Backup Proxy Pools for Arbitrage and SMM: How Backup IPs Save Accounts from Loss

Imagine a situation: you launched an advertising campaign on 20 Facebook Ads accounts, set up auto-posting on 50 Instagram profiles, or started scraping competitor prices on Wildberries. Everything works smoothly until suddenly your main proxy provider starts banning IP addresses en masse. Within minutes, you lose access to all accounts, advertising campaigns stop, and clients of the SMM agency are left without posts. This is exactly why backup proxy pools exist — reserve sets of IP addresses that automatically take over the load when there are problems with the main pool.

In this article, we will discuss when backup proxies become a necessity rather than a luxury, how to properly structure the architecture of the main and backup pools, and what tools can help automate the switching between them without losing accounts.

What is a backup proxy pool and how is it different from the main one

A backup proxy pool is a reserve set of IP addresses from another provider or from a different subnet that is on standby and activated when there are problems with the main pool. The key difference from simply increasing the number of proxies from one provider is risk diversification.

The main pool consists of proxies that you use daily for work. It is through them that your Facebook Ads accounts log in, posts are published on Instagram, and requests are sent to marketplace APIs. These IP addresses are already "warmed up" — the platforms have seen their activity, trust them, and do not block them during standard operations.

The backup pool serves three main functions:

• Insurance against mass bans — if the platform bans the subnet of your main provider, you switch to the backup from another network
• Protection against technical failures — when the provider's servers go down or the connection is lost, the backup pool automatically takes over the load
• Geographic diversification — the main pool may be from the USA, while the backup is from the UK, allowing for quick geolocation changes if necessary

5 critical situations when a backup pool saves a business

Let's analyze real scenarios where the absence of a backup pool leads to significant financial losses, while its presence allows for uninterrupted operations.

Situation 1: Mass ban of the provider's subnet by the platform

Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok regularly update their anti-fraud systems. Sometimes entire subnets of proxy providers end up on blacklists — especially if spammers or fraudsters have worked through them. Your accounts may be clean, but if they use IPs from a banned subnet, access is blocked instantly.

Example: An arbitrageur launched ads on 15 Facebook Ads accounts with a budget of $500 each. Two days later, Facebook banned the subnet of his residential proxy provider. All accounts were blocked for "suspicious activity." Without a backup pool, recovery will take at least 2-3 days: you need to buy new proxies, reconfigure profiles in Dolphin Anty, and go through re-moderation. During this time, competitors will seize the audience, and the advertising budget will burn.

With a backup pool, switching takes 10-15 minutes: you open the profile settings, change the proxies to backup, and restart the sessions. Campaigns continue to run.

Situation 2: Technical failure at the proxy provider

Proxy provider servers are not immune to DDoS attacks, data center issues, or connection drops. Even large providers sometimes go offline for several hours. If all your work is tied to one proxy source, downtime means losing money.

Example: An SMM agency manages 80 Instagram accounts for clients. A mass posting of advertising materials is scheduled for the start of a sale. At 9 AM, the mobile proxy provider goes offline due to technical work. Without a backup pool, the agency misses deadlines, clients lose sales, and reputation suffers.

The backup pool allows for an instant switch to another provider and timely posting.

Situation 3: Sudden tightening of platform rules

Advertising platforms and social networks periodically change their account verification algorithms. What worked yesterday may raise suspicions today. For example, TikTok may start banning all connections through data center proxies, requiring only mobile IPs.

Example: You are working with TikTok Ads through data center proxies — they are fast and inexpensive. Suddenly, the platform tightens its rules and starts blocking all IPs from data centers. If you have a pool of mobile proxies in reserve, you quickly switch and continue working. Without a backup, you will have to urgently look for a new provider, which can take days.

Situation 4: Geolocation blocking

Some services block access from certain countries or regions. If your main proxy pool is in a blocked zone, you urgently need an alternative.

