The rise in cybercrime, coupled with the increased digitization of most business processes, makes it essential to understand if:
1) Every piece of infrastructure you use in your business is secure
A breach in your network’s security could result in costly lawsuits, loss of the market’s trust, and compromise the progress of your business.
2) If it adequately improves your business operations.
You do not need to invest funds in IT infrastructure that has no significant contribution to the growth of your business.
Whether you are setting up the IT strategy of your startup, or tweaking the infrastructure of your ongoing business, pay attention to the IP addresses you use. It may seem like a minor detail, but the choice of IP address you make will determine the kind of experience your employees have while accessing the web.
So, What is an IP Address?
If you are like most people, you probably have never paid any attention to the accuracy with which websites are able to respond to your request in spite of having numerous visitors at any given time. And you have probably never paid attention to how sites are able to deny you access to content based on your location.
An IP address makes this possible.
An IP address is a series of identification numbers given to each device connected to the internet. It enables the exchange of information between a web server and the device making the request. It also identifies the device’s location.
They also make it possible for computers in a network to communicate with each other. A Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) server assigns these numbers, ensuring that each device has a unique identification.
IPs come in two forms – A rotating IP address, also known as a dynamic IP, and a static IP address.
Static IP addresses are constant. The same number identifies a single device for as long as it’s needed. Rotating IPs, on the other hand, are dynamic. An IP is assigned for each connection, meaning the device’s future IP addresses may not resemble present IPs.
The source of these IP addresses is internet service providers. You can get a static or residential proxy depending on the nature of the service agreement.
Most business owners tend to focus on static IP addresses due to the convenience they bring to server hosting, high up-time, ability to get remote access, and the ease of using digital voice services. But what benefits do rotating IPs offer businesses?
What Makes a Rotating IP Address Better?
Here are five things that make dynamic IPs a wise choice.
1) Improved Market Research
Market research through web scraping is not welcomed on many sites. Websites will ban any IP address making too many web requests or going through the pages too fast. Rotating IPs make it possible to make each request with a new IP, and scrape data without being detected.
2) Better Security
Rotating IPs are more secure than static IP addresses. This is because the frequent changes in the IP make it hard for hackers to target your device. You also are less prone to data miners. It protects your business’s and clients’ data from cybercriminals.
3) Increased Anonymity
Proxies provide online anonymity by masking your IP address with another IP. In addition, you get to access the internet using different IPs each time, making it difficult for anyone trying to monitor your internet activity.
4) Access to Blocked Sites
A significant issue you will face with a static IP address is that having your IP blocked from one site means you can never gain access to it. With dynamic IPs, however, you can regain access to blocked sites using a different IP. You can also access geo-blocked sites with IPs attached to a geographic location that is allowed access to the site.
5) Less Costly
With rotating IPs, your device will pick the available IP every time you access the internet. But with static IPs, the server has to run continually. It leads to higher maintenance costs compared to dynamic IP addresses. Static IPs also have higher setup costs. This is because the device has to be set up with the IP address, and the router has to be manually configured.
Winding Up
Internet infrastructure is an important part of every business. The type of IP addresses you choose will determine the performance of your market research projects, internet security, and the experience your employees have when browsing the web.
Compared to a static IP address, a rotating IP will:
- Provide more security
- Provide increased internet anonymity
- Enable you to access blocked sites
- Help in saving money
- Make market research easier
Always ensure that the source of any infrastructure you use in your company is a qualified vendor with a solid reputation.
