A cloud network may include a distributed security switch (DSS). The DSS may be to receive configuration information from the hypervisor. The configuration information may include a set of access mode attributes and a security policy. The DSS may be to determine that a packet is to be directed from a source virtual machine to a target virtual machine. The DSS may be to identify an egress interface of the source virtual machine and an ingress interface of the target virtual machine. The egress interface may be associated with a first access mode attribute and the ingress interface being associated with a second access mode attribute. The DSS may be to selectively route the packet, using the shared memory, based on the first access mode attribute, the second access mode attribute, and the security policy.