1. A network element for receiving a signaling message containing mobile application part (MAP) protocol information and screening the message based on the MAP protocol information, the network element comprising: (a) a communication module capable of receiving from a communication network and transmitting to a communication network a signaling message including MAP information; (b) a signaling connection control part (SCCP) screening process for receiving the signaling message from the communication module and determining whether the signaling message is a candidate for MAP screening based on at least one SCCP parameter in the signaling message; and (c) a MAP screening process for, in response to receiving the message from the SCCP screening process, analyzing the MAP information to determine whether authorization is required for routing the signaling message to a destination node.