HTTPS Reverse Proxy - Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure Reverse Proxy

What is HTTPS Reverse Proxy?

An HTTPS Reverse Proxy is a reverse proxy server that handles encrypted (HTTPS) requests from clients, decrypts them, and forwards the plain HTTP request to internal backend servers. It can also encrypt responses before sending them back to the client.

Why is HTTPS Reverse Proxy useful?

HTTPS Reverse Proxies are useful for: - TLS termination (offloading SSL decryption from backend servers) - Security: ensures encrypted communication with clients - Load balancing of HTTPS traffic - Centralized SSL certificate management - Access control, monitoring, and rate limiting

How it works?

  • The client sends an HTTPS request to the reverse proxy.

  • The proxy decrypts the request (TLS termination).

  • It then forwards the HTTP request to the appropriate backend server.

  • The backend sends a response, which may be re-encrypted and returned to the client over HTTPS.

Tools like NGINX, Apache HTTP Server, and HAProxy are commonly used as HTTPS reverse proxies.

Where is HTTPS Reverse Proxy used?

HTTPS Reverse Proxies are used in: - Web applications and APIs - Microservices architectures - Enterprise networks - Cloud and CDN platforms - SSL offloading and zero-trust security architectures

Which OSI layer does this protocol belong to?

HTTPS Reverse Proxies operate at the Application Layer (Layer 7), handling encrypted HTTP (HTTPS) traffic and often using Transport Layer (Layer 4) features for connection management.

Is HTTPS Reverse Proxy Windows specific?

No, HTTPS Reverse Proxies are not Windows specific. They can be configured and run on Windows, Linux, or macOS systems.

Is HTTPS Reverse Proxy Linux specific?

No, HTTPS Reverse Proxies are not Linux specific. While often deployed on Linux, they are available on multiple platforms including Windows and cloud-based services.

Which Transport Protocol is used by HTTPS Reverse Proxy?

HTTPS Reverse Proxies use: - TCP for establishing encrypted HTTPS connections - TLS (Transport Layer Security) over TCP for secure communication

Which Port is used by HTTPS Reverse Proxy?

  • Port 443 is the standard port used for HTTPS traffic

  • Custom ports may be configured for specific use cases or services

Is HTTPS Reverse Proxy using Client server model?

Yes, it uses the client-server model: - The client (browser or API consumer) connects to the reverse proxy - The proxy acts as a server to the client and a client to backend servers

Topics in this section,

  • In this section, you are going to learn

  • Terminology

  • Version Info

  • rfc details

  • setup

  • setup

  • packet details

  • usecases

  • features

  • Reference links