A method for enabling data classification and or enforcement of Information Rights Management (IRM) capabilities and or encryption in a software application according to which, an agent is installed on each terminal device that runs the application and a central management module which includes the IRM, encryption and classification policy to be enforced, communicates with agents that are installed on each terminal device. The central management module distributes the appropriate IRM and or classification policy to each agent and applies the policy to any application that runs on the terminal device.