Manpages tell the story of every command you need, but they rarely tell you how to weave them into a safe, fast, and controlled SSH access proxy. A direct SSH login is simple, but simple isn't always safe. An SSH access proxy gives you a gatekeeper for every connection. You keep keys where they belong. You log every session. You give users exactly the access they need, no more.
Start with the manpages for ssh, sshd_config, and ProxyCommand. These hold the building blocks. You’ll see how to set AllowUsers to define who gets in, PermitRootLogin no to block the riskiest path, and ForceCommand to control what can be done. Add a jump host in the mix. That’s the heart of an SSH access proxy: a single hardened server that sits between every user and the machines they need.
The details matter. Use Match blocks in your sshd config to set rules per user, per group, or per IP. Make ProxyJump your default so no one connects directly to protected servers. Tie in authorized_keys restricted to specific commands or subsystems. Every control you put here reduces blast radius and turns chaotic admin access into an audit-friendly workflow.