Microsoft IIS - Good for certain situations
December 02, 2015

Microsoft IIS - Good for certain situations

payton climer | TrustRadius Reviewer
Score 7 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User

Overall Satisfaction with Microsoft IIS

Within our department, Microsoft IIS is being used as a web server for sites that require Windows based components. Our main use for Microsoft IIS is for sites that use the ASP.NET framework. However, we also use IIS for Microsoft systems management software. Which includes both System Center Configuration Manager (SCCM ConfigMgr 2012) and Windows Server Update Services (WSUS). Microsoft IIS allows for us to better host our Windows based components than current open source solutions.

Pros

  • Microsoft IIS provides an in depth GUI that helps for managing sites.
  • Native support of the ASP.NET framework for web applications. Overall this has given us better compatibility than a Apache/Mono setup.
  • Since it's a Microsoft product, it's natively better integrated with our Windows based environment (Active Directory).

Cons

  • The performance of Microsoft IIS is always slightly behind more lean web servers like Apache and NGINX.
  • Microsoft IIS is locked to the Windows Operating System. For some components (SCCM and WSUS) you are essentially forced to use IIS, instead of a more open source Apache or Mono solution.
  • Security concerns over Windows IIS web servers. While this isn't directly the fault of IIS, since issues usually occur from vulnerabilities within the Windows OS.
  • IIS is closed source, which does remove customizability and the ability for the community to review the code base. An open source web server will usually has less exploits, since the code base can be reviewed and debugged by anyone.
  • Microsoft IIS allows us to run department ASP.NET web applications and system management applications, which help our IT department and our customers.
Microsoft IIS is the only official way to run ASP.NET framework sites and for Microsoft System management tools (SCCM and WSUS). While open source options like Apache and NGINX are more commonly used in our department, to maintain the best compatibility we use IIS in certain situations that require it.
Microsoft IIS is well suited in several different situations. If the native support and better compatibility with ASP.NET framework sites is needed, it's better to use a Microsoft IIS web server.
Running Microsoft Systems management tools like WSUS and SCCM, you are required to use a IIS web server. Also, IIS might be slightly easier for anyone not experienced with a web server. Especially with the relative ease of install on any modern Microsoft Windows OS.

However, for sites that don't require Microsoft components. It's going to be more beneficial to run a Linux web server. This is because you will get better performance, better security, and the large community support behind open-source projects like Apache and NGINX.

Microsoft IIS Feature Ratings

Application Servers
8.0
IDE support
8
Security management
7
Administration and management
9
Application server performance
7
Installation
9

Evaluating Microsoft IIS and Competitors

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