Static IP Address

An Internet protocol (IP) address refers to a series of exclusive numbers that are assigned by the internet service provider (ISP) for devices that are directly connected to the internet. IP addresses allow an exchange of data between the devices. 

IP Addresses are mainly used for virtual communication between devices and servers, just like telephone numbers and office addresses are used to helps customers establish a contact.

A public IP address of a user on the internet is equivalent to the address and postcode of their house. The internet needs to access your IP address to deliver the information you need, similar to postal services accessing your address to deliver mail or posts to your residential address.

What is a Static IP Address?

A static IP refers to a permanently fixed number IP that is assigned by an internet service provider (ISP). A simple way to define static IP is to consider it as a fixed address for your business on the internet. It helps servers in identifying where precisely a specific computer connected to the internet is located.

A static IP address can be beneficial for small businesses for internet-related needs such as remote access to the corporate network, hosting an email, web or an FTP server, or hosting a webcam for video conferencing or video streaming applications. 

Advantages of Choosing Static IP Address for your Business

There are various reasons why most small businesses choose and rely on static IP address.

Some of the advantages of static IP addresses for small businesses are as follows:

Remote Access

In the present pandemic situation, most employees expect to have the flexibility to work from home, and the organizations are also choosing remote working considering the well-being of employees. 

However, businesses need a static IP address to set up a remote working fully. With a dynamic IP address, employees may fail to connect to the office server each time an IP address changes. However, using a static IP address enables the request to be forwarded correctly to the correct destination with a seamless connection.

Communication 

Static IP addresses enable Voice over Internet Protocol (VOIP) tools to function in a much better way. Employees often experience a freeze during remote meetings or Skype calls where the connection is sometimes completely failed.

VOIP teleconferences and calls are less likely to freeze or disconnect with a static IP address. They help provide stable connections enabling a smooth flow of remote working which ultimately leads to better productivity.

CCTV Video Streaming 

These days, most business owners are concerned about their security and are setting up CCTV’s to monitor their premises. In such cases having a static IP address helps them monitor and stream the CCTV video footage even during remote working.

A static IP address can be constructive for small businesses to get the most out of their surveillance cameras by enabling them to monitor what’s going on at the office and demonstrate a deterrent to potential intruders.

More accurate geolocation 

A static IP address enables collaborators, customers and suppliers to quickly locate your business because tracking apps that rely on identifying locations accurately with the help of GPS cannot work well when they try to connect to a public dynamic IP address. 

Therefore, choosing a Static IP address is the best option for small businesses.

Hosting your Business Website 

Static IP is necessary when your business runs its own email system or server and for website hosting. A static IP address is critical for remote work because it keeps your IP address constant, unlike dynamic IP and makes your server easily accessible.

Faster Upload and Download Speed 

Business with cloud EPoS systems needs high-speed and reliable connectivity. Static IP addresses help businesses to be less likely to be affected by the downtime of the internet.

Taking payments with the internet-enabled point of sale software and other business applications such as sending invoices can be done accurately with the help of static IP as they provide a stable connection. 

Conclusion 

The pandemic situation has resulted in most businesses working remotely. And there is an increasing need for businesses to rely on static IP address. Therefore, Small businesses need to consider choosing a Static IP address for their organizations to be able to use remote networking services such as VPN to connect with computers off-site.