A network system includes a security device and a network access device. The network access device is to receive a packet from a source node destined to a destination node, and to examine a data structure maintained by the network access device to determine whether the data structure stores a data member having a predetermined value, the data member indicating whether the packet should undergo security processing. If the data member matches the predetermined value, the packet is transmitted to a security device associated with the network access device to allow the security device to perform content inspection, and in response to a response received from the security device, the packet is routed to the destination node dependent upon the response. The packet is routed to the destination node without forwarding the packet to the security device.