A method (100) and an apparatus (e.g., a network node (210)) for providing enhanced security using service provider authentication. In addition to authenticating an application signature (245) against a root certificate (235) stored on the network node (210), a first carrier identification (250) associated with the application (240) is compared to a second carrier identification (255). If the first and second carrier identifications match, then the application can be assigned to a trusted protection domain and granted permissions which provide privileged access to the network node. For example, the application can be granted permission to be installed and/or executed on the network node. Otherwise the application can be denied privileged access. Accordingly, a carrier's applications will be only installed onto network nodes that are intended recipients of the applications.