Generally Available

As announced by Microsoft on April 24, 2003, Windows 2003 Server is now generally available. This means hosting companies will be starting to offer the Windows 2003 operating system as an option to their clients.

Digex said, in a press release on April 24, 2003, that they would haveœimmediate availability of Microsoft Windows Server 2003 within the Digex Managed Platforms service line. Other hosting companies that were contacted have not been so quick to give a time when they would have a Windows 2003 package available.

It is yet to be determined if security concerns over the operating system are the reasons behind no official release date being given for new servers using the new operating system or not. There is no doubt that everyone has questions about the security of the new software release.

Last year alone, there were many different viruses and worms that propagated though Microsoft's operating system, causing millions of dollars worth of damage, including Nimda and Code Red. Everyone in the computer industry is now wondering if Microsoft has gotten the security right.

Microsoft has said that Windows 2003 Server is shipped secure. The reason the product is said to be secure by Microsoft officials is because in default configuration IIS (Internet Information Server) is disabled. Web hosting companies will have to turn on the web server to serve web pages for their clients. The big question is if the software will still be secure once the web server is turned on.

Security might be on every ones mind but hosting companies are also looking for the cost savings promised by Microsoft