3 Cutting-Edge Proxy Books to Explore in 2025

Discover top Proxy Books recommended by Grant Ongers, CTO at Secure Deliver, and other thought leaders shaping 2025 insights

Updated on June 28, 2025
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The Proxy landscape shifted markedly in 2024, with new challenges and innovations reshaping how professionals approach proxy technology and strategy. As network security tightens and geopolitical tensions escalate, understanding both the technical and ethical dimensions of proxy use has never been more crucial.

Grant Ongers, CTO at Secure Deliver and Chair of the OWASP Global Board, brings a forward-looking lens to this evolving field. His extensive experience with cybersecurity tools highlights the necessity of staying current with the latest tactics and frameworks in proxy management and security testing.

While these carefully selected books deliver fresh insights and expert guidance, readers aiming for content tailored to their unique Proxy goals might consider creating a personalized Proxy book that builds on these emerging trends, ensuring relevance and precision in their learning journey.

Best for cybersecurity pros mastering ZAP toolsets
Grant Ongers, CTO at Secure Deliver and Chair of the OWASP Global Board, knows the challenges of mastering complex security tools firsthand. He found this cookbook invaluable for navigating ZAP's intricate interface and unlocking its full potential, especially during times when precise vulnerability testing was critical. As he shares, "The Zed Attack Proxy Cookbook by Ryan Soper, Nestor N Torres, and Ahmed Almoailu is a great way to get stuck in with ZAP... The wealth of experience distilled into the book is quite astounding." For anyone serious about proxy-based security testing, his endorsement highlights why this book is a vital companion.

Recommended by Grant Ongers

CTO at Secure Deliver, OWASP Chair Global Board

The Zed Attack Proxy Cookbook by Ryan Soper, Nestor N Torres, and Ahmed Almoailu is a great way to get stuck in with ZAP. Such a complex and versatile tool needs an instruction manual. Admittedly, the ZAP team does an excellent job of providing user interface hints and tips and many, many videos and blog posts explaining how to do various things too – but the cookbook does a fantastic job of providing recipes for brilliant and ever more useful things you can do with ZAP following the PortSwigger Academy Labs, and is a must-have in any ZAP user’s library. The recipes are laid out by the authors in cookbook format, as the title of the book suggests, and they are easy to follow. ZAP’s interface and many options make explaining how to do things a little complicated, but the book provides the right screenshots in the right places. The authors are professionals who actively use ZAP – and it shows! The wealth of experience distilled into the book is quite astounding. Whether you are looking for a reference book on ZAP or want to work through the exercises to build confidence in your usage of ZAP, I cannot recommend this book enough. (from Amazon)

2023·284 pages·Cyber Security, Hacking, Software Security Testing, Proxy, Web Applications

Ryan Soper, drawing on his extensive background as a lead penetration tester and senior application security engineer, presents a detailed guide to mastering the OWASP Zed Attack Proxy (ZAP) tool. You’ll gain hands-on skills for setting up ZAP, exploring vulnerabilities in web applications and APIs, and deploying advanced techniques like Java deserialization and out-of-band attacks using BOAST. The book’s recipe format breaks down complex configurations and testing strategies into manageable tasks, supported by relevant screenshots and examples. Whether you’re a cybersecurity professional, ethical hacker, or DevSecOps engineer, this book equips you with the confidence to integrate ZAP into CI/CD pipelines and enhance your security testing toolkit.

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Best for policy makers analyzing proxy conflicts
DR. C. Anthony Pfaff, a retired U.S. Army Colonel and esteemed research professor specializing in strategy and ethics, brings a wealth of firsthand experience from his roles at the National Security Council and State Department to this study of proxy warfare. His work delves into the ethical complications that arise when powerful states engage through proxies, offering you a rare perspective grounded in both military practice and philosophical rigor. Pfaff’s unique qualifications illuminate how moral commitments can be maintained even amid the ambiguities of great power competition.
2024·259 pages·Proxy, Strategy, Ethics, International Relations, Proxy Warfare

Dr. C. Anthony Pfaff draws on his extensive military and policy experience to examine the complex ethical challenges inherent in proxy wars. Through a critical lens framed by the Just War Tradition, he unpacks how proxy relationships allow states to shift risks while often sidestepping accountability, creating moral dilemmas for both sponsors and proxies. You’ll gain insight into why current precedents can perversely encourage sponsors to avoid controlling proxies to dodge responsibility, and explore specific case studies illustrating these tensions. This book is especially relevant if you're involved in international relations or defense policy and want a nuanced understanding of the moral frameworks shaping great power competition.

