Forward Proxy

A proxy server that sits between clients and the broader internet, forwarding outbound requests on behalf of those clients. The destination server sees only the proxy's IP address, providing client anonymity. Forward proxies are used for content filtering (blocking categories of sites in corporate networks), caching (reducing repeated external bandwidth usage), access control, and security inspection via TLS interception with a corporate root CA. Common forward proxy software includes Squid, Privoxy, and the built-in proxy in enterprise security platforms such as Zscaler and Palo Alto Prisma.