What is the purpose of Forwarding Profile PAC files?

The purpose of Forwarding Profile PAC (Proxy Auto-Configuration) files is to steer traffic toward or away from the Client Connector. PAC files provide instructions to web clients on how to route their network requests based on predefined criteria. By defining rules within a PAC file, organizations can control whether specific traffic should be sent to the Zscaler Client Connector, or if it should be directed elsewhere, such as going directly to the internet or through an alternative proxy.

This allows for flexibility in traffic management and ensures that traffic is directed in a manner that aligns with the organization’s security policies and performance needs. For instance, if an organization wants certain applications or types of traffic to be filtered through Zscaler for security reasons, the PAC file can be configured accordingly.

While other functions like traffic encryption, logging, and application optimization are important aspects of network security and performance, they are not directly the role of the Forwarding Profile PAC files. Instead, PAC files specifically focus on addressing routing and traffic direction.