Identifying the Issues

It is fairly simple to create a reverse proxy service with an external DNS name to serve as a portal through the firewall to internal Web servers. However, further planning reveals that the issues involved in exposing internal content on the Internet are much more complex than simply providing a reverse proxy.

• Sensitive data that can flow freely within the safety of the firewall requires SSL encryption when transmitted over the Internet.
• Concerns regarding hackers dictate that internal DNS names, ports, etc. not be exposed on the Internet.
• Embedded object references that use internal DNS names, ports, etc. don't work when browsers are requesting them from the Internet.

The following section summarizes the Excelerator solutions to each of these issues.