Methods, systems, computer program products, and methods of doing business whereby document components are secured or controlled using "security containers" which encapsulate the components (and other component metadata). A "security container" encapsulates the component (i.e., content) that is to be controlled within a higher-level construct such as a compound document. The security container also contains rules for interacting with the encapsulated component, and one or more encryption keys usable for decrypting the component and rules for authorized requesters.