The disclosed embodiments relate to a system that processes requests to access data item at an edge device in a network. During operation, the system receives the request to access the data item from a user, wherein the request is received at the edge device, and wherein the edge device communicates with an origin server, which stores data items. If the request includes a token identifier, the system uses the token identifier to look up a token payload in a token cache at the edge device. The system then decorates the request with fields from the token payload, and analyzes the decorated request to determine whether the user is authorized to access the data item. If the user is authorized to access the data item, the system looks up the data item in a content cache at the edge device, and returns the data item to the user to complete the request.