Hello new business owner, please pull your chair a little closer. We have amazing technology we must share with you. All you need is about 5 minutes of your time to get to know this multi-functional tool.
We are talking about proxies. As an astute business person, you may have heard of them. But, what you may not have explored in-depth is the benefits they can give to your new business. Allow us to share some fantastic insights with you today.
What Is a Proxy Server?
If we were to look for one word to describe proxies, we would not do them any justice. You see, you get so many functionalities with proxies. Terms like defender, protector, big brother, balancer, and much more apply. You will understand why shortly.
First, let’s simplify how the internet works. Your browser redirected you to this page when you clicked on this article. That means the flow of traffic from point A, which is you, to point B or remote server, which is this page. The traffic flow along the internet streets should be smooth in an ideal situation.
But, in the actual sense, like in a physical street, a lot is happening.
- People can track the information flow to see what you are up to.
- Cybercriminals will try to access your information or gain entry into your system. They could, for instance, inject malicious code. This will introduce malware via the internet traffic.
- Depending on location, some remote servers will block your attempts to get information. You know how streaming services like Netflix geo-restrict content.
- Some sites view repeated requests for information from one IP address as suspicious. They will end up banning such, thus denying you access.
- Too much traffic into your server could result in downtimes or a complete crash. If running an eCommerce platform, the impact on your business would be profound.
A quick solution to all the issues above lies in using safe and free proxy servers. It becomes the middleman between points A and B above. Any traffic coming into or out of your browser must pass through the proxy.
At this point, several things happen. Keep reading to find out what and how they will benefit your business.
1. Competitor Analysis With Proxies
Competitor analysis is standard industry practice. But, you don’t want the rival company to know you are checking them out, right? Now, since you can’t install cameras in their offices to see what they are up to, you have to resort to other means. You guessed it, the internet.
But, go back to our street analogy above. The competitors can still get wind of what you are doing. That IP address allows them to track anyone who visits their sites.
The solution lies in signing up to proxy service providers. The proxy will hide your IP address. the result is the remote server cannot pinpoint your exact location.
Take time to choose the best proxy service. There are free proxy servers available. But, tread with caution. We are not saying they are all bad. But, always remember the mantra; you get what you pay for. Instead, opt for the tons of cheap proxy options available.
2. Proxies for Marketing
Marketing is critical for a new business trying to break into the market. Your marketing team depends on data to inform all their strategies. It is not uncommon to find companies resorting to web scraping. They use it for research, lead generation, market analysis, and much more.
But, remember, some sites will flag repeated requests for information as suspicious. They could also block access due to location. Social media platforms will not allow for the opening of many accounts from one IP address. All these can impact marketing activities.
By hiding your IP address, the proxy can bypass geo-restrictions. Datacenter proxies can assign a different IP address for every request you make. It makes it impossible for the remote servers to know it is coming from the same person.
The same applies to setting up social media accounts. You can open as many accounts as you wish without the platforms getting any wiser.
3. Better Website Performance and Security
Your new business needs a high-performing website. There should never be a situation where it is slow or unresponsive. But, there may be situations when there is a lot of traffic coming into your server. It could be when you are running a campaign. A downtime or site crash at such a time could be a big blow to your business.
Datacenter proxies have fast response times and greater bandwidth allocation. Even with a limited budget, you are sure to find cheap proxies that work well.
Remember our description of proxies as balancers. Well, the proxy will balance traffic entering the browser to avoid overloads. Proxy web caching capabilities also mean faster internet speeds.
We also used the words defender and protector. Well, the proxy server sieves internet traffic for malicious code or malware. It helps keep the organization and indeed the data safe from cybercriminals. Those with data encryption capabilities provide extra security during data movement.
4. Internet Usage Monitoring
Insider threats are a huge problem for many businesses. The sites internet users visit can put the organization at risk of cyber-attacks. As of 2020, up to 60% of data breaches were due to insider threats.
What makes it worse is in many cases it is unintentional. An employee could, for instance, click on a link from an unknown source. This is common with phishing attacks. The hackers will dupe victims using emails containing malicious links.The staff could also visit unsafe sites, thus exposing the organization to vulnerabilities.
Proxy servers can track internet use, thus, our descriptor of big brother. You can keep track of the sites employees visit. The admin can then block any they deem inappropriate. That keeps the organization safe from online attacks.
Final Thoughts
The best technological innovations should provide many functionalities. That is what you get with a proxy server. Do take the time to do a little more research about them. Our article is a great starting point. But there is a lot more to know.
When shopping for the best proxy service, start with clarity on your business needs. Then, look for the one that suits you best. Also, avoid free proxies if you can. There are tons of cheap proxy options available.
Budget allowing, go for dedicated proxies. You get full access and control because you don’t share it with anyone. They are also very fast, secure, and super reliable.
