Administration Guide › SiteMinder Secure Proxy Server Overview › Introduction to the Secure Proxy Server › Traditional Reverse Proxy Server Architecture

Traditional Reverse Proxy Server Architecture

A reverse proxy server represents one or more destination servers. A typical use of reverse proxy architecture provides:

• Cached resources
• Security
• SSL acceleration
• Load balancing

Rather than requesting a resource directly from a destination server, the reverse proxy server caches much of the content from the destination servers, providing ready access for users. This type of proxy server deployment is considered a reverse proxy, because the proxy is transparent to the user and works on behalf of the destination servers in the enterprise. Multiple reverse proxy servers can be used for load balancing and can also provide some SSL acceleration for HTTPS requests. A reverse proxy server also provides an additional layer of security by insulating destination servers that reside behind the DMZ.