All Guides

Internet Information Services (IIS)

Internet Information Services (IIS) is Microsoft's proprietary web server software that runs on Windows Server, introduced in 1995 as part of Microsoft's strategy to capture enterprise web hosting markets. IIS integrated tightly with Windows Server, Active Directory, and Microsoft development technologies like ASP and .NET, creating a comprehensive but proprietary web hosting platform.

Why Internet Information Services (IIS) Matters

IIS represented Microsoft's attempt to extend Windows dominance into web server markets, forcing hosting decisions based on platform preference rather than technical merit alone. The server's deep integration with Microsoft technologies created powerful enterprise solutions while establishing vendor lock-in patterns that influenced decades of corporate IT infrastructure decisions and the broader competition between open-source and proprietary web technologies.

Related Terms

Microsoft Antitrust Case

United States v. Microsoft Corp. (1998-2001) was a landmark antitrust case where the U.S. Department of Justice accused Microsoft of illegally maintaining a monopoly…

Read guide →

Windows Media Player

Windows Media Player was Microsoft's multimedia application bundled with Windows operating systems starting in 1991, becoming one of the most widely distributed media players…

Read guide →

Active Server Pages (ASP)

Active Server Pages (ASP) was Microsoft's server-side scripting platform launched in 1996 to compete with CGI and early PHP, allowing developers to embed programming…

Read guide →