There are two types of WAN Address: Static and Dynamic. A Static Address is fixed and never changes – think of a house. A Dynamic Address can change at any point – think of a motorhome. How do they differ? Which one will be best for your usage needs? Why is this important? 

The Internet has become an indispensable tool for communication, entertainment and work. Having a stable and reliable IP address is essential for many reasons. In this blog post, we will discuss the pros and cons of having a static IP address for your personal or business use. 

Pros of static IP address

• Devices with static IP addresses are always assigned the same address, making them easier to locate, manage, and troubleshoot.
• Static IP addresses make it easier to set up remote access to a device, such as remote desktop or VPN connections. With VPN you can connect more than 2 locations together, to expand multiple locations/offices into one. You may remotely access things like your security cameras, smart thermostat, or your home/ office computer to retrieve important files. 
• Businesses can host their own websites and other online services, ensuring that their customers can access them at all times.
• They’re better for anything requiring VoIP protocol, like video chat because it allows for seamless and uninterrupted communication
• More reliable for geolocation services
• Allows for potentially faster bandwidth speeds
• Better online gaming experience. Gaming servers often require a static IP address to ensure stable connections and reduce lag. A static IP address allows you to host games and join servers more reliably, which can greatly enhance your gaming experience.
• Better for failover: You can enter the static IP of your failover into your DNS so email gets delivered vs. going to spam

Cons of static IP address

• Setting up a static IP address often requires a fee from your ISP.
• Limited pool of addresses: In some cases, there may not be enough available static IP addresses to meet demand, leading to long wait times.
• If a device with a static IP address needs to be moved or changed, its IP address must be manually reconfigured, which can be time-consuming and challenging for non-technical users.
• They are visible to the outside world, whereas non-static (or dynamic) is not visible to the outside world.  It would be important to have firewalls enabled or other features to block unnecessary access.
• They make users easier to locate.
• They may use more data – since the IP is publicly accessible on the internet – and there are bots scanning, looking for vulnerabilities.

Making Your Decision

Taking these pros and cons into consideration, a business may choose to use a static IP address over a dynamic IP address for a variety of reasons. Those might include hosting services, remote access, security, VPN, or compliance for credit card processing or healthcare, for example. On the flip side, a business may opt for a dynamic IP address due to cost, flexibility (if things can change with their needs), or privacy. 

A static IP address can offer more stability and security than a dynamic IP address, making it a good choice for businesses that rely on network services or remote access. However, a static IP address may be more expensive than a dynamic IP address, and it may require more management and configuration. So, for personal users, or small businesses, it might not make sense. Before making a decision, look at your business needs and day to day operations to determine which address type will be best.

Should you need a static IP with your cellular data plan, 5Gstore’s Failover Data plans are now offered with this as an option. If you have any questions, please reach out to our team by phone, email, or chat!