What is a potential limitation of using a proxy firewall?

The potential limitation of using a proxy firewall that stands out is the possibility of adding latency to network communication. This occurs because a proxy firewall acts as an intermediary between the client and the destination server. When a request is made, the proxy server must first receive the request, process it, and then forward it to the destination. Once the response is received from the destination server, the proxy must again process it and send it back to the original client. This additional step of processing can slow down the overall communication, particularly in high-throughput environments or when managing large amounts of data.

Understanding this limitation is crucial when designing network security measures, as any increase in latency can affect application performance and user experience. Organizations must weigh the benefits of the additional security features provided by a proxy firewall against this potential drawback.