A flow deflection capability is provided for deflecting data flows within a Software Defined Network (SDN) in order to provide security for the SDN. A flow forwarding rule is generated for a first network element of the SDN based on detection of a condition (e.g., TCAM utilization condition, CPU utilization condition, or the like) associated with the first network element. The flow forwarding rule is generated by a control element of the SDN or the first network element of the SDN. The flow forwarding rule is indicative that at least a portion of new flow requests received at the first network element are to be forwarded from the first network element to a second network element of the SDN. The flow forwarding rule may specify full flow deflection or selective flow deflection.