Estimated reading time: 5 minutes
Virtual private servers (VPSs) and proxy servers appear to be very similar on the surface. Even though they both provide additional security for your website, they are two completely different services. Understanding the fundamental differences might assist you in deciding which is best for you and your company.
What is a VPS?
What exactly is a VPS? Let’s start with an overview of how a typical server functions. A server is a digital device or digital application that handles requests from other computers and sends data to them.
A server is similar to a virtual waiter. It obediently accepts requests from other computers, completes the work they want, and returns the completed projects to the devices it serves. It can host websites, operate apps, provide email services, store files, and relay messages between devices, among other things.
VPS hosting is ideal for people who need the resources of a dedicated server but aren’t quite ready for one. If you need more performance, storage, or scalability for your website, VPS hosting is the way to go.
What is a Proxy?
A proxy server serves as a link between your computer and the rest of the internet. When you surf the internet using your browser, you usually connect straight to the page you’re browsing. Proxies act as intermediaries between you and websites.
Clients and servers are the two functions that most devices and software on the internet play. A client sends data requests to servers, such as your web browser. You make a request to the web server when you visit a site with your search engine or browser. Requests are processed by servers, which subsequently respond with the required information. Every webpage is delivered to your browser by a server or set of servers. Traffic is the term for requests and responses.
Some proxies encrypt your internet traffic and hide it from your ISP (ISP). However, the proxy server’s owner may have access to this information; therefore, if you want to use the service safely, you must have complete faith in the proxy provider. Your IP address is also changed using proxies. The website you visit will believe you are visiting from another nation, allowing you to remain anonymous. However, unencrypted proxies may disclose your IP address unintentionally.
It’s also feasible to use a proxy to block websites. If your employer utilizes a proxy server for security, the proxy’s IP address can be used to determine which websites you can access.
Proxy is one of the most important aspects of web scraping. Scraping without a rotating residential proxies pool is practically difficult.
Differences between a VPS and a Residential Proxy
Virtual technology is used by both VPNs and residential proxies to alter how devices communicate with servers. However, there are few parallels between the two services. Residential proxies and VPSs operate in completely different ways and have other goals.
Businesses benefit the most from VPSs since they can host websites, complex apps, and other tasks on a low-cost, capable server. Individuals and companies can use residential proxies to preserve their privacy and disguise their online identities.
Residential proxies, unlike VPSs, do not normally host websites or applications. Instead, residential proxies alter the path your internet traffic takes to give you the appearance of being in a new place, protect your sensitive data, and possibly speed up your connection.
Certain security elements, such as firewalls, are commonly included in the hypervisor software that operates a VPS, and some VPS systems have additional security mechanisms to protect user data. However, virtual servers are no more secure than regular servers.
VPS-hosted websites, programs, and data may be subject to hacking or government spying. A VPS is primarily used for server hosting rather than data security. Encryption, IP masking, and accessing geo-restricted content, to mention a few, are all security elements that residential proxies focus on and typically design around.
Furthermore, VPSs are usually unable to alter the visible location of the internet traffic they handle. You will very likely not be able to evade geoblocks, assuming that your VPS is situated in a geo-limited country. Residential proxies, then again, may and do adjust their clients’ IP locations to avoid geoblocking.
To summarize, a VPS is a low-cost server, whereas a residential proxy network is a service that connects you to the internet securely and secretly from numerous locations.
Which one is better?
Trying to compare a VPS with a proxy server is like comparing potatoes and tomatoes. They both have their uses in the commercial world, though, and many online businesses choose to use one or both of them. A VPS is an excellent facilitating option for organizations that need to scale quickly and maintain a site with consistently high traffic. A proxy server might also be a good setup for people who work remotely or travel frequently. To be honest, the two technologies can be valuable additions to your online toolbox.
Share this content:
