The processing of data packets sent over a communication session between a host and a server by a service gateway, includes: processing a data packet using a current hybrid-stateful or hybrid-stateless, processing method; checking whether a hybrid-stateless, or hybrid-stateful, condition is satisfied; when the condition is satisfied, changing from a hybrid-stateful to a hybrid-stateless processing method, or vice versa, for a subsequently received data packet; and otherwise, continue processing the subsequently received data packet using the current hybrid processing method.