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DC proxies are popular for many a reason, predominantly cost and speed. This type of proxy is often considerably cheaper than its counterparts, while benefitting from the speed of a datacenter amongst other typical proxy benefits.

Datacenter proxies

DC (datacenter) proxies act as an intermediary between a client and a destination server. This type of proxies works by assigning an IP address of a third party service, as opposed to residential or IP proxies that either assign a real, residential IP address or one provided by an internet service provider. This allows the proxies to be considerably cheaper while also benefit from the power and scalability of datacenter servers. This makes this type of proxy a favourite for tasks that require high throughput or RPS (requests per second), where a residential IP, provided by a residential device, may struggle.

This type of proxy is derived from a high performance datacenters, often owned by large cloud providers and hosting companies. This in turn comes with its own inherit benefits of being built from quality infrastructure.

How a datacenter proxy works

A datacenter proxy acts as a middleman between your device and the destination server. Here’s how it works:

1. You (the client) make a request to access a website or online service.
2. Instead of going directly to the server, your request is routed through the datacenter proxy.
3. The proxy receives the request, processes it, and forwards it to the destination server, using the proxy’s IP address.
4. The destination server sends the response to the proxy.
5. The proxy then forwards the response back to you.

By routing your traffic through a datacenter proxy, your real IP address remains hidden, allowing you to maintain privacy while accessing online content.

Advantages and disadvantages of datacenter proxies

Despite being a fantastic offering for some users, datacenter proxies come with their own unique set of advantages and disadvantages, compared below:

Advantages	Disadvantages
Datacenter proxies are built on dedicated server infrastructure, which allows for fast and reliable connections, ideal for high-speed tasks like web scraping or automated testing.	Since datacenter proxies are easily identifiable by their IP ranges (associated with data centers), websites can flag and block them more easily compared to residential IPs.
Compared to residential proxies, datacenter proxies are more affordable because they are not linked to real users or residential ISPs, making them a cost-effective solution for large-scale operations.	Datacenter proxies don't offer the same level of anonymity as residential proxies, as websites can detect traffic coming from data centers and associate it with bot-like behaviour, leading to blocks and bans.
Datacenter proxies are widely available in different locations worldwide, offering a large pool of IPs for use in various tasks, such as bypassing geo-restrictions or conducting bulk testing.	High volumes of requests from datacenter proxies, especially for activities like scraping, can lead to IP blacklisting by websites, causing downtime or permanent bans.
These proxies can be particularly effective for tasks that require handling large volumes of data, like web scraping or SERP analysis, as they can manage hundreds or thousands of requests simultaneously without performance issues.	While they can be located in data centers around the world, datacenter proxies may not provide the level of geographic diversity needed for tasks that require localised, residential IP addresses (for example, localised ad verification).
Datacenter proxies offer flexibility in pricing, with options for both dedicated and shared proxies. Shared proxies are more cost-effective, while dedicated proxies provide higher performance and exclusivity, making it easier to choose a solution that fits a budget.	For tasks that require ongoing, uninterrupted connections, such as account management or long-term web scraping, datacenter proxies may struggle with consistency due to IP blacklisting or rate-limiting.

Shared or dedicated datacenter proxies

Previously mentioned is how this varies the cost of DC proxies, which when purchasing, can be confusing to navigate. Shared datacenter proxies are IP addresses that are used by multiple users at the same time. Since the same proxy is shared across multiple clients, the cost of shared proxies is considerably lower. However, this can lead to potential performance issues. Issues such as slower speeds or higher chances of being flagged by websites, as multiple users can be sending requests through the same IP. This can also sometimes result in abuse of the IP addresses, with them being so cheap, shared DC proxies can suffer from total blacklists

Dedicated datacenter proxies are assigned to a single user. This means that no one else shares the same IP address. This results in better performance, increased anonymity, and a lower risk of being blocked or flagged while in use. Because dedicated proxies offer exclusive use, they come at a higher premium compared to shared proxies.

Use cases

Typically, a DC proxy is best used when a task requires a speed at the sacrifice of IP appearance and quality. This still leaves them open to variety of use cases where this trade-off is worth it. Datacenter proxies are most commonly used for, but not limited too, the following use cases:

Web scraping

One of the primary benefits of using datacenter proxies for web scraping is speed. These proxies are hosted on dedicated servers with high bandwidth and low latency, ensuring fast and reliable connections. This is essential when scraping large amounts of data in a short time frame, as delays or connection timeouts can disrupt the process. Datacenter proxies are capable of handling high volumes of requests without significant drops in performance, making them perfect for scraping at scale. In addition to this, datacenter proxies are cost-effective. Compared to residential proxies, which can be significantly more expensive for high handwidth use, datacenter proxies can be an affordable option for businesses needing to scrape quantities of data regularly.

Price aggregation

E-commerce platforms and travel agencies rely on price aggregation to stay competitive by collecting pricing data from various sources, such as competitor websites and online marketplaces to derive pricing strategies. Datacenter proxies can be ideal for this task due to their speed. With high-performance servers, these proxies offer fast connections and low latency, allowing businesses to gather large volumes of data in real-time. This is crucial for price aggregation, as delays or can disrupt the process and cause a loss of competitive adge. Furthermore, datacenter proxies are more affordable than residential proxies, making them an economical choice for businesses that need to scrape data regularly. Datacenter proxies are also highly scalable, allowing companies to expand their scraping operations as needed.

Bypassing geo-restrictions

Datacenter proxies can be used bypass geo-restrictions- unlocking the web for all. For example, if you want to access region-specific streaming services or websites that are blocked in your country, a datacenter proxy can route your traffic through a server in a location where the content is accessible. This can unlock services such as Netflix or BBC iPlayer where content can be restricted by geographic location. However, as mentioned before, DC proxies can lack locations, as they rely on being located where the data center is, and not on a device anywhere in the world.

Ad verification

Datacenter proxies can be used for ad verification. Advertisers and agencies may use this type of proxies to ensure their ads are displayed correctly and that they are reaching the right audience. By simulating browsing behaviour from different geographical regions, businesses can confirm that their ads are appearing in the right locations and being seen by the right users. Verifying ads is important for preventing ad fraud, ensuring accurate targeting, and optimising ad placements across the web.

Conclusion

In conclusion, datacenter proxies offer a fast, cost-effective solution for tasks like web scraping, price aggregation, and bypassing geo-restrictions. Their speed, scalability, and affordability can make them ideal for high-volume operations. Data center proxies do come with their own unique set of downsides, such as the potential for compromised IP quality and blacklisting however; so it’s important to consider these when deciding to use them. At Rampage, we provide high-quality datacenter proxies starting at $1.35 per IP. If you’d like to learn more about our offerings, click here.