6.2 Gateway

Thinfinity Gateway is a critical security and routing component within the Thinfinity® Workspace architecture. It functions primarily as a secure reverse proxy to bridge external users to internal network resources.

Key Responsibilities and Characteristics

Secure Entry Point

The Gateway acts as the sole, hardened entry point for all remote access attempts to connect to your organization's network. It is typically the only component exposed to the public internet and is often placed in a Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) or within a public cloud environment. This strategic placement ensures internal infrastructure (servers, applications, data) remains hidden, drastically reducing the attack surface.

Reverse Connections / Outbound-Only Traffic

Acting as a reverse proxy, your Gateway protects your internal network by intercepting external client requests. This strategic placement ensures that no internal nodes or servers are directly visible on the public internet; instead, clients only ever see the Gateway's IP, effectively cloaking your sensitive internal server ports.

Encrypted Communication

All data exchanged between the user's browser and internal resources is fully encrypted. The Gateway enforces end-to-end SSL/TLS encryption (e.g., TLS 1.3) for every communication channel, protecting sensitive data from eavesdropping.

Traffic Routing and Optimization

The Gateway intelligently routes user traffic to the appropriate Thinfinity Broker or Virtualization Agent within the internal network. It employs sophisticated logic to optimize connection paths based on factors such as Geographic Location (GEO IP), Server Load, or Administrative Preferences. This intelligent routing improves user experience by reducing lag.

Firewall-Friendly Design

The Gateway operates efficiently over standard web ports, primarily using HTTPS, which simplifies network security configurations and reduces potential attack vectors compared to solutions requiring numerous inbound ports.

Scalability and High Availability

Engineered for scalability and high availability, the Gateway can work seamlessly in load-balancing scenarios. Deploying multiple Gateway instances behind a load balancer increases capacity, provides fault tolerance by redirecting traffic if an instance fails, and ensures a seamless user experience under fluctuating demand.

Deployment Flexibility

The Gateway can be deployed in various scenarios, including on-premises DMZ deployment, public cloud deployment, hybrid cloud scenarios, or even as a "Gateway as a Service". This flexibility accommodates diverse organizational infrastructures and security policies.

Communication Gateway Role

To optimize performance and scalability using proximity-based access control, a Thinfinity Gateway can be configured as a Communication Gateway. Under the direction of the Main Gateway, it acts as a relay point to bring the connection closer to the end user and hosting server, significantly reducing response times and improving efficiency.