The world of the internet is quite complicated in the back end but simple in the front end. There are numerous network terminologies like server, client, lag, proxy, router, and many others to remember for a normal person. Amongst all, the proxy server is one thing that is quite useful in personal and professional life.
Proxy servers are quite common in our lives as the majority of the big companies use them for managing the network. Whenever you are in the office, you might be using the proxy server to access the internet.
But what is a proxy server? How does it work? Why is it used in professional life? You must have more than a few questions in your mind. In this blog post, you will learn everything about proxy servers and how they work.
What is a Proxy Server?
The proxy server is an intermediary between the client and a destination server. In short, it’s a server that is connected to the client as well as the internet to facilitate communication between both.
The internet traffic from the client to the internet flows through the proxy server. When receiving the response from the internet, the safe traffic is flown through the proxy server to the client.
Being an intermediary in the network connection helps the clients to stay safe from security threats. Also, it’s a great way to monitor network traffic and also bypass internet restrictions.
How Does a Proxy Server Work?
Computer enthusiasts must have gleaned the gist of the proxy server operations. But for non-tech people like you, let’s break down all the steps that happen in the backend of the proxy servers.
- When the client system submits a request to access an IP address on the internet, the request passes through the proxy server.
- The proxy server processes the request and sends it to the internet service provider.
- The ISP will process the request, DNS system will find the IP address and return the information to the proxy server.
- The proxy server will again process the information and pass it to the client system. The client system will now show the information in the browser or any other platform.
That’s it! This is how simple the backend working of the proxy servers is. The proxy servers can be customized as per the needs. The users can put the filters for processing the data or even block certain websites or IP addresses.
That's why proxy servers are used in corporate companies to prevent employees from visiting certain websites. Also, they are used to block unnecessary advertisements on the internet with ad filters.
Proxy servers are versatile, and they work fascinatingly well to enhance the internet browsing experience or even access the local network.
What are the Benefits of Using Proxy Servers?
The proxy servers are used for more than a few reasons. Let's learn about the benefits of proxy servers.
#1 – Improved Network Monitoring
Proxy servers are intermediaries and it’s quite easy to monitor the traffic passing through them. The big organizations, educational institutes, and even some vigilant parents use proxy servers to monitor the network traffic.
This way, they can know which client device is using the internet and visit what type of websites. This is quite beneficial as finding bad websites, irregular network activities, and blocking websites becomes easier.
#2 – Filtering the Data
When the proxy server receives the data from the internet, it passes it directly to the client devices. With the use of data filters, network traffic can be filtered to avoid unwanted information. This is quite useful to block certain websites, certain IP addresses, and even certain elements in the data.
This way, institutions and corporations can easily block websites or even block unwanted advertisements on the websites.
#3 – Improved Security
One of the biggest benefits of the proxy servers is the improved security. With the use of proxy servers as a VPN, you can easily mask your original IP address while browsing the internet. The VPN proxy servers act as a security firewall for your entire internet browsing experience. This removes the geo-specific restrictions and also protects the clients from internet threats.
Final Words
Internet browsing has become difficult due to online threats like viruses, malware, spyware, advertisements, trackers, and many other things. That's why using a proxy server to avoid direct exposure to threats is very important.
Corporations, institutions, and individuals use proxy servers in various ways to protect their privacy, have improved security, filter certain data, and also monitor network traffic.
In short, proxy servers are extensively used in one way or another.