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If you’re considering making the switch from shared hosting to dedicated hosting — if your online business or development needs are such that you want to take things to the next level — you need to take the time to consider just what kind of OS your new dedicated hosting platform should have.

This much you probably already know: Your OS, or Operating System, is the programming that tells your dedicated server how to work. It’s the basic system that all else is built upon. There are many different kinds, the most popular being Windows-based and Linux-based (Fedora or CentOS, for example). There are other alternatives, too, like Debian or GenToo. However, the choice pretty much boils down to closed-source (Windows) versus open-source (Linux and the many systems based upon it).

Which is best suited to meet your particular needs? When faced with this decision, this list of 5 key factors can help you determine what to choose.

1. Security. Because it’s closed-source, Windows system’s workings are basically a secret to all but a select group of developers, making it harder for hackers to gain access to, and subsequently compromise, sensitive data. On the other hand, Linux is open-source, meaning that its inner workings are public knowledge. It therefore offers “safety in numbers” — the millions of developers worldwide who work on Linux amount to an enormous automatic support network, working together to very quickly resolve any security threats that may arise. Although security should be your biggest concern, the choice here is difficult. Both systems have good arguments in their favor, and there is no clear winner.

2. Compatibility. Windows closed-source operating systems often have an advantage over Linux systems regarding compatibility with brand new hardware. Why? Linux’s community of developers just don’t have the access to new hardware that mega-corporation Microsoft enjoys. At the same time, Linux is much more compatible with older technology. Depending on what kind of infrastructure your business has — i.e., if you tend to use older or newer computers — this could be a big factor in your decision.

3. Ease of Use. How hands-on are you? Are you looking for an operating system that you can customize and develop to meet your needs? Or are you looking for a self-contained package that will basically take care of itself? If you choose the former, you’re probably looking for a Linux-based OS. If the latter choice better suits your needs, then a Microsoft system is probably what you want.

4. Performance. Based on UNIX, and in use since 1991, the Linux OS kernel is more compact than its closed-source competitor, and is generally preferred for embedded systems because of its scalability and availability. Windows, on the other hand, has the backing of a huge corporation and all the funding attached to it. Similar to Point 3, this boils down to what your needs are. If you want to test the limits of your OS and use it for specific development goals, open-source tends to perform better. If your needs are more straightforward, you may want to go with Windows.

5. Cost. Linux’s most obvious advantage is that it is free — as compared to Microsoft products, which certainly are not. You’re going to have to pay for the benefits that Windows offers. Whether or not the extra money paid is worth it depends on the importance you place on the four factors listed above.