Systems, methods, and computer-readable storage media for executing a copy service. A copy service engine can monitoring network data flow in a network, detect packet data containing a contract defining copy parameters for the execution of a copy service, and determine, based on the contract, when the particular data flow hits a particular network node specified in the contract parameters. When the data flow hits the specified node, the copy service engine can execute the copy service which copies the particular data flow, determines one or more endpoints for sending the copied data flow, and deploys the copies to the one or more endpoints.