Why NT is better for the enterprise

Windows NT Server is an integrated, comprehensive and easy-to-use multipurpose platform. It provides the foundation on which enterprises can quickly create applications to meet their business needs.

One key advantage of Windows NT Server is its user friendliness. Broad support for standard hardware devices and consistent graphical user interfaces make it easy for users to set up and maintain Windows NT Server. This ease of use is one of the reasons so many companies are making Windows NT Server their Internet and intranet business platform. According to Netcraft (http://www.netcraft.com), Windows NT Server hosts more Web sites than any other single operating system.

Windows NT Server has succeeded, in part, because it has been designed and tested as a system, relieving companies from having to spend time and money integrating necessary system services. For example, security services such as secure authentication, access control, data and communications, and public key infrastructure are integrated into Windows NT Server. This allows developers to focus on building applications without having to become security experts. As a result, organizations benefit from a single, secure sign-on across their OSes and applications as well as a single directory of users to manage. Windows NT Server also offers integrated virtual private network services, which allow companies to use the Internet to connect remote users and branch offices securely and cost effectively.

By delivering an integrated server platform, Windows NT Server provides the infrastructure, application services, traditional network OS features and communications services that companies need to build business applications. For instance, through mature services such as the Component Object Model (COM), Windows NT Server provides a long-term application architecture for developers and independent software vendors. This results in more business applications for users to choose from.

Finally, Windows NT Server has the benefit of wide industry support. Microsoft invests more than $1 million per working hour -- more than $2 billion per year -- on research, development and channel programs to enhance the enterprise capabilities of its [[products]]. Companies such as Intel, Hewlett-Packard, Compaq, IBM and Cisco are investing billions of dollars in enterprise solutions based on Windows NT Server.

The richness of the platform and collaboration with industry leaders pays powerful dividends. According to tests submitted to the Transaction Processing Performance Council (http://www.tpc.org), Windows NT Server-based solutions provide the best price/performance of any platform in the industry. In addition, to help ensure that customer deployments are successful, more than 250,000 Microsoft Certified Professionals are trained to support and provide value-added solutions for Windows NT.

Windows NT meets traditional customer requirements for enterprise OSes, such as scalability, interoperability, availability and manageability, while enabling whole new classes of applications. Windows NT today and the Windows 2000 OS in the near future provide the infrastructure for the next generation of business solutions. Integrated services such as telephony support, directory services and transaction integration with the Web will allow users to build applications more efficiently and launch products faster. The result: increased productivity and higher profits.