Configuring IPv6 on Business Networks

IPv6 is the next generation IP addressing protocol, providing a vastly larger address space than IPv4. Most business networks run dual-stack (both IPv4 and IPv6 simultaneously). ISPs increasingly provide IPv6 prefixes by default. For most small businesses, enabling IPv6 means: enabling DHCPv6 or SLAAC (Stateless Address Autoconfiguration) on the router so clients receive IPv6 addresses automatically, and ensuring the firewall has default-deny rules for inbound IPv6 just as it does for IPv4. Unlike IPv4 NAT, IPv6 assigns globally unique addresses to devices — this can expose devices to direct inbound connections if not properly firewalled. Where IPv6 matters: Microsoft 365, Google services, and modern CDNs prefer IPv6 and may serve content faster over it. If IPv6 is misconfigured, it can cause slow browsing (the browser tries IPv6 first, times out, then falls back to IPv4). Verify IPv6 connectivity with test-ipv6.com. For environments not ready for IPv6, disabling it on interfaces is acceptable but check that Windows doesn't use it for some internal services (Teredo, 6to4).