CIFS allows multiple clients to access and update the same file, while preventing conflicts with sophisticated file-sharing and locking semantics. CIFS supports fault tolerance in the face of network and server failures. CIFS clients can automatically restore connections and reopen files that were open prior to interruption. Optimization for slow links. The effect is improved performance for the vast numbers of users today who access the Internet using a modem.
CIFS servers support both anonymous transfers and secure, authenticated access to named files.
File and directory security policies are easy to administer. Performance and scalability. The performance of CIFS servers is unequaled among network file systems. CIFS servers are highly integrated with the operating system, tuned for maximum system performance, and easy to administer. File names can be in any human character set, not just ones designed mainly for English or Western European languages.