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Best for custom proxy insights
This AI-created book on proxy innovation is tailored to your specific interests and skill level. You share which aspects of proxy technology you want to explore and your goals, then receive a book focused precisely on those areas. This personalized approach makes sense because proxy technology evolves quickly; staying current requires targeted learning that aligns with your background and priorities.
2025·50-300 pages·Proxy, Proxy Technology, Emerging Trends, Network Security, Anonymity Techniques

This tailored book explores the breakthrough developments shaping proxy technology in 2025, focusing on the latest discoveries and innovations personalized to your interests. It examines emerging trends, advanced proxy techniques, and evolving applications, providing a focused journey through the rapidly changing landscape of proxy use. By matching your background and specific goals, this book reveals cutting-edge insights that keep you ahead of new challenges and opportunities in proxy technology. Its personalized content allows you to delve deeply into the areas that matter most to you, enhancing your understanding of proxy innovations and security considerations in a way that resonates with your experience and ambitions.

Tailored Guide
Innovation Insights
1,000+ Happy Readers
Best for IT pros optimizing proxy performance
Cybellium Ltd is known for its expertise in technology and cybersecurity, providing comprehensive guides on various IT topics. Drawing on their deep knowledge, they wrote this book to clarify the complex world of proxy servers and help you take control of your online presence. Their experience in cybersecurity shines through as they explain how proxies can enhance privacy, security, and performance in both personal and business contexts.
2023·232 pages·Proxy, Web Proxy, Networking, Security, Proxy Servers

Unlike most networking books that merely touch on proxy servers, this guide from Cybellium Ltd dives into their architecture, history, and practical uses with precision. You’ll learn concrete skills like configuring your own proxy, optimizing network performance, and enhancing privacy by masking IP addresses. The book balances technical depth with accessibility, making it useful whether you’re an IT pro aiming to tighten security or an everyday user wanting to protect your digital footprint. Especially notable are the chapters on business applications, such as load balancing and market research, which reveal how proxies can boost organizational efficiency.

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Conclusion

The three books included in this collection collectively emphasize the growing complexity and importance of proxy technology—from ethical considerations in great power conflicts to hands-on mastery of proxy servers and security testing tools. They reveal a trend toward integrating moral frameworks with technical expertise.

If you want to stay ahead of Proxy trends or the latest research, start with Proxy War Ethics for strategic context and combine it with Mastering Proxy Servers for practical network skills. For cutting-edge security implementation, Zed Attack Proxy Cookbook offers deep dives into vulnerability testing.

Alternatively, you can create a personalized Proxy book to apply the newest strategies and latest research to your specific situation. These books offer the most current 2025 insights and can help you stay ahead of the curve.

Frequently Asked Questions

I'm overwhelmed by choice – which book should I start with?

Start with Mastering Proxy Servers if you're focusing on practical network configuration. For ethical and strategic insights, Proxy War Ethics is ideal. If you're into security testing, Zed Attack Proxy Cookbook is your go-to.

Are these books too advanced for someone new to Proxy?

These books cover a range of expertise levels. Mastering Proxy Servers is accessible for newcomers, while Proxy War Ethics and Zed Attack Proxy Cookbook suit readers with some background or specific interests.

Which books focus more on theory vs. practical application?

Proxy War Ethics explores theoretical and ethical frameworks, while Mastering Proxy Servers and Zed Attack Proxy Cookbook emphasize practical skills and hands-on techniques.

Will these 2025 insights still be relevant next year?

Yes, these books address foundational and evolving Proxy topics, offering perspectives and skills that remain applicable as the field progresses beyond 2025.

How long will it take me to get through these books?

Reading times vary; Mastering Proxy Servers and Proxy War Ethics are around 230-260 pages, while Zed Attack Proxy Cookbook is about 280 pages. Breaking reading into manageable sessions helps.

Can personalized Proxy books complement these expert titles?

Absolutely. While these expert books provide solid foundations, personalized Proxy books tailor insights to your unique needs and keep you updated on emerging trends. Learn more here.

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