In one embodiment, the method for inspecting packets comprises broadcasting data units of packets to a plurality of finite state machine (FSM) comparison units, where each of the FSM comparison units implements a portion of a signature. The method further includes comparing the data units of the packets to signatures, including each FSM comparison unit of the plurality of FSM comparison units independently comparing one of the data units to its associated portion of one signature. The method also includes combining results of the plurality of FSM comparison units independently processing the data units using a logic combinatorial circuit.