Sebastian Serwin

“The influence of the Internet is already enormous, but with the rate of innovations which will be introduced in the next five years, it will increase further. Our aim is to move from the present world of autonomous web sites to an Internet of exchangeable components, where tools and services could be united in aggregates. This would secure compact usage and be well-disposed towards a user friendly environment” – It was with these comments that Bill Gates marked a new development in the history of Information Technology. The new strategy of development created by the Redmond Giant is called Microsoft.net (read, dot-net), and was designed to ensure easier and more individualized conditions of activity on the Internet.

Microsoft is trying to present itself as not only the worldwide leading manufacturer of operating systems but also as a top provider of comprehensive IT solutions for business. With its Microsoft Internet Security & Acceleration Server, the Redmond software giant is approaching this goal. This is Part I of a series of articles on ISA Server: its origin, complexity, benefits and shortcomings.