![](https://webcf.waybackmachine.org/web/20240602052340/https://habrastorage.org/getpro/habr/upload_files/9b1/c8b/14e/9b1c8b14edb29343880a795f2912fc54.jpeg)
Masking an IP address with a use of a proxy is necessary not only to circumvent censorship on the Internet and watch TV series. In recent years, proxies have been increasingly used to solve corporate objectives from application testing under load to competitive intelligence. Habr has a good overview of the various options for using proxies in the business sector.
Today we will talk about what to pay attention to when choosing a proxy network for solving such corporate objectives.
How large is the pool of available addresses?
Research shows that in order for blocking bypass systems to work effectively, they must constantly expand the pool of available IP addresses.
Firstly, it reduces the likelihood of a specific address to be detected by censors, and secondly, the presence of a large number of connection options has a positive effect on the speed of work.
Therefore, when choosing proxy networks, especially for solving business problems (read more about them here), it is important to analyze the size of the pool of available addresses.
How many countries does the proxy service support?
In addition to the number of IP addresses, the key parameter of the proxy network is the geographical distribution of addresses. Proxy providers cannot always boast of having a large number of options of connections from different countries, and as a result, some companies simply lie about the location of their servers and IPs. There are even studies on this topic.
The more connection options from different countries are available, the more effectively you will be able to bypass various types of blocks – from governmental to corporate.
When choosing a proxy service, you need to take into account both the width of the address pool and their geographical location. The ideal option is to get information about how many addresses are available for a particular country. Not all companies provide such information.
The presence of restrictions
When using a proxy, especially for solving corporate objectives, performance plays an important role. Quite often, proxy providers impose various restrictions. This is rarely mentioned in marketing materials, but it is common to face traffic or the number of simultaneous sessions limits.
To avoid such inconveniences, it is worth asking about the presence or absence of such restrictions directly from the representatives of the provider.