Techniques and architecture are described that utilize switchport protected flags to provide switchport protected functionality across network devices, e.g., switches, routers, etc., in fabric networks. For example, a first port of a first network device of a fabric network receives a packet from a first host destined for a second host. The second host is onboarded to the fabric network via a second port of a second network device. It is determined (i) if a first protected flag associated with the first port of the first network device is set as true and (ii) if a second protected flag associated with the second host is set as true. Based at least in part on (i) the first protected flag associated with the first port being set as true and (ii) the second protected flag being set as true, the first network device drops the packet.