The invention is directed to techniques for processing messages to be transferred from a first network to a second network, the method comprising the steps of receiving a message at a second data communications device coupling the first and second networks, determining that the message is associated with a data path through a first data communications device that couples the first and second networks independently from the second data communications device and processing the message to maintain a connection associated with the message, the connection existing between a first computerized device operating in the first network and a second computerized device operating in the second network.