Example: You are scraping competitor prices on European marketplaces through proxies from Russia. The marketplace imposes sanctions and blocks all Russian IPs. With a backup pool from Germany or Poland, you continue monitoring without interruption.

Situation 5: Chain bans in multi-accounting

A chain ban is a situation where the platform links several of your accounts together and bans them in a chain. One reason for linking is the use of IP addresses from the same subnet. If Facebook detects violations on one account and sees that the other 20 log in from the same subnet IP, it may ban the entire chain.

A backup pool from another subnet or another provider breaks this link. Some accounts operate through the main pool, while others use the backup. Even if one group gets banned, the other remains active.

Backup for arbitrage: protecting advertising accounts from chain bans

Traffic arbitrageurs work with dozens of advertising accounts simultaneously. Losing even half of them means a serious drop in profits. A backup proxy pool for arbitrage solves several tasks at once.

Account separation by pools to minimize risks

Professional arbitrageurs do not keep all accounts on one type of proxy. The standard scheme: 60% of accounts operate through the main pool, 40% through the backup. If the main pool gets blocked, you lose not the entire business, but only part of it. The remaining accounts continue to generate profit while you resolve the issue.

Practical scheme: You have 30 Facebook Ads accounts. 18 operate through residential proxies from provider A (main pool), 12 through mobile proxies from provider B (backup pool). The accounts are separated by different linkages and do not overlap in IP. If Facebook bans the subnet of provider A, you will lose a maximum of 18 accounts, but 12 will remain operational.

Quick recovery after bans

When an advertising account gets banned, often the problem is not with the account itself, but with the IP address. If you switch the proxy to a clean one from the backup pool and create an appeal, the chances of unbanning are significantly higher.

Recovery algorithm: Account banned → switch it to a proxy from the backup pool → clear cookies and cache in the anti-detect browser → submit an appeal. Facebook sees that the account is now logging in from another "clean" IP and is more willing to unban it.

Testing new geos without risking main campaigns

When you launch ads in a new country, there is always a risk that the platform will block the account due to suspicious geolocation changes. The backup pool allows you to test new geos on separate accounts without risking the main ones.

Example: You were driving traffic to the USA through the main pool of American residential proxies. You decided to test Germany. Instead of changing the geolocation on existing accounts (which may raise suspicions), you create new profiles in Dolphin Anty with proxies from the German backup pool. You test the geo safely, without risking the running campaigns.

Backup IPs for SMM agencies: how to avoid losing client accounts

SMM agencies and social media promotion specialists manage dozens of client accounts. Losing access to a client account is not just a technical failure, it poses reputational risks and potential legal claims. A backup pool for SMM is insurance for professional reputation.

Protection against bans during mass operations

When you publish posts on 50 Instagram accounts simultaneously, the platform may consider this suspicious activity, especially if all requests come from IPs within the same subnet. Separating accounts between the main and backup pools reduces the likelihood of mass bans.

Operational scheme: 30 accounts operate through the main pool of mobile proxies, 20 through the backup pool of residential proxies. During mass posting, Instagram sees activity from different types of IPs from different subnets, which looks more natural than 50 identical requests from one provider.

Continuity of operations during technical failures

SMM agency clients pay for results and do not want to hear about technical problems. If your proxy provider goes down and a client has an important announcement or the start of an advertising campaign scheduled for today, the absence of a backup pool jeopardizes the contract.

Real case: The agency manages restaurant accounts on Instagram. Every day at 11:00, a post with the lunch menu and promotions is published. The mobile proxy provider goes offline at 10:45. Without a backup pool, the publication fails, and clients lose daily traffic. With a backup pool, the SMM manager switches profiles to backup proxies in 5 minutes and publishes posts on time.

Working with accounts from different countries

If your agency works with international clients, you need proxies from different countries. The main pool can cover primary markets (USA, Europe), while the backup can cover additional regions (Asia, Latin America, CIS).

Example of distribution: Main pool — residential proxies from the USA, UK, Germany. Backup pool — mobile proxies from Brazil, India, UAE. When a client from a new region appears, you immediately connect their accounts to the corresponding proxies from the backup pool, saving time searching for a new provider.

