Apache HTTP Server as a Reverse Proxy

A Java application server should never be exposed directly to the internet. Apache HTTP as a reverse proxy adds security, SSL termination, and static file serving.

mod_proxy vs. mod_jk¶

mod_proxy is suitable for simple scenarios (HTTP proxy). mod_jk is more efficient (binary AJP protocol) and better for clustering.

SSL Termination¶

SSL is terminated at Apache — the Java server communicates over plain HTTP on the local network. This simplifies certificate management and offloads encryption from the JVM.

Security Headers¶

X-Frame-Options, X-Content-Type-Options, X-XSS-Protection, Strict-Transport-Security. Apache handles all of these on behalf of the application server.

Static Content¶

CSS, JavaScript, and images are served directly by Apache. mod_deflate for compression, caching headers. The Java server can then focus purely on business logic.

In Conclusion¶

Apache as a reverse proxy is a well-proven pattern. SSL termination, security headers, and static files — all managed in one place.