US Patent 7974286 Reduced redundant security screening

A computer implemented method, apparatus, and computer usable program code for screening data packets. A determination is made as to whether a signature of a trusted security element is present in a header of the data packet in response to receiving a data packet. The signature indicates that a previous security action has been performed on the data packet. A security action is performed on the data packet based on the previous security action performed on the data packet in response to the signature of the trusted security element being present.