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In the rapidly evolving landscape of the internet, businesses face a significant challenge – the shortage of Internet Protocol version 4 (IPv4) addresses. As the transition to IPv6 is still in progress, the demand for IPv4 resources continues to rise, accompanied by escalating prices. In light of this, more and more companies are turning to the practical and cost-effective solution of leasing IPv4 addresses instead of buying them outright.
Since the depletion of the IPv4 address pool in 2011, prices have soared, reaching an average of $50 per IP address in 2022. In contrast, the average lease price per IPv4 address was approximately $0.50 in the same year. Leasing, therefore, presents a remarkable cost advantage – around 10 times cheaper than buying addresses. This cost-effectiveness allows businesses to save a significant amount of capital expenditure, contributing to the financial health of companies across various industries.
One of the key advantages of IPv4 leasing is the flexibility it offers in terms of commitments. Lessees can adjust the lease length and conditions according to their specific business needs. This is particularly beneficial for organizations with varying or uncertain IPv4 address requirements. Unlike the rigid nature of buying IPv4 addresses, leasing provides the freedom to pay for the required IP blocks for the precise duration needed, offering greater control and predictability over IPv4 address expenses.
In a business landscape where time is of the essence, the instant availability of IPv4 addresses through leasing is a game-changer. Traditional IP address acquisition involves a lengthy and complex process, while leasing allows organizations to gain immediate access to the resources they need. With Resource Public Key Infrastructure (RPKI) management ensuring authorized parties can advertise specific IP address prefixes swiftly, the provisioning of IPv4 addresses becomes a seamless process.
IPv4 leasing, particularly through platforms like InterLIR, offers rich subnet availability. Businesses can choose from a variety of subnets of different sizes (/24-/16) from all five Regional Internet Registries (RIRs). This not only facilitates expansion of network capabilities but also enhances network security, simplifies network management, and reduces IP address conflicts.
Thorough subnet validation is a cornerstone of IPv4 leasing, ensuring improved network security, compliance, reduced downtime, enhanced performance, and simplified network management. All IP holders on the leasing platform undergo stringent subnet validation checks, guaranteeing that only clean and reputable subnets are made available for lessees. This significantly reduces the lessee’s burden of finding and validating IP addresses independently.
IP address abuse management is a critical aspect of network security. IPv4 leasing platforms, such as InterLIR, employ automated real-time IP address monitoring to track and prevent abuse, including spamming and hacking. This not only enhances network security but also reduces expenses on IP administration, making it an attractive option for businesses seeking to protect their networks and reputation.
The process of leasing IPv4 addresses is streamlined through user-friendly registration processes and Know Your Customer (KYC) checks. This ensures that businesses can quickly access the IP resources they need without going through lengthy and complex procedures. The KYC process acts as a safeguard, protecting the IP address pool from potentially unreliable parties and predicting IP reputation problems beforehand.
In conclusion, the benefits of IPv4 address leasing are substantial. From cost-effectiveness and flexibility to instant availability and professional abuse management, businesses stand to gain significantly from embracing IPv4 leasing. As the internet continues to be a driving force for global connectivity, IPv4 leasing emerges as a crucial solution, contributing to the scalability, flexibility, and sustainability of the entire internet ecosystem.
For growing businesses navigating the challenges of the digital era, IPv4 address leasing is not just a solution; it’s a strategic advantage that ensures a smooth and cost-effective path to network expansion and development.
Alexander Timokhin
COO