Deflecting Hackers with a Reverse Proxy Server
Are you tired of being hacked, and do you need solutions that help you stay safe online? Consider deflecting hackers with a reverse proxy server.
Hackers are getting more and more sophisticated and daring. Hackers invade someone’s privacy every 39 seconds. Hacking is now a global cyber epidemic, and it’s costing companies $2.1 trillion dollars every year. If you’re looking for a way to keep information more secure, a reverse proxy server may be the solution.
What is a reverse proxy server?
A reverse proxy server has some traits in common with a regular forward proxy server in that it also serves as an intermediary between clients and origin servers – those that process and answer clients’ data requests. The difference is subtle but very important. A regular proxy server sits in front of client devices; but a reverse proxy server occupies a position at a network’s edge in front of the origin servers. From this position, the reverse proxy server intercepts client requests and then forwards them to the web servers. This function is brilliant for security purposes. Let’s take a look at how it helps keep hackers at bay.
Masking your IP address
Your IP address is like your home address. It can let people know exactly where you are on this planet. For many reasons, you may want to hide this sensitive information. Reverse proxy servers intercept client requests, which means that web servers have no direct communication with client computers. The reverse proxy server adds an extra layer of security by concealing the identity of those web servers. This increases web site protection, as hackers are only able to attack the reverse proxy server. And a good reverse proxy server can put up a strong defense against attacks.
Enabling load balancing
The reverse proxy takes responsibility for the distribution of client requests across the web servers. Thus, it maintains maximum speed and processing efficiency without overloading any one server. This not only enhances the client’s user experience but can also safeguard from attacks designed to overload a server. With multiple servers in use, even if one becomes overloaded and fails, the others may remain functional.
Scrubbing traffic
Scrubbing traffic is a fantastic feature that enables you to prevent malicious packets of data or unwanted hackers’ requests from reaching the web servers. Reverse proxy servers positioned in front of the backend servers are able to scrub traffic so that nothing malicious passes through onto your backend servers. To reduce the overall impact, the system distributes all incoming traffic across a network of reverse proxy servers during a Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attack.
Protecting sensitive data
All enterprises have data that needs to remain secure, such as financial data, trade secrets or prototype blueprints. With file transfer servers in your DMZ (also called a “perimeter network”), all confidential information you have stored on hard drives becomes vulnerable to outside threats. A reverse proxy offers the possibility of transferring DMZ-based file transfer servers to an internal, network thereby mitigating the threat of hacking.
The bottom line
The need for effective data-protection strategies continues to rise steadily. As ground-breaking technological advancements appear, hackers are also putting in significant efforts to keep up. Looking for ways to ensure the safety of your information is a must. The importance of investing in top-notch security cannot be understated as a single security breach could bring an enterprise crashing down.
Two of the most popular open source reverse proxy load balancers are Nginx and Haproxy. You can learn more about other reverse proxies options here.
