A method is provided for establishing a communication session in a communications system. The method includes providing a handshake layer functional block in a first communication peer, and providing a data communication layer functional block separate from the handshake layer functional block in the first communication peer. Functionality of the data communication layer is not duplicated in the handshake layer. If the data communication layer is unable to process a received encrypted message; transmitting, by the data communication layer, a configuration request message to the handshake layer, and transmitting, by the handshake layer, in response to the configuration request message, a set channel state message to enable the data communication layer to process application data after a handshake phase of the protocol session is complete. Then, application data can be communicated through the data communication layer functional block of the first communication peer to a second communication peer.