Embodiments include a method, system, and computer program product for managing workloads in a network. A switch receives data associated with a workload. The received data is tagged with an identifier that associates the data with the workload. The received data is compressed based on determining that second data stored in a buffer of the switch exceeds a threshold. The switch stores the compressed data in the buffer. The compressed data is transmitted to a second network based on a determination that the switch is over-subscribed.