Almost every company is now adopting a remote workplace policy. Working from home gives you access to a wide talent pool. At the same time, it raises the probability of cyber-attacks. This is due to employees disclosing confidential firm information outside of their offices. As a result, enhanced security mechanisms are required for a remote workstation.
In this article, we will take a look at a term we are all familiar with: Internet Protocol address or IP address. And we will talk about how shared IP addresses differentiate from dedicated IP addresses. But first, let’s briefly explain what an Internet Protocol address is.
What is an IP Address?
An IP address is a one-of-a-kind identifier for a device on the internet or within a local network. Your Internet Service Provider (ISP) assigns you an IP address that uniquely identifies your internet connection or a web domain. A string of digits separated by periods makes up an IP address. Each number can range from 0 to 255 like 192.168.1.1.
When you connect to the internet, your internet service provider (ISP) offers you an external IP address that allows others to find your computer or device. When you request an online page, your web browser sends your external IP address along with it in order to identify you. You can hide your IP address by using a proxy, such as a VPN, that provides you with a proxy IP address.
Web domains, on the other hand, are identified by a shared or dedicated IP address. Below, we’ll look at shared and dedicated IP addresses.
What is a Dedicated IP Address?
A dedicated IP address, which is not shared with other domains, acts as the organization’s online home. When a user enters an organization’s dedicated IP address, the user is taken directly to the company’s website. Of course, this IP will be different from your actual local IP, so you’ll still be safe online. All of your data traffic will be routed through that IP, allowing you to maintain complete control over your privacy.
Furthermore, no one else will be able to use your dedicated IP. Let’s talk a bit more about the benefits of dedicated IP addresses. A dedicated IP address can be highly handy for corporate users who need access to a specific network. For security reasons, some networks are only accessible via specified IP addresses. In this manner, a corporation may ensure that only those who have access to the office’s internet connection can access essential documents and other business data.
What is a Shared IP Address?
A shared IP address is one that is shared or used to send emails by several senders. It’s similar to working in a co-working environment where you share your space with other businesses. Because a website’s IP address is shared by several sites on the server, the activities of one site owner might have an impact on the IP reputation of everyone who uses that IP. If an IP address is blacklisted for sending SPAM emails, any sites that use that shared IP address will be blacklisted as well.
Websites that use shared hosting plans from web hosting providers are usually only one of several that share the same server. Individual or small-business websites, where traffic volumes are controllable and the sites themselves are constrained in terms of page count, etc., tend to be like this. The IP addresses of the websites hosted in this manner will be shared.
What’s the Difference Between a Dedicated and Shared IP Address?
The distinction between a dedicated and a shared IP may have already been evident from the preceding discussion. Regardless, we’d like to spend some extra time on this distinction because it’s critical to understand the benefits and drawbacks of dedicated IPs. A dedicated IP address ensures that you always have the same IP address, no matter where you are. You can connect to that one IP address on that one VPN server at any time.
As the name implies, you share an IP address with other people. For many VPN companies, this is standard practice. It means you’ll share an IP address with other users of the same service provider. Your data, as well as that of dozens of other people around the world, will be routed through the same server.
Furthermore, when you connect to VPN servers that only have shared addresses, you’ll frequently be issued different IP addresses. Users are frequently moved from one IP address to another by VPN providers for increased security. When you use shared IPs, you’ll almost always have a change in your public IP, whether you’re connecting to a different server location or not. With dedicated IPs, this isn’t the case.
Benefits of Shared IP Address
A shared IP is less expensive than a dedicated IP. It’s cheap, especially when combined with hosting because the user shares server costs with other users. This structure is often advantageous to new firms and organizations with limited funds.
A shared IP address might also imply shared hosting. Users in a shared hosting environment have access to pre-installed software that they can use on their website or for their business. These can be installed with a single mouse click.
The IP health is checked not only by a single user but also by other domain users, thanks to the sharing of addresses. As a result, new firms can benefit from the established reputation of domains sharing the same IP address.
Benefits of Dedicated IP Address
When a website blacklists your IP address, it’s usually due to apprehension or suspicion. Most likely, that IP address was used in an irregular and unpredictable manner. The website detects misuse of the IP or your account as a result of these abnormalities and takes action. In certain situations, this will result in your IP being added to a blacklist, but it may also necessitate an additional step of authentication before you can enter into service.
Another benefit of a dedicated IP address is that mail services like Gmail trust emails from dedicated IP addresses more than emails from shared IP addresses. Email traffic from dedicated IP addresses takes precedence over traffic from shared IP addresses. Because emails sent from shared IP addresses must be double-checked by the provider, this is the case.
These emails may even end up in the spam folder of the recipient. You can use a dedicated IP address to ensure that your emails arrive on time and do not end up in the spam bin. You’ll be able to converse considerably more quickly, which can be really useful in various situations, such as at work.