Monitoring encrypted network traffic flows in a virtual environment using dynamic session key acquisition techniques

A method executed by a dynamic session key acquisition (DSKA) engine residing in a virtual environment includes receiving session decryption information extraction instructions that configure the DSKA engine to obtain session decryption information for at least one communication session involving a virtual machine and obtaining the session decryption information from the virtual machine in accordance with the session decryption information extraction instructions. The session decryption information includes cryptographic keys utilized by an application server instance in the virtual machine to establish the at least one communication session. The session decryption information obtained from the virtual machine is stored and provided to a network traffic monitoring (NTM) agent. The NTM agent utilizes the session decryption information to decrypt copies of encrypted network traffic flows belonging to the at least one communication session involving the virtual machine.