Its single access point is a big liability because if the access point fails, there is no recourse. The Handle System is flexible and provides exactly the same service the PURL does when handles are accessed via the handle proxy server. In other words, the Handle System provides an exact PURL service via its proxy interface. The PURL or handle proxy approach is convenient because everyone can access the content without installing any additional software. Additionally, the Handle System includes added services such as security control it provides public-key based authentication and access control in a distributed environment.
Scalability is the big issue.