Patent attributes
In one embodiment, a method for applying security policy in an overlay network includes receiving a request, including a packet, for a communication path through an overlay network, determining whether a security policy is to be applied to the packet based on at least one of: contents of the packet, first information, and second information, selecting a communication path between a source physical switch and a destination physical switch, wherein the selected communication path directly connects the source physical switch to the destination physical switch when it is determined to not apply the security policy to the packet, and the selected communication path connects the source physical switch to the destination physical switch via a security appliance when it is determined to apply the security policy to the packet, and sending the selected communication path to the source physical switch.