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Businesses use proxy technologies to mediate traffic, apply access and security policies, and protect public-facing applications. The right design depends on which traffic needs control: a forward proxy handles requests going out from users, a reverse proxy handles requests coming in to an application, and a secure web gateway (SWG) applies security controls between users and internet services. Zero-trust network access (ZTNA) is related, but it focuses on granting access to specific private applications rather than acting as a general-purpose proxy.
What a proxy does in a business network
A proxy is an intermediary that makes or receives requests on behalf of another party. It gives an organization a point in the traffic path where requests can be routed, governed by policy, or inspected. The position of that intermediary determines what it can help protect.
Enterprise networks now span offices, remote devices, cloud platforms, SaaS applications, and distributed services. NIST’s Guide to a Secure Enterprise Network Landscape describes this changing environment and discusses approaches including secure web gateways, VPNs, SASE, and ZTNA. These are related options in a broader architecture, not interchangeable names for one technology.
Forward proxy vs. reverse proxy vs. SWG and ZTNA
| Technology | Where it sits | Primary role |
|---|---|---|
| Forward proxy | Between users or a business network and internet resources | Mediates outbound requests; policies can control which sites or services users reach. |
| Reverse proxy | In front of a business application or server | Mediates incoming client requests to a public-facing website, API, or other service. |
| Secure web gateway (SWG) | Between users and internet resources | Applies web-security policies, such as URL filtering or malware scanning. It may use proxy technology or another deployment form. |
| Zero-trust network access (ZTNA) | At the access boundary for private applications | Grants access to specific private resources based on identity and policy, rather than treating a connection as broad access to the network. |
Products can combine these functions, but the terms describe different roles. A proxy describes an intermediary in a traffic flow; an SWG describes a security service; and ZTNA describes an access approach. A VPN, SASE architecture, or proxy can be part of a wider design without replacing the need to decide which resources and traffic require protection.
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What businesses use proxy technologies for
Control outbound employee web access
A forward proxy or SWG can enforce URL and domain rules, manage access to applications, and scan web traffic for malware. Some services also describe data-loss prevention (DLP) and HTTPS inspection capabilities. Those features can help apply consistent controls to employee browsing, but inspection is a policy choice—not a reason to decrypt every connection by default.
Before enabling encrypted-traffic inspection, an organization should define its scope, exceptions, certificate handling, user notice, and treatment of personal or regulated information. The appropriate approach depends on legal obligations, privacy expectations, and the data employees may access.
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- 【Five Gigabit Ports】1 Gigabit WAN Port plus 2 Gigabit WAN/LAN Ports plus 2 Gigabit LAN Port. Up to 3 WAN ports optimize bandwidth usage through one device.
- 【One USB WAN Port】Mobile broadband via 4G/3G modem is supported for WAN backup by connecting to the USB port. For complete list of compatible 4G/3G modems, please visit TP-Link website.
- 【Abundant Security Features】Advanced firewall policies, DoS defense, IP/MAC/URL filtering, speed test and more security functions protect your network and data.
- 【Highly Secure VPN】Supports up to 20× LAN-to-LAN IPsec, 16× OpenVPN, 16× L2TP, and 16× PPTP VPN connections.
- Security - SPI Firewall, VPN Pass through, FTP/H.323/PPTP/SIP/IPsec ALG, DoS Defence, Ping of Death and Local Management. Standards and Protocols IEEE 802.3, 802.3u, 802.3ab, IEEE 802.3x, IEEE 802.1q
Apply controls to remote and SaaS access
A cloud-delivered SWG can inspect and apply policies to traffic headed to internet-hosted SaaS services. How that traffic reaches the service depends on the design: options include endpoint agents, network tunnels, or other on-ramps. A deployment only governs the traffic actually routed through it, so coverage should be verified for managed and remote devices, applications, and network paths.
ZTNA addresses a different access problem: giving an employee or partner access to particular private applications based on identity and policy. NIST’s Implementing a Zero Trust Architecture: High-Level Document frames this around resources spread across on-premises and multiple cloud environments, including access for hybrid workers and partners.
