MicroNuggets: What is a Proxy Server? | CBT Nuggets

In this video, James Conrad explains what a proxy server is and the five main reasons for implementing a Proxy Server. Learn more about proxy server basics and start a free week of training with CBT Nuggets today.

A proxy server can make your network safer, faster, and more reliable thanks to five main functions.

First, a proxy can obscure client IP addresses. Also, it can block malicious traffic. Third, a proxy server can help block sites you or the company don't want visited. On top of that, a proxy can log the activity of users. And fifth, performance can be improved with a proxy.

These aren't the only five features of a proxy server, but they're the most obvious examples of what a proxy server can do for your network.

In all cases, the primary job of the proxy server is to take the traffic on the internal network and swap out its IP address for a public address when that traffic goes out to the Internet. The different methods and safeguards it has are where the five features that James explains come from.

1:00: All five functions of a proxy server
1:15: Obscuring IP addresses
3:00: Blocking malicious traffic
3:40: Blocking selected sites
4:05: Logging activity with a proxy server
4:30: Improving performance

Start learning with CBT Nuggets:

[beargrylls]

James is the best online trainer I have ever seen....

He knows how to make people understand the concept by giving funny examples. The stories are always entertaining. youre not just a trainer, you're an artist James. :)

[jasonhong]

I haven't seen a more clear explanation than this video. Thank You so much!

[aaaliiiu]

Nice explanation James; sorry about your crush.. :D

[gazmeister]

Awesome, explained what i needed/wanted to know. You seem interested and enthusiastic about the subject which made me interested as well +1. Brilliant

[samsaurus]

Its like a computerised ASAPscience, brilliantly informative.

[DJLNR]

i love the humour and jokes in this video, i always come back for just that as i know all of this well before youtube existed, i like to watch tutorial vids to pass on so i am not the only one talking around many friends, yes we geeks talk about many things where others who have no tech background talk about other people's business or simply say nothing..

[BluesOverdrive]

James videos are great, best I have ever seen. It's like learning with fun.

[joyl]

Thank you. I learned a lot from this, including why a proxy is really quite closer to part of an online privacy routine, whereas a VPN is better for what I'm looking for!

[cbtnuggets]

Murali, thanks for feedback! Surf our channel and let us know what you think. You can also leave us a MicroNugget request in the link found in the description above.

[allisongray]

Great illustration! It’s very creative. Proxy servers have many advantages. I have been using Instantproxies for a couple years now.

[Cheweetina]

Dude, explanation about blocking malicious traffic was AWESOME!!! Sorry about Shelley :)

[itpugil]

thank you man! ive been hearing about proxy servers but never truly understood what they are, you cleared that up! plus your enthusiasm and passion can be determined by your voice and presentation and i so admire that :)

[SambaranMondal]

Extremely well explained ! Simple to understand . Looking for more videos and complex scenarios ... Like where do they fit in corporate network, how to they work ... real time examples, etc. 

[Qweekedit]

love the way u talk and explain things very clear and it makes me very interested

[jonathanhart]

One of very few ads to get my attention and hold it, nice video

[abdullahnsy]

5min simple. This is what I need to know exactly. Thank you

[andyGPT]

Followed CBT Nuggets when I was doing my MCSA. on a new course now and am back

[datpspguy]

Great video, I liked the funny stories you added in to make it all come together. Thanks!!

[LisevanwijkYT]

Very informative ! You are funny btw haha thanks !

[kmu]

Great explanation. You explained it in a simple way. Good work.