A forward proxy is a server that sits between a user’s device and the internet, routing outbound requests on the client’s behalf. Rather than connecting directly to a destination, the client sends its request to the proxy, which evaluates it, forwards it to the target server, and returns the response to the client. 

This intermediary position gives organizations a layer of control over who accesses what. IT teams can use a forward proxy to enforce browsing policies, filter content, log traffic, and block connections to known malicious destinations. Because requests originate from the proxy’s IP address rather than the user’s, a forward proxy also provides a degree of IP masking, keeping individual devices less visible to external servers. 

Forward proxies are commonly deployed alongside firewalls and other security tools to add inspection capabilities that basic packet filtering cannot provide. Unlike a firewall, a forward proxy typically holds traffic until it has been evaluated rather than passing it through while inspection is still underway. 

A reverse proxy serves the opposite function, sitting in front of servers rather than clients.