The present disclosure relates to a communication method and system for converging a 5th-Generation (5G) communication system for supporting higher data rates beyond a 4th-Generation (4G) system with a technology for Internet of Things (IoT). The present disclosure may be applied to intelligent services based on the 5G communication technology and the IoT-related technology, such as smart home, smart building, smart city, smart car, connected car, health care, digital education, smart retail, security and safety services. A method for providing data protection to members of a Vertical Application Layer (VAL) group is provided. The method includes creating, by a group management server, the VAL group based on a VAL group creation request from a VAL server, announcing, by the group management server, a VAL group creation information to at least one group management client from a plurality of group management clients, registering, by the group management server, at least one group management client as a VAL group member from a plurality of group management clients, and sharing, by the group management server, VAL group member information comprising an identity list with the at least one group management client.