A cloud proxy is an intermediary service that sits between users and protected resources, forwarding requests only after applying security policy. Instead of connecting directly to an application or internal network, traffic is brokered through the cloud layer, which can authenticate the user, check device posture, log activity, and hide the target service from direct exposure.
In cyber security, cloud proxies matter because they reduce attack surface and make access decisions centrally. They are often used in zero-trust and software-defined perimeter designs to avoid open inbound ports and limit what a user can reach. Defenders use them for segmentation, inspection, and consistent policy enforcement, while attackers may try to bypass them, abuse misconfigurations, or steal credentials to make the proxy authorize malicious access. The security value depends on strong identity checks, clear traffic routing, and reliable logging.