What’s an SSL Proxy?

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An SSL proxy is a device, usually a router or computer, that routes traffic from a client to other servers using the Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) protocol. SSL is an encrypted protocol that creates a secure connection from one client to another client or server. SSL is often used in conjunction with Hypertext Transfer Protocol to create a more secure connection when browsing the Internet; the resulting protocol, or language in simpler terms, is known as HTTPS.

The function of a proxy server is to route and filter traffic for a network or client. In a typical scenario, the client, usually a computer, sends out a request, usually for the World Wide Web, and the proxy server receives that request, filters it, and routes it accordingly. The advantage of a proxy server is that it can centralize network traffic and provide security at the same time.

The proxy can filter requests using almost any specific criteria it wants. For example, if a company wanted traffic only to exit its core network, to another network or the World Wide Web at a specific time of day, they could set up the proxy server to block all traffic outside the network for the rest of the time. Because the traffic passed through a server, it could also be monitored for usage statistics; something useful for many companies.

Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) is a protocol that encrypts data for security purposes. In addition to encryption, it also uses a certificate system that other computers or servers use to validate its authenticity. The HTTPS protocol, the combination of HTTP and SSL, is widely used in creating secure connections on the Internet. Many companies that accept credit cards online, for example, use the HTTPS protocol so that no one can tap into the data stream and extract sensitive information.

The primary purpose of an SSL proxy is to protect sensitive data at scale. There are many cases where this would be desirable. A typical example would be a large company that handled sensitive data, such as financial or legal information. Your network might be configured so that all outgoing traffic, whether from the entire company or just from a particular department, goes through an SSL proxy. This could create an extra layer of protection when sending information, especially data that needed to go out onto the internet.

Another typical use for an SSL proxy server would be for businesses that accept payments of some sort. Often, they have a reverse SSL proxy. The reverse proxy takes incoming traffic, rather than outgoing traffic, and can keep the SSL protocol intact and keep the inside of the network hidden from possible intruders.

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