In one embodiment, a method includes receiving capability information from an end host at a centralized security matrix in communication with a firewall and a plurality of end hosts, verifying at the centralized security matrix, a trust level of the end host, assigning at the centralized security matrix, a firewall function to the end host based on the trust level and capability information, and notifying the firewall of the firewall function assigned to the end host. Firewall functions are offloaded from the firewall to the end hosts by the centralized security matrix. An apparatus and logic are also disclosed herein.