Shared versus Dedicated IP Address
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Our previous article, What is An IP Address and Why Do I Need It covers the basic explanation of what an IP address is. This article covers shared versus dedicated IP addresses.
Unless you have a dedicated server, you probably utilize shared hosting space. Shared hosting space exists on a server, and that space may host 100’s of domain names. Each domain name, including yours, “shares” an IP address.
There are potential risks associated with having a shared IP address. If one of the other domain names sharing that same IP address is penalized or found guilty of spamming, illegal site activity, scamming, etc., you by shared IP association could suffer. Your site may disappear from search engines, your email may be blocked by internet service providers, etc.
One alternative is to have a dedicated server, which is expensive. Dedicated servers are necessary under certain circumstances. If you have a lot of websites, utilize a lot of bandwith, and generate excessive site traffic, a dedicated server may justify its expense for your website(s). If not, you still have options.
Most reliable hosts, such as Host Gator allow shared IP address users to obtain a dedicated IP address for an extra $2.00 a month. That seems a small piece of change for the added protection to have a dedicated versus a shared IP address.
If yours is a commerce type site, and you collect credit card data and/or other sensitive information, you should have a dedicated IP address. You do not have to have a dedicated server. But you should have a dedicated IP address. You need a dedicated IP address in order to obtain an SSL certificate for your site. Most commerce sites utilize PayPal or some similar “off site” checkout means, allowing them to bypass obtaining a dedicated IP address and an SSL certificate.
It is rumored that sites with dedicated IP addresses fair better in search engine ranking. In my opinion, if yours is not a personal site, such as a family home page or something of that nature, you should have a dedicated IP address. If you are a commerce site, you should probably opt for a dedicated IP. At Host Gator the additional $2.00 a month equates to about 6 cents a day. That’s pennies, and worth it to me for peace of mind………by Laura Brown, Penney Layne Graphics