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Proxy server

nounverified·updated May 9, 2026

A server that services the requests of its clients by forwarding those requests to other servers.

MWENISTIR 7298: Glossary of Key Information Security Terms, Revision 2

Senses

SANS Glossary of Security Terms

A server that acts as an intermediary between a workstation user and the Internet so that the enterprise can ensure security, administrative control, and caching service. A proxy server is associated with or part of a gateway server that separates the enterprise network from the outside network and a firewall server that protects the enterprise network from outside intrusion.

ISACA Cybersecurity Glossary

A server that acts on behalf of a user Scope Note: Typical proxies accept a connection from a user, make a decision as to whether the user or client IP address is permitted to use the proxy, perhaps perform additional authentication, and complete a connection to a remote destination on behalf of the user.

Federal Financial Institutions Examination Council (FFIEC) IT Examination Handbook Infobase, Glossary

An Internet server that controls client computers' access to the Internet. Using a proxy server, a company can stop employees from accessing undesirable websites, improve performance by storing webpages locally, and hide the internal network's identity so monitoring is difficult for external users.

NIST SP 800-171r3attested usage pack match

No definition is given in NIST SP 800-171r3. The term is attested in use at 1 citation in that document; a definition is pending curation.

Classifications

Entity Type

Network95%rule-basedr:entity.network.gear.v1
?unassignedlast reviewed

Sensitivity

unclassified

Information Class

unclassified

Variants

plural
Proxy servers
possessive
Proxy server's
pluralpossessive
Proxy servers'