We have been hearing news about the imminent exhaustion of IPv4 addresses for more than a year now – but it has finally happened. The constant free supply of IPv4 addresses has been halted and IPv6 is being pitched as a solution. But is it really the solution?

Unfortunately, the era of the Internet Protocol Version 4 is closing in on its end. Currently, there is a scarcity of IPv4 address space in the market. This is mainly because of the increasing number of internet users in the world that, according to statistics, exceeded 3.3 billion in 2015.

Despite the availability of IPv6, IPv4 still remains the preferred choice of internet protocol in the industry. Currently, billions of devices are utilizing this version to access the complex virtual world. There is scarcity in the market. The demand is extremely high, while the supply is low. Since the number of internet users is increasing, so is this demand. As a result, in the very near future a point will come when the number of available IPv4 addresses will run out and migration to the new protocol – IPv6 – would become a necessity.

You have probably heard of IPv4 exhaustion. Unfortunately, the problem is very real and is worsening with time. Being common users of the internet, businesses or more, directly or indirectly it’s going to have an effect on all.

For anyone who is aware of the IPv4 market dynamics, you would know that the industry is facing immense challenges right now. Whether you are a buyer, seller or a leaser, there’s constant pressure from the inevitable exhaustion and increasing demand. While there is not much that can be done to prevent the exhaustion, simple steps can be taken to mitigate its current and future effects.

In 2015, The American Registry for Internet Numbers (ARIN) announced that it had exhausted its pool of IPv4 addresses. At the back end IPv4 played a major role for years in creating and facilitating the internet used by billions of people worldwide. But, with time it brought on board more users and devices that it couldn’t accommodate.

With all the discussion about exhaustion, scarcity, fraud, deception on one side, have you ever actually wondered what the differences between IPv4 and IPv6 addresses really are? If not, let us give a brief overview.

When this internet protocol technology was developed back in 1984, experts were well aware of the fact that a time will come when the need for a successor will emerge. But, no one even imagined that it would happen so soon.

Today, IP addresses are considered as one of the most valuable business assets. This is the reason why businesses are increasingly investing in creating a robust IP management strategy. Let’s have a look at why IPv4 has become significant for modern businesses.