Business needs web scraping and anonymous browsing. These are some of the reasons web proxies have risen in popularity in the last few years. However, there are different types of proxies, and any one proxy type might not necessarily be the most efficient choice for all the stated reasons.
So, it is important for individuals and businesses looking to buy datacenter proxies to understand why they are doing what they are doing.
Proxies are a gateway into the internet that masks IP addresses and allows users to connect to websites from different locations. Datacenter proxies, specifically, provide speedy datacenter-hosted IP addresses.
Read on to learn how these datacenter proxies differ from residential proxies. Plus, the business use cases that benefit from their use and why you should get datacenter proxies for your business needs.
How do datacenter proxies compare to residential proxies
All proxies are not the same. However, they might perform the same basic task of mediating internet connection and masking IPs. Still, all proxies have their unique pros and cons. By extension, one proxy type differs from others in the form of advantages or disadvantages it opens its users to. So, before deciding to buy proxy solutions, it’s advisable to compare what best suits your needs.
Since datacenter and residential proxies are among the most common options, understanding how they differ can help you make a more informed choice. Here are a number of ways that datacenter and residential proxies differ from one another:
- Source of IP addresses. Datacenter proxies originate from datacenters, as their name implies. Therefore, the IP addresses on offer are from datacenters and appear like that on web servers. In contrast, residential proxies offer IP addresses from actual residential locations associated with Internet Service Providers (ISPs). The consequence of the IP address sources is that residential proxies look more authentic and offer better anonymity than datacenter proxies.
- Speed. The data centers that host the proxy servers of datacenter proxies have efficiency at the forefront of their operation. And this is obvious in their performance. Residential proxies, on the other hand, have performances that vary according to the location of the server. As such, while datacenter proxies are universally quick, residential proxy performance in this regard is unpredictable.
- Depth and breadth of IP address pool. Depth represents the sheer number of IP addresses on offer. On the other hand, breadth refers to the variety of geographical locations that a proxy provider allows access to. Context is necessary when translating this into an advantage or disadvantage. That said, datacenter proxies usually have less breadth and depth of IP addresses compared to residential proxies. It is worth noting, though, that residential proxies have varying levels of reliability, whereas datacenter proxies generally perform excellently.
- Cost. Residential proxies are expensive partly because proxy providers need to compensate residential addresses that supply their IPs to support the service. Datacenters and the proxies they host are, however, made for efficiency and with affordability in mind. The differing levels of anonymity also factor in, with residential proxies and datacenter proxies designated as elite and anonymous proxies, respectively.
Business use cases of datacenter proxies
A combination of proxy pros and cons helps to determine their suitability for various uses. That said, here are some potential business uses of datacenter proxies:
- Web scraping operations that prioritize speed and efficiency benefit from datacenter proxy use. However, the proxy type is unsuitable for large-scale operations that may bring more scrutiny to the IP address. On closer inspection, the datacenter proxy is identifiable as not being residential and could hint at the presence of the bot.
- Datacenter proxies could help SEO and marketing personnel in their activities. For starters, these professionals can track competitor data, keywords, etc,. Similarly, a reliable datacenter proxy (whether dedicated or shared) could help marketers monitor ad placements, visibility, and integration from a multitude of locations.
- Data obtained from datacenter proxy-mediated scraping operations can be a source of valuable insights in market research. Similarly, the proxies could mediate access that helps a company determine the specifications of rival products, assess acceptability with customers, or monitor the pricing strategies of competitors.
- With datacenter proxies, geo-restricted content is not out of reach anymore. Businesses with a need for such content can access them as the proxy reroutes their location to make them seem as though they originate from a permitted location.
- Datacenter proxies are suitable for testing the load-carrying ability of website and application servers. This form of performance testing helps simulate traffic to see how much traffic would cause a strain on the server. Client-side use of proxy servers may also aid in the redistribution of server load and improve website performance.
Conclusion
Datacenter proxies might not be as authentically anonymous as residential proxies. But they are still a versatile and affordable solution for businesses. Their combination of speed, reliability, and performance make them an ideal choice for the web scraping needs of some small businesses.
As such, businesses that buy datacenter proxies need to understand that affordability and efficiency may not prevent IP bans, especially during large-data scraping. By understanding datacenter proxy weaknesses and strengths, businesses should be able to benefit maximally from the proxy performance.
