Describe the function of a reverse proxy server and its key benefits in securing and optimizing web traffic.

A reverse proxy server sits in front of one or more web servers, intercepting client requests and forwarding them to the appropriate backend server. Unlike a forward proxy, which acts on behalf of clients to access external resources, a reverse proxy acts on behalf of servers to protect and optimize access to them. When a client sends a request to a web server, the request first goes to the reverse proxy. The reverse proxy then forwards the request to the appropriate backend server, retrieves the response, and sends it back to the client. The client is unaware of the existence of the backend servers and interacts only with the reverse proxy. Key benefits of using a reverse proxy for securing web traffic include: Hiding the internal structure of the web server. The reverse proxy hides the IP addresses and configurations of the backend servers from the outside world. This makes it more difficult for attackers to directly target the backend servers. Providing a single point of entry. The reverse proxy acts as a single point of entry for all web traffic. This simplifies security management and allows administrators to enforce security policies consistently. Implementing SSL encryption. The reverse proxy can handle SSL encryption and decryption, offloading this task from the backend servers. This improves performance and reduces the load on the backend servers. Protecting against DDoS attacks. The reverse proxy can filter malicious traffic and prevent DDoS attacks from overwhelming the backend servers. Integrating with Web Application Firewalls (WAFs). The reverse proxy can be integrated with a WAF to protect against application-layer attacks, such as SQL injection and cross-site scripting (XSS). Key benefits of using a reverse proxy for optimizing web traffic include: Load balancing. The reverse proxy can distribute traffic across multiple backend servers, preventing any single server from becoming overloaded. Caching. The reverse proxy can cache static content, such as images and CSS files, reducing the load on the backend servers and improving response times. Compression. The reverse proxy can compress web content, reducing the amount of data that needs to be transmitted over the network. This improves performance, especially for users with slow internet connections. Overall, a reverse proxy server provides a valuable layer of security and optimization for web traffic, protecting backend servers from attacks and improving performance for users.