In such a
manner, encryption and authentication is expanded further into a customer
site, as customer devices are able to indicate to a service provider
network infrastructure and other customer devices in other customer sites
which local destinations require encryption/authentication.