We all love a good bargain. Whether it’s scouring the racks at a thrift store or hunting for the best deals online, the feeling of getting something great for a fraction of the price is unbeatable. The same goes for web hosting – we want a hosting service that won’t break the bank but still offers significant benefits. That’s where Shared Hosting with dedicated IP comes in.
A shared hosting plan with a dedicated IP address provides a unique IP address exclusively for your website on a server shared with other websites.
In this article, we’ll look closer at this unique web hosting solution, when you should consider using it, and how to set it up. So, let’s get started!
- While shared hosting may be inexpensive and handy, it comes with drawbacks, like sharing a server’s IP address with other websites
- A dedicated IP address may boost email delivery, website security, and SSL certificate usage
- Dedicated IP shared hosting is a middle ground between the low cost of shared hosting and the autonomy of a dedicated server
- Assess website needs before upgrading to a dedicated IP shared hosting plan.
- In addition to using shared hosting with a dedicated IP address, implementing additional security measures can help ensure website security
What is an IP Address?
An IP Address is a unique string of numbers separated by periods that identifies each computer using the Internet Protocol to communicate over a network (IP stands for Internet Protocol).
In practical terms – an IP address allows a device to be recognized by other devices connected to the internet or a local network.
IP addresses serve two main functions:
- It identifies the host or network interface
- It provides the location of the host in the network (the address for the networked device)
For example, when you visit a website, your device sends out a request to the server where the site is hosted via its IP address, and the server then sends the correct page data back to your device’s IP address. Most IP addresses are dynamic, which means they change every time you reconnect to the internet, although you can have a static IP address that doesn’t change.
What is a Dedicated IP Address?
A dedicated IP address means having an IP address exclusively assigned to your hosting account, not shared with any other domains, ensuring direct access to your website if someone types the IP address into a browser.
This exclusivity is particularly beneficial for high-traffic websites, eliminating performance bottlenecks that can occur when IP addresses are shared.
What Is Shared Hosting With Dedicated IP?
Shared hosting with a dedicated IP is a web hosting service that offers a unique IP address exclusively for your website on a shared server. In traditional shared hosting, multiple websites share the same IP address, leading to issues such as being blacklisted and slow website speed.
Shared hosting with a dedicated IP combines the low cost of shared hosting with the security of a dedicated IP for your website. Doing so helps you avoid potential blacklisting issues and slow website speed, which can impact your visitors’ experience, harm your search engine rankings and affect your IP reputation.
In simpler terms, imagine you’re living in a shared apartment complex where everyone uses the same address. If one of your neighbors is notorious for throwing wild parties, it can lead to the police visiting your apartment, even though you’re not involved.
However, with shared hosting with a dedicated IP, it’s like having your mailbox with your own address, which ensures that other websites’ actions do not impact your website on the same server. This can improve email deliverability rates, provide direct server access, and offer your website an added layer of security and control.
IP addresses are assigned by an Internet Service Provider (ISP) and can be concealed for privacy with services like VPNs or proxy servers.
When Should You Consider Getting a Dedicated IP For Your Website
While shared hosting with a dedicated IP address provides several benefits, it may only sometimes be necessary for some website owners. However, specific scenarios exist where having a dedicated IP address for your website can be crucial. Here are some of them:
E-Commerce Websites
Running an e-commerce website requires high security and reliability when processing transactions. A dedicated IP address can provide these essential features for your website. You can set up an SSL certificate, which encrypts sensitive information and provides added security for your customers.
Having a shared IP address will deny you fast server and page load times, giving a less pleasant shopping experience for your consumers.
Large Websites With High Traffic
The use of a dedicated IP address is recommended for high-traffic websites, as it provides a constant connection to the server, allowing for faster page loads and less frequent outages.
This is crucial for revenue-generating websites that attract large numbers of visitors. A shared IP address with other websites on a shared server may lead to complications like blacklisting and sluggish website performance, but dedicated IP addresses eliminates this problem.
Email Marketing Campaigns
A dedicated IP address is crucial if you plan to send frequent email marketing campaigns to your subscribers. It isolates your email-sending reputation from other websites on the shared server, reducing the risk of getting marked as spam. This is crucial for maintaining a high email deliverability rate and maximizing the success of your email marketing campaigns that a shared IP address won’t give.
