Distributed system and computer program product for establishing security in a publish/subscribe data processing broker network

A technique for establishing security in a publish/subscribe data processing broker network is presented. The technique includes providing a security extension module from a publisher to a broker of the network, wherein the security extension module is for a topic asset of the publisher. The broker employs the security extension module, responsive to receipt of a request from a subscriber for the topic asset, to authenticate the request at the broker before pushing the topic asset of the publisher to the subscriber. In addition to authenticating the request, the security mode extension can be employed to authorize the request, and to automatically forward messages to the publisher providing information on when topic asset access by a subscriber begins and ends.