Static IP vs. Dynamic IP Addresses: What's the Difference?

When it comes to business internet connectivity, the question of static IP versus dynamic IP comes up quite often. Getting a static IP—one that doesn’t change periodically—requires a modest financial investment. It’s not necessarily important on a home network. But when it comes to a business IP address, it can often be worthwhile to invest in a static IP to provide more consistency and reliability for you and your customers.

Deciding on the right type of business IP address can be confusing. That’s why we offer expert guidance for our customers to help them make the right decision. If you have questions about whether a static IP would be right for your company, just give us a call. Our team can help you understand the differences between IP address types and ensure you get the right option for your specific needs.

Let’s look at the way each type of internet IP address compares with one another. That way, you can have a better understanding of the benefits and possible drawbacks of each type.

What is an IP Address?

An internet protocol (IP) address is a lot like a home address or business address. It’s a defined location where other parties know that they can reach you. The street, city and zip code of your address make it possible for people to send you mail and map their route to your location. An IP address does something similar for your computer. Other computers know where to send your computer information using your IP address.

What is a Static IP Address?

A static IP address is assigned by your internet service provider (ISP) and maintained by that provider for as long as you pay for the service. Maintaining the same IP for your system takes more work and investment on the part of your ISP, which is why you typically need to pay an additional cost for the service—even if you are paying for fiber internet.

• Permanence: A static address is, as the name implies, static. It is permanent. As long as you are in good standing with your ISP and keeping up with your payments, the address will remain consistent over time.

• Accessibility: One of the great benefits of a static address is that it streamlines remote access. You always know where to find your computer so you can quickly do so from anywhere with any internet connection. Choosing static over dynamic IP also ensures that your website or online services are always accessible to your clients and customers. They don’t have to go looking for where your website is because the location never changes.

• Reliability: Static IPs make your organization more reliable for employees and customers. They provide a consistent point of contact that can make or break a business. The last thing you want is for customers not to be able to find your website or to be able to access the services you offer.

• Common Use Cases: Most businesses that are serious about maintaining an online presence utilize static IPs. They don’t require a big financial investment and they deliver far superior performance in areas that are important to businesses. For example, if you sold widgets from an online store, you would want to be certain that customers could find your website. That shouldn’t be a problem if you have a static address. But if you had a dynamic address, it could throw everything into disarray each time you rebooted your modem.

What is a Dynamic IP Address?

A dynamic IP address is similar to a static one, only it can change from time to time. If you reset your modem, for example, the IP address is likely to change. Dynamic addresses are less expensive to maintain for ISPs, which is why they are the standard offering for customers.

• Permanence: A dynamic IP address can change for a variety of reasons. If the ISP updates its system, the address can change. If you reboot your modem, the address can change. It can also change for other reasons that you never know about because the ISP is entitled to make that change whenever it wants.

• Accessibility: A dynamic address makes it more difficult to access your devices remotely. It also makes it harder for customers to access your website or your services. Things might be fine for a while—a dynamic address can stay the same for months—but it will change eventually.

• Reliability: Unfortunately, having a dynamic address makes your business less reliable. This is true for both your employees and for your customers. It’s not that they can’t find you—they can, with enough effort and know-how. But every little inconvenience you put between you and the customer is a point where they can turn around and walk away. Why bother if they can get something similar from a more reliable business?

• Common Use Cases: Dynamic IPs are not bad—they are perfectly fine for most users. The vast majority of IP address types fall into the dynamic IP category. Most people don’t even know that there are different types of IP addresses available. If a user is just streaming, using social media and buying things online, they don’t need a permanent, fixed IP. But if the user is offering services or wants to be consistently available to the public, static is the way to go.

Learn What Type of IP Address is Right for Your Business—Contact Us

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