SSL Certificate
You’ll need a dedicated IP address to install an SSL certificate on your website. An SSL certificate encrypts data, making stealing private information from your site’s users more difficult. Online stores that handle financial transactions or gather personal data from clients need this.
Search Engine Optimization
While a dedicated IP address isn’t a direct component in SEO results, it may have a knock-on effect by making your site faster and more reliable. As a web owner, you should know about SEO, and one of the things you’ll discover is that Google and other search engines use site speed as a ranking factor.
With a dedicated IP, your website will load quicker and have less downtime, which will favorably affect its position in search engine results pages. Blacklisting and sluggish website performance are bad for a website’s search engine results, but dedicated IP addresses may help avoid both.
Dedicated Server Hosting typically comes with a dedicated IP as part of the package
How to Set Up Your Website With a Dedicated IP on Your Shared Hosting Account?
If you’ve decided that a dedicated IP is suitable for your website, the next step is to set it up on your shared hosting account. But don’t worry; the process is more straightforward than you might think. Here’s how to get started:
Request a Dedicated IP Address
To set up your website with a dedicated IP on your shared hosting account, reach out to your web hosting provider and request a dedicated IP address. Note that some hosting providers may charge an extra fee for this service, so inquire about additional costs.
Update Your DNS Settings
Once you have obtained a dedicated IP address, it’s time to update your domain’s DNS settings. To do this:
- Log in to your domain registrar’s website
- Navigate to the DNS settings
- Update the A record for your domain to point to the new dedicated IP address
- Remember that the DNS changes may take up to 48 hours to propagate fully
Configure Your Website to Use the New IP Address
After updating your DNS settings, you must configure your website to use the new IP address. To do this:
- Log in to your website’s control panel or FTP server
- Locate the configuration files for your site (such as the .htaccess file for Apache servers)
- Edit the configuration files to include the new dedicated IP address
- Save the changes and test your website to ensure it uses the new IP address
Verify SSL Certificate
If your website has an SSL certificate, you may need to update it to use the new dedicated IP address. Contact your SSL certificate provider for assistance with updating your certificate.
Test Your Website
Once your DNS changes have propagated and your website is configured to use the new IP address, test it to ensure everything functions correctly. Check for any errors or issues and resolve them as needed.
Shared Hosting with Dedicated IP: Common Challenges
As appealing as using a dedicated IP address on a shared hosting plan may be, you should be aware of the common hurdles you might have to cross. Let’s take a look at some of the most common challenges:
Cost
Nothing of value is ever given away for free, and dedicated IP addresses are no exception. A dedicated IP is more expensive than a shared IP address, although they may be included in your hosting package or offered as an add-on. It is crucial to find out from your hosting provider if there are any hidden fees before making the call.
Technical Knowledge
Setting up a dedicated IP address on a shared hosting plan is a technical undertaking that may necessitate knowledge of domain name system (DNS) and hosting-account configuration. Website owners who aren’t tech-savvy may need to contact the hosting company for help or hire a professional web developer.
IP Blacklisting
There is still a chance of being blacklisted, even with a dedicated IP address, if other sites on the same server are involved in spamming or other unethical forms of search engine optimization.
When you understand IP blacklisting, you’ll know website performance or email deliverability could suffer due to compromised IP addresses. So tread carefully, and keep an eye out for unintended consequences.
Limited Resources
Disk space and bandwidth are just two of the resources that are typically capped in shared hosting services. Dedicated IP addresses can improve security but also increase server load and slow down other sites. So, watch how much of a toll your use of the server’s resources is taking to ascertain whether it keeps the experience up for others.
Discordant Compatibility
Using dedicated IP addresses on shared hosting plans can cause incompatibilities with some website applications and technologies. As a webmaster, check whether or not your current infrastructure can run on a dedicated IP address before making the transfer. In the event of incompatibility, seek expert help.
Shared Hosting with Dedicated IP: Tips for Keeping Your Website Secure
As a website owner using a dedicated IP address on a shared hosting plan, you must prioritize website security. In today’s digital age, cyber-attacks are becoming increasingly common, and websites are at high risk of being hacked or compromised. Here are some essential tips for keeping your website secure with a dedicated IP address on a shared hosting plan:
Keep Software Up to Date
Don’t let outdated software be the weak link in your website’s security chain! Regularly update your website’s software, including its content management system (CMS), plugins, and themes.
