What role does the Zabbix proxy serve?

The role of the Zabbix proxy is to collect data on behalf of the Zabbix server, especially from remote locations. Proxies are particularly useful in environments where direct communication between the Zabbix server and monitored devices may not be feasible due to network segmentation, latency issues, or other constraints. By deploying a proxy, organizations can aggregate monitoring data from various sources and then send this data back to the central Zabbix server for processing and visualization.

Using a proxy allows for improved efficiency and scalability of the Zabbix monitoring system. It also enables data collection from numerous distributed locations without overwhelming the Zabbix server, effectively reducing network load and improving performance. This is especially important for large infrastructures or setups that span multiple geographic locations.

The remaining options do not accurately represent the primary function of a Zabbix proxy. While backups and user management are essential for overall system administration, these tasks are typically handled directly by the Zabbix server. Similarly, interfacing directly with cloud services does not fall within the proxy's intended use; instead, the proxy’s main function revolves around data collection and forwarding to the server.