Initialization encryption for streaming content

A first computing device comprising:

• one or more processors;
• and
• memory storing instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, configure the first computing device to:
• encrypt, based on a first virtual entitlement control message, a portion of a stream comprising unencrypted content;
• send, via a network, the encrypted portion of the stream;
• and
• send, to a second computing device and based on a quantity of unused virtual entitlement control messages associated with the first computing device, a request for a second virtual entitlement control message.

A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions that, when executed, configure a first computing device to:

• encrypt, based on a first virtual entitlement control message, a portion of a stream comprising unencrypted content;
• send, via a network, the encrypted portion of the stream;
• and
• send, to a second computing device and based on a quantity of unused virtual entitlement control messages associated with the first computing device, a request for a second virtual entitlement control message.

A system comprising:

• a first computing device;
• and
• a second computing device configured to:
• send, to the first computing device, a first virtual entitlement control message;
• and
• a third computing device configured to:
• send, to the first computing device, a stream comprising unencrypted content, wherein the first computing device is configured to:
• encrypt, based on the first virtual entitlement control message, a portion of the stream;
• send, via a network, the encrypted portion of the stream;
• and
• send, to the second computing device and based on a quantity of unused virtual entitlement control messages associated with the first computing device, a request for one or more second virtual entitlement control messages, and
• wherein the second computing device is further configured to:
• send, to the first computing device based on receiving the request, the one or more second virtual entitlement control messages.