Providing organizations with secure web access has become a top priority with cloud web gateways, cloud web filtering solutions, and cloud proxy solutions. Cloud service providers are essential, offering advanced solutions that enhance web security and data protection for businesses of all sizes. Hackers can use malicious phishing websites, malware, and viruses to gain access to your private data, so it is essential for employees to keep their personal information secure online.
To begin with, you should always use cloud-based web filtering services as your first line of defence. By using one of these security solutions, businesses can take precautions against the spread of online viruses and dangerous websites. The user can also receive reports about the behaviour they are engaging in online. Various configurations of web filtering platforms are available to suit different types of uses and other types of environments. It may be to the benefit of small and medium-sized businesses or educational institutions to use some, while large enterprises may be more interested in manipulating others.
You can learn more about the best cloud web gateways for businesses by looking at this article. It is essential to ensure they provide features, security, and reporting. To ensure you’re making the most cost-effective choice, consider a cloud cost optimization checklist. Among other subjects, we will discuss the effectiveness of their threat protection, the quality of their reporting, the features they provide, and the safeguarding of their data. The list below will assist you in finding the best Cloud Web Filtering Solutions available.
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Why is it Necessary to Use a Cloud Proxy?
The cloud proxy is a technique similar to reverse proxies in that client requests pass through the proxy before reaching a website, and responses (e.g., permission to access a website) give back to the client through the proxy. However, it is essential to note that the cloud proxy does not possess the same hardware restrictions as a traditional appliance-based proxy since it is hosted in the cloud rather than relying on a colocation data center.
How Does Cloud Proxy Work?
Cloud proxy services integrate with authentication services (such as single sign-on), enabling them to operate inline without agents. The cloud proxy automatically redirects incoming traffic to managed cloud apps, providing a straightforward user experience. If you’re interested in the technical details, you can learn how to set up a proxy server to better understand the backend processes involved.
By acting as middlemen or representatives for the servers where sensitive data resides, cloud proxy servers protect sensitive data (e.g., PCI). Client requests are routed first through the cloud proxy, then through a firewall port specified by that firewall, then to the content server, and then back to the cloud proxy. There is no direct communication between the client and the server; instead, the client interprets the responses as if they were. Following are the basic steps:
• Cloud proxy intercepts a request sent by the client and passes it on to the server
• It may be necessary for the cloud proxy to forward incoming requests to a firewall if necessary
• It is up to the firewall whether to block or forward the request to the server, depending on the situation that arises
• A firewall is placed between the server and the proxy server, which sends the response of the server over the internet
• When the cloud proxy receives a response, it sends it immediately to the client
Due to the elasticity of the cloud, all of the above is performed in near-real time, no matter how much traffic is coming in.
While cloud proxies protect sensitive data by filtering requests and responses through secure servers, residential proxies take a different approach by masking the client’s actual IP address. They route requests through residential networks, making the traffic appear like it’s coming from real users in specific locations. This additional layer of anonymity can be useful for situations where cloud proxies might still be detectable, such as for accessing geographically restricted content or scraping data from websites that block corporate IPs.
What are mobile proxies and how do they work?
Mobile proxies are proxy servers that use mobile IP addresses. They are assigned by mobile internet service providers to cellular devices. Here’s how they work and their typical uses:
- Source of IP Addresses: Mobile proxies source their IP addresses from mobile networks. Typically, these IP addresses are dynamically assigned to mobile devices like smartphones and tablets.
- Anonymity and Masking Location: Because these proxies use real mobile IP addresses, they offer high levels of anonymity. They can effectively mask your location and make your internet activity appear as if it’s coming from a mobile device in a different location.
- Dynamic IP Assignment: Mobile proxies often feature dynamic IP assignment, which means the IP address changes frequently. This is a common characteristic of mobile networks.
- Use Cases: Mobile proxies are popular for tasks where high anonymity is required. They’re used for web scraping, ad verification, avoiding geo-restrictions, and social media management, among other purposes. Their ability to mimic real user behavior makes them valuable in these scenarios.
- Benefits Over Other Proxies: Compared to traditional proxies, mobile proxies are less likely to be blocked or flagged by websites, as they use IPs that are perceived as real users by most online services. Similarly, residential proxies also utilize IP addresses from real residential areas, making them a reliable option for avoiding detection and maintaining anonymity online.
- Rotating IPs: Some mobile proxies provide rotating IP services, where the IP address changes after a set interval or after each session. This further enhances anonymity and reduces the risk of getting blocked.
- Cost and Accessibility: They might be more expensive than standard proxies due to the costs associated with mobile data plans. However, they offer unique advantages that can justify the cost in certain use cases. With Proxy.Coupons you can lessen the cost of the services by using discount coupons.
Learn more about mobile proxies; they are, without a doubt, a very powerful tool for individuals and businesses looking to navigate the web with a high degree of anonymity and efficiency, especially in scenarios where avoiding detection and simulating real-user behavior is crucial.
