Pros/Cons of Implementing an External Facing Portal??

[Former Member]

I've been tasked by Management to investigate the pros/cons of implementing an External Facing Portal.

Is there anyone out here that has first hand experience implementing this and can tell me if there are any drawbacks

to EFP outside of those outlined in these documents? (i.e. you *shouldn't use HTMLB, client side eventing, or other content considered to be "heavy"):

http://www.sdn.sap.com/irj/scn/go/portal/prtroot/docs/library/uuid/30eb732a-2448-2a10-7aa6-8fd0849b6...

http://www.sdn.sap.com/irj/scn/go/portal/prtroot/docs/library/uuid/ec182c38-0a01-0010-b086-bc2b41b8d...

...

We are implementing parts of EFP, such as short URLs, navigation cache but not gone as far as using the framework and light content.

From what I can tell there's only benefits from implementing this, as far as infrastructure is concerned...

has anyone else discovered something different?

Thanks a lot,

Beau

[Former Member]

Depending upon Business, if your Business Users or any end user wants to Access the Portal from their workstation without logging into VPN and they are no in Intra network, you could plan the External Facing Portal .

Technically Homepage can be hit by any user but if they are making Purchases, Applying for Jobs they can register an Account on the POrtal and the Account will be stored in HR or E-Recruiting.

Security, User Interlace and Session Handling are the key areas during Design.

Thanks

SM

[Former Member]

Appreciate the response....I'm sort of looking more for the pros/cons of EFP from an infrastructure perspect...preferable someone with first hand experience.

Thanks