An apparatus in one embodiment handles service requests over a network, wherein the network utilizes a protocol. In this aspect, the apparatus includes: a) a network subsystem for receiving and transmitting network service requests using the network protocol; and b) a service subsystem, coupled to the network subsystem, for satisfying the network service requests. The network subsystem and the service subsystem being interconnected by a first unidirectional communication link for conveying data from the network subsystem to the service subsystem and by a second unidirectional communication link for conveying data from the service subsystem to the network subsystem. A variety of related embodiments are also provided, including file servers and web servers.