7 Best Cloud Proxy Solutions
Live Proxies
Live Proxies stands out in the cloud proxy market for its specialized residential and mobile proxy solutions. It offers both rotating and static residential proxies, along with rotating mobile proxies, tailored to both individual and enterprise needs. With a focus on stability and a vast IP range, Live Proxies is suitable for various applications like eCommerce, social media management, and market research. Its platform is designed for ease of use, with a clear dashboard and instant access to proxy analytics. Live Proxies emphasizes customer satisfaction and reliability, making it a competitive choice in the cloud proxy landscape.
MarsProxies
MarsProxies has one of the best cloud proxy solutions in the industry. Its proxies are fast, reliable, and affordable, with residential traffic that never expires. You can use them to efficiently perform automated-bot-driven activities like web scraping, sneaker shopping, social media management, and many other tasks that require high anonymity and security. The service has a versatile proxy catalog and intuitive dashboard, making it a go-to choice for all users. You can see data usage reports, proxy details, and how-to-use guides. MarsProxies IPs support HTTP/HTTPS and SOCKS5 protocols, so you can easily integrate them with different software applications. The plans are highly customizable, letting you choose whatever works for your needs and budget.
Oxylabs
Oxylabs’ cloud proxy solution is considered one of the best on the market. Using its services, you can efficiently perform proxy-driven tasks like marketing intelligence. Over 110 million IP addresses are available, and the service has global coverage.
With a colorful dashboard and an easy-to-navigate design, this software is easy to use. Statistical data about your usage can be accessed through this tool. Additionally, the website has sections dedicated to billing and ordering new services. It is not possible to manage proxies from the dashboard. Alternatively, Oxylabs’ products can easily be integrated with software that supports proxy usage. In addition to testing proxy servers, Oxylabs also offers a Google Chrome extension that enables users to browse the web while testing proxies.
ProxyCrawl Smart Proxy
ProxyCrawl protects against malware, browser exploits, and more. Providing proxies from the cloud to residential and mobile devices, ProxyCrawl has been among the best proxy providers of cloud-based proxies for many years. Real-time threat protection from a proxy ensures that it effectively detects and blocks web-based threats.
By using the admin controls provided by ProxyCrawl, you can customize the service according to your specific needs. Administrators can restrict bandwidth usage and filter particular URLs. An option in the program called ‘Continue Anyway’ can be used by advanced users. In addition to improving usability for end users and reducing IT support tickets, this approach allows people who know of a safe URL to access the site even if the platform deems it unsafe.
The service has been hailed for its ease of use and high customer performance. Using ProxyCrawl, you can block inbound email threats and integrate with various services and applications.
Bright Data
Bright Data can also be a free alternative to cloud proxy solutions. Several thousands of professionals worldwide currently trust this vendor for their security needs as we speak. It is a tool that provides a wide range of options that can be used to gather a wide range of information as it is a highly feature-rich tool. There will be a neat dashboard on the left side of the screen that you can use to keep track of your progress as you go along. A quick walkthrough guide gives an overview of all the services you can access on the website. The preview button allows you to see a snippet of each feature.
The console allows you to maintain your online proxy services from the same place as your other accounts. It has a pay-per-use service (PAYG) for its customers, which allows them to pay for their services. You can efficiently allocate bandwidth by allocating bandwidth, IP pools, and network ports based on IP pool size.
ScraperAPI
ScraperAPI is also highly recommended as one of the best cloud proxy solutions. Aside from CAPTCHAs, this program can detect bots in the form of JavaScript and other forms of bot detection. An easy-to-use scraper tool is included with the service, which has over 40 million IP addresses from different countries. Whenever they are started, IPs rotate automatically in the background. The raw HTML of any site can be retrieved by entering its URL. You can use a static IP address if you want a more permanent session.
The desktop and mobile user agents are also available, as are custom headers, automatic retries, and custom headers. If you want to make your traffic appear from a computer or phone, you may be able to do so. However, it is less sophisticated than others, so you’ll have to parse the data manually since it is not as complex. It is the ideal solution for developers with their scraping solutions due to its simplicity and API access.
Smartproxy
Smartproxy is one of the best cloud proxy solutions for consumers and businesses. This tool works best for basic scraping tasks on the internet, including data collection and extraction. With BackConnect Proxies, you get back-connect proxies, anonymous browsing, and global connectivity, and that’s just the tip of the iceberg!
Setup is a straightforward process that needs to be followed to ensure a smooth experience. You can choose either the Firefox or Google Chrome extension when you install the extension since it is possible to select both browsers. Both dashboards feature a simple user interface. This website has an excellent organization of all its features. Last but not least, there is 24/7 chat support available through this service.
With this proxy service, you can access a wide range of features. Data centres owned by the company can be found in eight different cities worldwide. Consequently, you can access 40 million IP addresses. Proxy connections can be made simultaneously with the service. These methods allow you to access geo-blocked resources easily.
Final Thoughts
Thank you for taking the time to read this article; I hope you found it useful. Using a proxy enhances the control and visibility over the threats coming from all the different areas of a company’s operations, enables the enforcement of all established policies to avoid incidents from occurring, and improves the security of the company itself.
Andrej Fedek is the creator and the one-person owner of two blogs: InterCool Studio and CareersMomentum. As an experienced marketer, he is driven by turning leads into customers with White Hat SEO techniques. Besides being a boss, he is a real team player with a great sense of equality.