You may have heard of proxy servers but probably have a vague idea of how they operate. Proxies are used to provide access to geographically restricted content. Also, they provide security to open Wi-Fi networks. But, there is more to it. Proxies are real assets to your business. Read on to find out more about this.
What Is A Proxy Server?
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A proxy server is any machine that can translate traffic between networks or protocols. It’s an intermediary server that acts as protection between end-users and the destinations they are browsing. They mask users’ IP addresses and filter internet requests through a web form.
It has different functionality from security to privacy, depending on one’s need or a company’s policy.
Reasons to Use Proxy for Business
1. Protects your data
A proxy server acts as an extra layer of security between a company’s external web traffic and the company’s servers. It encrypts companies’ data. Thus, it creates a secure channel where data can safely flow from a customer to your business.
Hacking and data breaching continue to be a menace to businesses. Thus, organizations need to protect themselves from these attacks. Using the internet while exposing your IP address makes your company vulnerable to attacks.
The attacks could be from your competitor, an angry customer, or a hacker. These people steal your data and use it for selfish purposes.
With proxies for businesses, hackers have a difficult time accessing the actual server. Instead, they will be directed to the proxy server.
Over 30 types of proxies exist. Examples include; Public Proxy, Residential proxy, Transparent proxy, Data Centres, and Shared Proxy. A viable residential proxy helps organizations protect their customers and business data. It contains a dedicated ISP and it’s connected to an actual residential address.
2. Controls Employees Access to Different Networks
You don’t want employees to access unwanted sites during work hours or using the company’s internet. They should be productive and avoid distracting sites.
Proxies for businesses help in monitoring employee’s use of the internet to protect the company from data breaches and attacks. Employees thus get access to the internet through these servers.
Unknowingly or knowingly, employees can access websites that may compromise your companies’ online network and result in unwanted problems.
Businesses use proxy servers to control their internal networks. The company administrators monitor and control the traffic going through it. They block sites that employees shouldn’t access.
Also, they gather information on what employees access online during working hours, hence can make future decisions concerning employee’s internet usage.
3. Carry Out Sensitive Tasks Anonymously
Proxies are well known for allowing anonymous internet access. Hence, it’s better to go about your businesses on the internet, knowing you have a secure connection.
When businesses access the internet anonymously, they can secure their source, partners, and clients from any malicious persons or software. Your employees’ online activities can’t be tracked.
Additionally, you can conduct business research with no one snooping around your business. It will become difficult for your competitor to know what you are doing. Thus, proxies keep you safe and ahead of the competition.
4. Great for SEO
You need an effective SEO strategy for your business to thrive. Unfortunately, building one can be challenging. Despite this, you need to actively invest in SEO by doing your own research, including SEO-related keywords.
Proxies for businesses are good in helping you build an effective SEO strategy as they support web scraping.
You can collect data from different sources. Here, you can conduct keyword research, and determine the ones which will boost your search engines rankings on different web pages.
You will also understand what your competitors are doing by accessing their data, which isn’t always readily available.
A web scraper is great for saving time and improving your efficiency. It pulls data from the sources you need and delivers them in a readable format. You can, therefore, analyze high yield keywords, and take advantage of profitable trends.
With the right information, you can make important business decisions.
5. Protection of Emails
Most hackers today use emails to conduct their hacking activities. Thus, it’s important to protect your emails against malware and phishing. Since businesses receive several emails daily, it can be difficult to track each mail manually.
Proxies are great and can help you prevent any attempts to hack into your system through email. They help in scanning every email you receive and detect suspicious URL attempts.
6. Protects Your Brand
It takes numerous years to build a reputable brand. Nevertheless, with just a simple breach or an attack, you could lose brand within a day. Hence, you need to invest in your brand and protect it against both internal and external factors.
Data centre proxies are great for market research and brand protection. They help businesses protect their image in different ways. With these, you can prevent an attack and save your reputation. Also, you can speed up a slow website, thus ensuring your users always get the best experience.
Intellectual property protection also supports brand protection. Proxies help you secure your idea, logo, and protect you against copyright infringements. If someone in your network has bad intentions for your brand, you can block them.
7. Manage Multiple Accounts
Proxies are a great solution to challenges that result from multiple account management. Several businesses have tons of accounts online with a lot of traffic. Hence, they need to come up with different ways to help them in managing these accounts.
Creating multiple accounts on different platforms can be tough because you might get blocked. Thus, proxies help you not to get blocked. This way, you can leverage having multiple accounts to boost your traffic even further.
Conclusion
Proxies are essential to businesses. Businesses should start considering it as a necessary investment when undergoing digital transformation. Although it may not stop hackers from trying to sabotage your business, the benefits are worth every penny.
Since different proxies exist, go with one that serves your needs. Look for the best providers, because there are fakes too. A proxy server might be what you need to take your business to the next level.
