The expense of having a private Web server will generally be more costly than it would be to rent space on an ISP's server. Remember that renting such space removes the cost of purchasing servers, software, and T1 lines to the Internet. If problems arise with the equipment, the ISP is responsible for fixing them. However, any choices regarding security, services, or extra software installed on the server will be decided by the third party.

By using a platform your staff is already familiar with, there is less chance they will miss security holes because they may already be aware of them in other operating systems.

Because the Web server runs on top of the operating system like any other software, an operating system with better security features will improve the security of your Web server. For example, although Windows 95 can be used to run Apache Web server, it would be more secure to use Apache on Windows NT Server. Windows 95 has fewer security features and a less secure file system than NT.

In looking at the various servers, pay close attention to certain features, specifically those that control authentication, use of the SET protocol, the setting of rights and permissions, and the use of CGI applications.

When developing a site, you should create a security plan that includes the following steps: Identify what needs to be secure; identify the value of what's being protected;