What is the primary benefit of implementing a proxy server in a network security redesign?

Implementing a proxy server in a network security redesign primarily enhances traffic security through application-layer filtering. A proxy server acts as an intermediary between clients and the resources they access on the internet. By analyzing incoming and outgoing traffic, it can inspect data at the application layer to identify and block potentially harmful content, such as malware or malicious websites. This filtering capability helps in preventing security threats before they reach the client’s network, thereby safeguarding sensitive data and reducing the risk of attacks.

While the other functions mentioned, such as load balancing, VPN access, and caching, are beneficial features of proxy servers, they do not directly relate to the primary security focus of filtering and inspecting traffic. By prioritizing application-layer filtering, organizations can enforce security policies more effectively and maintain a higher level of control over their network traffic.