Method and apparatus for controlling access to services within a computer network

A method and apparatus for controlling access to services within a computer network is provided. More specifically, the present invention includes a services management system, or SMS. The SMS manages network connections between a series of client systems and a router. An access network control server (ANCS) manages the configuration of the router. For each network user, the SMS maintains a profile of filtering rules. When the user accesses the network, the SMS downloads the user's filtering profiles to the ANCS. The ANCS then uses the downloaded filtering profiles to reconfigure the router. The router then uses the filtering rules to selectively forward IP packets originating from the user's host system and directed at the network services.