A priority server for a provider network includes a traffic volume detection module, a traffic analyzer module, and a rules module. The traffic volume detection module receives operational information from the provider network and determines that a host is experiencing a flash event based upon the operational information. The traffic analyzer module determines that the flash event is not a distributed denial of service attack on the host. When it is determined that the flash event is not a distributed denial of service attack, the rules module provides a priority rule to an access router that is coupled to the host. The priority rule is based upon a characteristic of packets routed in the provider network that are associated with the flash event, and the characteristic is determined not solely by information included in the packets.