Proxy Surfing

What Does Proxy Surfing Mean?

Proxy surfing refers to accessing theInternetvia aconnection provided by a proxy server. Proxy surfing is advantageous in situations where Internet access must be provided to a large number of network users.

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Techopedia Explains Proxy Surfing

Most organizations use proxy servers for proxy surfing, which provides Web access while controlling Internet usage.

Proxy surfing benefits include:

Simplified configuration: Each user browser is configured for Internet access with the same proxy server IP address. Without a proxy server, separate Internet access configuration would be required for individual computer browsers. Certain networks, such as Windows, automate this step through a set of group policy rules.
Improved security: All Web access requests must clear a proxy server. This provides an excellent security enforcement point against Internet malware for an organization’s computers.

Faster response times: Caching is a proxy server feature. When a user connects to a Web page, the proxy server saves that page for a standard period. The cached Web page version is retrieved from the proxy server’s local cache, rather than the Internet, which dramatically improves website response.

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Margaret Rouse

Margaret Rouse is an award-winning technical writer and teacher known for her ability to explain complex technical subjects to a non-technical, business audience. Over the past twenty years her explanations have appeared on TechTarget websites and she's been cited as an authority in articles by the New York Times, Time Magazine, USA Today, ZDNet, PC Magazine and Discovery Magazine.Margaret's idea of a fun day is helping IT and business professionals learn to speak each other’s highly specialized languages. If you have a suggestion for a new definition or how to improve a technical explanation, please email Margaret or contact her…