What’s in a Name? Full Proxies Explained

Understanding Proxies: Half Proxy, Forward Proxy, Reverse Proxy, and Full Proxy

Proxies play a critical role in network security, and understanding their differences can significantly impact how effectively you manage your cyber security risks. There are three definitive kinds of proxies (with a range of others that fit into these main categories), each with their own uses: half proxies, reverse proxies and full proxies.

Half Proxy

A half proxy, often known as a “transparent proxy,” handles initial connection setups but doesn’t inspect or control traffic beyond this initial handshake. It simply forwards data packets without detailed inspection or modification. This can be beneficial for straightforward scenarios where minimal interference is required, but its security capabilities are significantly limited.

Forward Proxy

A forward proxy acts on behalf of the client, intercepting requests from users that seek resources from servers on the internet. The main function of a forward proxy is to manage and control client access to external resources. These bolster security by making sure that the client’s IP address is anonymous, enable content filtering, and provide control access to external servers. So, it’s important to remember that the scope of forward proxies is limited to managing outgoing requests rather than meticulously analysing inbound traffic.

Reverse Proxy

A reverse proxy serves as an intermediary for requests coming from clients seeking resources from servers. Unlike forward proxies, which act on behalf of clients, reverse proxies represent servers. They enhance performance through caching, provide load balancing, and offer security benefits such as hiding the server’s IP address. However, reverse proxies typically manage traffic only towards a particular set of servers rather than fully inspecting all data in transit

Full Proxy

A full proxy establishes separate connections – one from the client to the proxy and another from the proxy to the destination server. This configuration allows the proxy to deeply inspect, manage, modify, or even block traffic in both directions, providing the most comprehensive security controls when comparing with half and reverse proxies.