Which solution would best address slow requests for Web-based resources?

Implementing caching on the network proxy server is the best solution for addressing slow requests for Web-based resources because caching temporarily stores frequently accessed data closer to the user, which significantly reduces the load times for those resources. When a user requests the same resource multiple times, the proxy server retrieves it from the cache instead of fetching it again from the original source. This results in faster response times and less bandwidth usage, alleviating the overall network congestion and improving user experience.

Caching enhances the efficiency of network traffic as it minimizes unnecessary repetitive data retrievals from external sources, especially for static content such as images or style sheets that do not change frequently. This is particularly important in a web environment where multiple users often access the same resources, making caching a key strategy for optimizing performance.

Other options may address different aspects of security or network management, but none target the specific issue of slow response times for web resources as effectively as caching does.