A method (200) for providing debug services between two SIP compliant endpoints is presented. The method extends SIP compliance by including a SIP DEBUG message (370). The method (200) extends the SIP protocol for allowing SIP compliant endpoints to configure themselves for providing debug capabilities. The endpoints can be a SIP client (110), a SIP server (120), or a SIP proxy (115). The method can include the steps of sending a SIP INVITE request from a first device to a second device to initiate a SIP session, receiving a SIP INVITE response from the second device, sending a SIP DEBUG request from the first device to the second device to initiate a debug session, receiving a SIP DEBUG response from the second device, and providing encrypted debugging services during the SIP session between the first SIP compliant device and the second SIP compliant device. The SIP DEBUG message can include a debug header field for invoking a method call on a second SIP compliant product which includes a list of variables accessible to the first SIP compliant product as a result of the method call.