Backup for scraping marketplaces: continuous price monitoring

Marketplace sellers and e-commerce analysts depend on continuous data collection. Scraping competitor prices, monitoring product stock levels, tracking search rankings — all of this requires stable access to platforms. Stopping scraping even for a few hours can lead to a loss of competitive advantage.

Protection against anti-scraping systems

Wildberries, Ozon, Yandex.Market are constantly improving their protection against scrapers. If the platform detects that too many requests are coming from a specific IP, it blocks the entire subnet. The backup pool allows you to instantly switch to other IPs and continue data collection.

Operational scheme: Main pool — data center proxies for fast scraping of large volumes of data. Backup pool — residential proxies for bypassing strict blocks. If Wildberries starts banning IPs from data centers, the scraper automatically switches to residential proxies from the reserve.

24/7 monitoring

Prices on marketplaces change around the clock. A competitor may lower the price of a product at 3 AM, and if your scraper is not working at that moment due to proxy issues, you will only find out about the change in the morning — when you have already lost sales.

Practical application: Set up automatic switching between the main and backup pools in your scraper. If the main proxies do not respond or return errors, the system instantly switches to the backup. Monitoring does not stop for a minute.

Scraping from different geolocations

Many marketplaces show different prices and product availability depending on the buyer's region. To get a complete picture, you need to scrape data from different cities.

Example: Main pool — proxies from Moscow and St. Petersburg for monitoring primary markets. Backup pool — proxies from regions (Yekaterinburg, Novosibirsk, Krasnodar). You get data on prices and product stock in all key regions of Russia, giving you a competitive advantage.

How to properly structure the architecture of the main and backup pools

An effective backup pool is not just an additional purchase of proxies. It is a well-thought-out system with proper resource allocation, different types of IPs, and automated switching.

The rule of provider diversification

The main and backup pools should be from different providers. Moreover, it is preferable that they use different sources of IPs. For example:

• Main pool — residential proxies from provider A (home user IPs)
• Backup pool — mobile proxies from provider B (mobile operator IPs)

This scheme protects against situations where the platform bans a specific type of IP or an entire provider.

Ratio of pool sizes

The backup pool does not necessarily have to be the same size as the main one. Standard proportions:

Geographic distribution

If your business operates in one country (for example, only the USA), the main and backup pools should be from that same country, but from different providers and regions. If you work with multiple countries, distribute them between the pools.

Example for international arbitrage:

• Main pool: USA (California, Texas), UK (London), Germany (Berlin)
• Backup pool: USA (New York, Florida), France (Paris), Poland (Warsaw)

This distribution allows you to switch to American proxies from the backup in case of problems with the main pool in the USA, preserving the geolocation of the accounts.

Combining proxy types

Different types of proxies have different characteristics. By combining them in the main and backup pools, you gain flexibility:

Automatic switching: setup in Dolphin Anty and AdsPower

Manual switching between proxy pools takes time and requires constant monitoring. Anti-detect browsers allow you to set up automatic proxy switching when problems are detected.

Setup in Dolphin Anty

Dolphin Anty is one of the most popular anti-detect browsers among arbitrageurs. Here’s how to set up work with the backup pool:

1. Create tags for the pools: In the "Profiles" section, create two tags — "Main Pool" and "Backup Pool." This will allow you to quickly filter profiles by the proxies used.
2. Set up main proxies: For each profile in the proxy settings, specify the data from the main pool. Format: IP:Port:Login:Password. Choose the proxy type (HTTP, SOCKS5) according to the provider's recommendations.
3. Add backup proxies in notes: In the "Notes" field of each profile, save the data of the backup proxies. This will allow you to quickly copy them when switching is necessary.
4. Use bulk editing: If you need to switch several profiles at once, select them with checkboxes → "Bulk Editing" → paste new proxy data from the backup pool → "Apply."

