Datacenter proxies are the most popular proxy type. But before rushing to choose them for your project, you should get to know them better. Using proxies themselves isn’t that difficult, but getting to know the basics of how they work and comparing them to other types is still crucial.
They aren’t ideal for all scenarios, and even when you know they will work, there are some other aspects you will need to make a choice about. This article is all about helping you maximize the security and privacy aspects of datacenter proxies.
Basics of datacenter proxies
Data center proxies act as intermediaries routing your online activity to hide your IP address and change the location shown to others online. The name originates from the location of where all the hardware to run these proxies is based – data centers. Imagine a high-tech facility full of wires, advanced routers, and servers.
Such centers act as physical sites to host websites, store data, and perform various other tasks. Running proxies is just one of the tasks that data centers accomplish. Due to the well-maintained equipment, these centers are much more efficient than usual household setups.
Another reason for their high performance is that these centers are run by businesses with access to commercial Internet plans. Such internet connection is not limited by the plans of residential internet service providers (ISPs). So, both the speed of hardware and internet network is as good as it gets.
One would expect that running proxies in such centers would be expensive, but actually the opposite is true. Modern-day data centers use virtual machine technology, which enables them to split processing into hundreds or even thousands of virtual devices.
One powerful data center server can house a large number of datacenter proxies. The use of internet bandwidth is not a problem for such centers, so datacenter proxy IPs are usually sold in bulk with no limitations for traffic.
Pros and cons of datacenter proxies
Simply put, a datacenter proxy is an intermediary created virtually on a powerful server that uses a commercial (unverified by a residential ISP) connection. It gives them distinct benefeits, but also a couple of drawbacks.
Benefits of datacenter proxies
- Speed – datacenter proxies are the fastest proxy type
- Uptime – advanced equipment and internet connection ensure you datacenter proxies are working 24/7.
- Price – datacenter proxies are cheap compared to other types.
- Large location selection – good providers have data centers in all corners of the world.
- Scalability – you can be sure that there will be enough datacenter IPs for an affordable price to match your needs.
Drawbacks of datacenter proxies
- Legitimacy – datacenter IPs can be quite easy for websites to detect.
- Location accuracy – data centers are based in specific regions, which rarely allows you to target the needed location on a city or neighborhood level.
Mitigating the drawbacks of datacenter proxies
Datacenter proxies are often used for hosting websites or running online bots, which means that other web servers are likely to assume these IPs are connecting for similar purposes. That’s why many websites want to restrict datacenter IP addresses and implement various security measures.
CAPTCHA tests are the most common method, but it is only triggered after an IP is lingering on the website for some time or performs some suspicious tasks. The most common solution is to use a pool of at least a few dozen datacenter proxies.
Most providers will offer you software to rotate the IPs automatically for every session or a set period of time. This way, you will avoid arousing suspicion and can continue with your tasks.
You can take a step further and choose only private (or dedicated)datacenter IPs that aren’t used by anyone else. Sharing datacenter proxies increases the risk that other users might have already flagged the IPs on websites you are going to visit.
If you need a specific location, your datacenter IP pool can be compiled exclusively from IPs in the needed country or region. However, some specific use cases might require you to have a more accurate IP address.
For example, purchasing from small e-commerce shops might require you to have an IP fitting for your delivery address. In such cases, datacenter IPs won’t be of much use to you while purchasing. But they can still help you collect the data before you log in to purchase.
Datacenter vs residential proxies
Residential proxies differ from datacenter ones because their IPs originate from ordinary homes running physical devices. Every residential proxy IP address, just like the one in your home, is verified by an ISP, and the websites you visit can check this information.
This results in a higher legitimacy, which datacenter proxies lack, as you are less likely to suffer from CAPTCHA requests or other restrictions. However, residential proxies are much more expensive and are usually priced per bandwidth used.
Residential proxies are better for tasks when you don’t need to download a lot of data or run other demanding online tasks. They are better for maximum anonymity when you can afford it.
Datacenter vs mobile proxies
Mobile proxies, similarly to residential ones, are sourced from consumer devices. In this case, mobile equipment (smartphones or tablets) connected to a cellular tower is used. This ensures that the proxy user can access mobile apps and websites without raising much suspicion.
It is also a highly legitimate proxy type, as most internet users today are connecting from a smartphone. Unfortunately, even though 5g mobile internet is quite fast, it is still no match for datacenter proxies in terms of speed.
Conclusion
All said here should be enough for a basic understanding of datacenter proxies. Of course, comparing them with other proxy types could go on to greater lengths. But the key thing to before choosing is to know your your use case and then evaluate your budget. In many cases datacenter proxies are the best option.
