Imagine you host services inside your local network, data center, or even in the cloud and need your employees to access them from anywhere.
It is possible to make the system available publicly, but it would make it vulnerable to network attacks (e.g. man-in-the-middle attacks, DoS and DDoS attacks, eavesdropping, data breach).
Therefore, it is reasonable to make your resources available only to known IP addresses (so-called IP whitelisting - see the box above) as part of security controls.
Without a static IP VPN, your users connect with one of your ISP’s shared IP addresses that don’t belong to your trusted IP range and don’t uniquely identify them as one of your internal employees.
With static IPs whitelisted by the server, like your CRM application server, users’ IP addresses always remain the same.
This is why users can connect from everywhere (local firewall rules apply) securely. Static IP is essentially a unique online ID of the user used for secure remote system access.
VPN creates a secure encrypted tunnel connection from a device to a VPN server based in the selected country (see business cloud VPN or Types of VPN blog to learn more).
A VPN service establishes a secure encrypted tunnel connection from a device to a VPN server based in the selected country.
The user device is assigned an actual static IP address, and all their data is routed via an encrypted tunnel.
This is the way to ensure users always have the same static IP wherever they connect from.
The IP address is fixed and dedicated to the user or a group of users, so only they can use it for accessing remote systems. This can be of critical importance in scenarios like port forwarding, where IP whitelisting remedies what would normally be a critical vulnerability.
FAQs
Without a static IP, you use one of their shared IP addresses that don't uniquely represent your network. Having a static IP address therefore allows you to connect from any remote location (local firewall rules apply), knowing the IP address is always the same and resting assured the connection remains available.
Why would you want a dedicated IP with a VPN? ›
A dedicated IP VPN gives you a permanent IP while connecting from any device. It is ideal for performing online activities that demand higher security, such as online banking or remotely accessing highly sensitive or regulated data.
Is Static VPN better? ›
Key takeaways with static and dedicated IPs with a VPN
While static IP VPNs can improve connection stability and speed, dedicated IP VPNs provide increased control and security for online banking and remote data access, even though they may cost more than shared IP options.
What is static IP used for? ›
In most cases, a static IP address will be used by businesses to ease operations with FTP, email and virtual private networks (VPNs) servers, database servers, network equipment as well as with web hosting services.
What is the static IP of a VPN client? ›
Static IP addresses for VPN clients
Access Server automatically assigns dynamic IP addresses to clients when they connect. This is usually done in sequential order until it reaches the end of the subnet portion available to the OpenVPN daemon the client connects with, at which point it starts reusing older addresses.
What are the disadvantages of a dedicated IP VPN? ›
The disadvantages of a dedicated IP address
If you're looking for a VPN with static IP, you'll likely have to pay an additional charge on top of the regular subscription fee. That's because dedicated IPs are an extra service that not all users need and that require extra resources on the part of the provider.
Can a dedicated IP VPN be tracked? ›
That depends. Like any other VPN server, Dedicated IP encrypts your internet traffic and hides your IP address and location. However, since it's connected to your email address, it can be easier to track your online behavior back to you.
What is the use of static IP in VPN? ›
Using a static IP is not much different from using a shared IP. In both cases, the VPN provider encrypts and routes your traffic through a remote server. But with a static IP, the server's assigned IP is unique to you during your subscription time, providing additional privacy and security-related benefits.
Is it worth having a static IP? ›
Is it better to have a static or dynamic IP? A static IP address is better for businesses, DNS servers, and VoIP protocols, while dynamic IP addresses are better for consumers and anyone who doesn't want to pay for an IP address.
How do I know if I need a static IP? ›
If you only need Internet access and don't require outside users the ability to access your internal systems then Dynamic IP may fulfill your needs. However, if others do require outside access to your systems internally hosted (i.e. web, email, FTP or VPN services) then you will need a Static IP.
NordVPN – best VPN for a dedicated IP address. Surfshark – fastest VPN with dedicated IPs in 13 locations. PureVPN – very secure VPN with a dedicated IP. CyberGhost – dedicated IP VPN servers with extra security measures.
How do I setup a static VPN? ›
Set up a second private subnet, different from the default, dynamic IP address network:
- Sign in to the Admin Web UI.
- Click Configuration > VPN Settings.
- Enter your static IP address with the netmask under Static IP Address Network (Optional).
- Click Save Settings and Update Running Server.
How to use static IP for remote access? ›
Remote Access Configuration (Static IP) This article explains how to set up a Static IP address for remote access to the server
- Login as root. Your login is: root. ...
- Confirm login. ...
- Backup network config. ...
- Open network configuration. ...
- Set the Static IP. ...
- Save interface settings. ...
- Backup DNS configuration. ...
- Open DNS settings.
Why do we recommend a dedicated IP? ›
A dedicated IP address allows employees to connect to company resources securely. It enables you to control access to specific resources and sensitive company assets.
Is a dedicated VPN better than a VPN? ›
In short, a dedicated IP address is a static, or fixed, IP address that never changes and is used by only one person. This differs from a normal VPN IP address, which is shared by other users of the same VPN and is often changed each time you connect.
What are the benefits of IP VPN? ›
IP VPN runs over private MPLS networks, which are not vulnerable to hacks and DDoS attacks, providing greater network security for transporting sensitive data. IP VPN's MPLS connections are also easier to configure, manage, and operate, without the need for additional encryption.
Why would a web server need a dedicated IP address? ›
A dedicated IP address helps prevent your website from the impact of other websites sharing the same server and IP address. This is because, with a dedicated IP, your website has a unique address that is not shared with any other website.