Topic summary
Forward proxy
Extracted from the Wikipedia article Proxy server.
Forward proxy vs. reverse proxy
A forward proxy is a server that routes traffic between clients and another system, which is, in most cases, external to the network. This means it can regulate traffic according to preset policies, convert and mask client IP addresses, enforce security protocols, and block unknown traffic. A forward proxy enhances security and policy enforcement within an internal network. A reverse proxy, instead of protecting the client, is used to protect the servers.