What does a Proxy policy do in network security?

A Proxy policy in network security functions by acting as an intermediary for requests that clients make when seeking resources from other servers. This means that when a client wants to access a particular resource, they first connect to the proxy server, which then requests the resource on behalf of the client. The proxy server retrieves the resource and sends it back to the client.

This process serves several purposes: it helps to hide the client's IP address for anonymity, it can cache content to improve access speed, and it can also enforce security policies by inspecting and filtering the traffic that passes through it. The proxy can offer additional features, such as logging user activities, enforcing access controls, and applying security measures like malware filtering.

The other options do not accurately describe the main functions of a Proxy policy. While blocking all incoming traffic could be part of security measures, it does not specifically relate to the role of a proxy. User authentication controls and bandwidth management are important aspects of network security but are separate functions that do not pertain to the primary role of a proxy server as an intermediary between clients and servers.