One embodiment of the present invention provides a system that facilitates serving data from a cache server. The system operates upon receiving a request for the data at the cache server. The system first determines if the request requires access control, and also if the data is available in the cache. If the request requires access control and if the data is available in the cache, the system sends an authorization request to an origin server. Upon receiving a response from the origin server, the system determines if the response is an authorization. If so, the system sends the data to the requester.