Outdated software can be vulnerable to security threats and compromise your website’s security. Check for updates frequently, and install them as soon as they become available. You can also enable automatic updates if your CMS or hosting provider offers this feature.
Use Strong Passwords
Using strong passwords is the first line of defense for securing your website. Use strong passwords for all your website’s user accounts, including your CMS, FTP, and hosting account.
Avoid using common words or phrases, and consider using a password manager to generate and store complex passwords. A strong password should be at least 12 characters long and include a mix of uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, and special characters. Change your passwords regularly, and avoid using the same password for multiple accounts.
Enable HTTPS
By enabling HTTPS on your website, critical information such as login passwords and payment information is encrypted during transmission, safeguarding both parties from the possibility of a data breach. You must get an SSL certificate from a certificate authority and then install it on your server before you can activate HTTPS. Many hosting providers offer free SSL certificates as part of their hosting plans.
Implement Firewalls
A firewall acts as a bouncer at the door of your website, keeping out unwanted visitors. It works by filtering incoming traffic to your website and blocking any traffic that is deemed suspicious or malicious.
Firewalls are an excellent tool for preventing unwanted visitors and attacks on your website. In fact, several hosting companies already include firewalls in their standard packages. You can also set up custom firewall rules to prevent certain protocols or IP addresses from getting through.
Limit Access
Don’t let just anyone wander into the backend of your website! Limit access by only allowing trusted users to log in. Consider using two-factor authentication to secure access to your website further.
Two-factor authentication adds an extra layer of security by requiring users to enter a code sent to their mobile device or generated by an app in addition to their password. Limit the number of user accounts with administrative privileges and regularly review user access logs to ensure that only authorized users are accessing your website.
Regularly Backup Your Website
Taking the time to back up your website is similar to ensuring your data because having a recent backup of your website is invaluable in a hack or data loss. Automated backups are also available from many hosting providers.
You can also back up your website by manually exporting your database and making a copy of your site’s files. Keep your copies of essential data in a safe place, such as an external hard drive or a cloud storage service.
Monitor Your Website
Always be vigilant in monitoring your website. Keep an eye out for any unusual or unauthorized modifications to your website’s files and content regularly.
Consider employing website monitoring services or other plugins to boost security. These tools can alert you to potential security threats and help you take action to protect your website. Check the website’s logs often to see if there is any suspicious behavior or unsuccessful login attempts.
Are Dedicated IP Addresses Included in Other Hosting Plans?
A dedicated IP address is often a feature included with various types of hosting plans, but its availability can differ:
- Dedicated Hosting: Almost always comes with at least one dedicated IP address because the server is entirely dedicated to one user.
- VPS (Virtual Private Server) Hosting: Often includes a dedicated IP address because, even though the physical server is shared, the virtual server is isolated.
- Cloud Hosting: It may or may not come with a dedicated IP address. Some cloud hosting plans include a dedicated IP, while others might offer it as an add-on service for an additional fee.
Keep in mind that the specifics can vary from provider to provider, so it’s always a good idea to check the details of the hosting plan or ask the provider directly.
Conclusion
For a fraction of the price, shared hosting with dedicated IP address offers several benefits. When deciding which shared hosting to go for, consider your website’s needs and choose a hosting provider with a dedicated IP option.
However, it’s important to note that dedicated IP addresses are not a silver bullet solution for all website-related issues. It does an excellent job with numerous elements of website speed and security.
Also, it’s still vital to take precautions, such as frequently checking your website’s performance and security and fixing any errors. If you’d like to know what further steps to take, read more in the next section.
Next Steps: What Now?
- Select the Best Shared Hosting Provider
- Learn the difference between VPS and Shared Hosting
- Compare Shared vs. Dedicated Server options
Learn More About Shared Hosting
- What Is Shared Hosting? The Good, the Bad, and the Affordable
- The Pros and Cons of Shared Hosting
- Shared Hosting Security: A Guide to Keeping Your Website Safe
- Shared Hosting Traffic Limit
- Shared Hosting Unlimited Domains
- Shared Hosting for eCommerce Websites: An Affordable Path to Online Retail
- Hosting Types — The Difference between Shared, VPS and Dedicated
- Shared Hosting vs. WordPress Hosting: Which is Best for Your Site?