Automation through scripts: Dolphin Anty supports API for automation. You can write a simple script that checks the availability of proxies from the main pool and automatically switches profiles to the backup when unavailability is detected.

Setup in AdsPower

AdsPower offers more advanced capabilities for working with multiple proxy pools:

1. Create profile groups: Divide profiles into groups by pools — "Main USA", "Backup USA", "Main EU", "Backup EU". This simplifies managing a large number of accounts.
2. Use the proxy check function: AdsPower automatically checks the availability of proxies when launching a profile. If the proxy is unavailable, the browser will show a warning.
3. Set up notifications: In the settings, enable notifications about proxy issues. You will receive instant alerts if the main pool stops responding.
4. Automatic rotation: In the advanced proxy settings, you can specify multiple addresses separated by commas. AdsPower will automatically try the next proxy if the first one is unavailable.

Setting up automatic switching for scrapers

If you are using scrapers in Python, Node.js, or ready-made solutions, most of them support working with multiple proxy pools through configuration files.

Example of automatic switching logic:

1. The scraper sends a request through a proxy from the main pool
2. If it receives an error (timeout, 403, 429) — it marks this proxy as unavailable
3. Automatically switches to the next proxy from the main pool
4. If all proxies from the main pool are unavailable — it switches to the backup pool
5. Continues working through the backup proxies
6. Every 10 minutes checks the availability of the main pool
7. When the main pool is restored — it switches back to it

This logic ensures continuous operation of the scraper without manual intervention.

How much does it cost to maintain a backup pool: budget calculation

A backup pool incurs additional costs, but they are significantly lower than potential losses from downtime. Let's break down how to calculate the optimal budget for backup proxies.

"Cold reserve" model

You purchase a minimal package of proxies from a second provider and keep them in reserve. You only use them when there are problems with the main pool. This is the most economical option.

Example calculation for an arbitrageur:

• Main pool: 30 mobile proxies from the USA — $300/month
• Backup pool: 10 residential proxies from the USA (minimal package) — $50/month
• Total costs: $350/month
• Additional expenses for backup: +17% to the main budget

With this, 10 backup proxies will allow you to quickly restore the operation of critical accounts while you resolve the issue with the main pool.

"Hot reserve" model

Some accounts constantly operate through the backup pool. This is more expensive but provides maximum reliability and allows for risk distribution.

Example calculation for an SMM agency:

• Main pool: 40 mobile proxies — $400/month
• Backup pool: 20 residential proxies — $100/month
• Total costs: $500/month
• Additional expenses for backup: +25% to the main budget

However, 60 client accounts are divided between two independent pools, minimizing the risk of mass access loss.

Return on investment calculation

To understand whether it is worth investing in a backup pool, calculate the cost of downtime for your business:

For an arbitrageur: If you are driving traffic with a profit of $3000/month, one day of downtime = $100 in losses. A backup pool for $50/month pays off if it saves you from downtime for at least half a day.

For an SMM agency: If a contract with a client costs $500/month and you lose it due to a technical failure, one lost client = 5 months of payment for the backup pool.

For e-commerce: If due to the interruption of scraping you did not notice a price drop by a competitor and lost sales of $200, the backup pool for $30/month paid off in one such situation.

Conclusion

A backup proxy pool is not an additional luxury, but a necessary element of professional work with multi-accounting, traffic arbitrage, SMM promotion, and scraping. Investments in a backup pool amount to 15-30% of the main budget for proxies, but protect against losses that can exceed this amount by tens of times.

Key principles of an effective backup pool: provider diversification, use of different types of proxies, thoughtful architecture of account distribution, and automation of switching. By setting up a backup system once, you gain insurance against technical failures, mass bans, and other critical situations.

If you plan to build a reliable system with a main and backup pool, we recommend starting with residential proxies for the main pool — they provide a high level of trust from platforms and minimal risk of bans. For the backup pool, mobile proxies are well-suited — they use IPs from mobile operators, providing an additional level of protection and diversity of IP address sources.