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- 【Flexible Port Configuration】1 Gigabit SFP WAN Port + 1 Gigabit WAN Port + 2 Gigabit WAN/LAN Ports plus1 Gigabit LAN Port. Up to four WAN ports optimize bandwidth usage through one device.
- 【Increased Network Capacity】Maximum number of associated client devices – 150,000. Maximum number of clients – Up to 700.
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- 【Cloud Access】Remote Cloud access and Omada app brings centralized cloud management of the whole network from different sites—all controlled from a single interface anywhere, anytime.
- 【SDN Compatibility】For SDN usage, make sure your devices/controllers are either equipped with or can be upgraded to SDN version. SDN controllers work only with SDN Gateways, Access Points & Switches. Non-SDN controllers work only with non-SDN APs. For devices that are compatible with SDN firmware, please visit TP-Link website.
Mediate requests to public applications
A reverse proxy receives requests before they reach a business application or server. Because it is positioned in front of the application, it can mediate incoming traffic and support public-application protection. As one vendor-described example, Cloudflare says its Spectrum product acts as a reverse proxy for TCP/UDP applications and provides Layer 4 DDoS protection and IP firewall controls. Those are the vendor’s stated product capabilities, not an independent comparison of protection effectiveness.
Route traffic and improve security visibility
Proxy and gateway services can provide a point to route traffic, apply rules, and collect security information. Site-to-site tunnels, endpoint agents, and network on-ramps are different ways to direct traffic to a cloud security service; they are not equivalent deployment choices. Network layout, the applications in use, device management, and performance requirements affect which approach fits.
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- Increase Capacity and Efficiency – Supporting not only MU-MIMO but also OFDMA technique to efficiently allocate channels, communicate with multiple devices simultaneously
- 5 Gigabit ports – One Gigabit WAN port and four Gigabit LAN ports, 10X faster than 100–Base T Ethernet.
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How to choose an architecture
Start with the traffic and resource you need to protect, then assess how a proposed service will be deployed and operated. NIST’s network guidance treats SWG, VPN, SASE, and ZTNA as approaches within a wider landscape rather than a universal single-choice solution.
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One free scan finds every outdated or missing driver and matches the right update for your exact hardware.Free scan · exact hardware match- Identify the direction and asset. Decide whether the need is outbound employee web control, inbound protection for a public application, or identity-based access to private applications.
- Map deployment and routing. Compare a local appliance, software, cloud service, endpoint agent, network tunnel, or mixed design. Confirm which users, devices, applications, and traffic paths are actually covered.
- Check identity and policy. Establish how users and devices authenticate, how access is segmented, and whether rules apply at the user, application, or resource level.
- Set inspection and data-control requirements. Determine whether URL filtering, malware scanning, application awareness, DLP, or encrypted-traffic inspection is needed. Define acceptable exceptions and handling for sensitive data.
- Plan operations and governance. Review logging, incident response, certificate lifecycle, privacy notices, service availability, latency, and the division of responsibilities between the organization and provider.
- Fit the components to the architecture. Choose an SWG, reverse proxy, VPN, ZTNA, SASE, or a combination based on the specific access and protection requirements.
Cloudflare’s SASE reference architecture describes a progressive path in which organizations prioritize use cases and adopt SWG or ZTNA services over time; it also notes that some organizations use multiple vendors. This is vendor architecture guidance, so validate any proposed sequence against internal requirements rather than treating it as a universal migration plan.
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What the available evidence does—and does not—show
NIST’s 2025 zero-trust implementation guide reports that the NCCoE worked with 24 collaborators under Cooperative Research and Development Agreements to integrate commercially available technology and build 19 example implementations. Those figures describe NIST example implementations, not the number or share of businesses adopting zero trust or proxy technology.
These descriptions explain the roles and possible capabilities of proxy-related services, but they do not establish a general performance ranking or business-adoption rate. Product capabilities and outcomes should be assessed against the organization’s requirements and verified for the specific service and deployment being considered.
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