We are using Windows Server for running our applications. One of our use cases is in a financial institution.
AVP at a financial services firm with 1,001-5,000 employees
User-friendly, reliable, and good premium support
Pros and Cons
- "Windows Server is user-friendly and it is simply to support."
What is our primary use case?
What is most valuable?
Windows Server is user-friendly and it is simply to support.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have been using Windows Server for approximately two years.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
Windows Server has been stable in my usage.
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January 2026
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What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
The scalability of Windows Server is good.
We have approximately 3,000 users using the solution.
How are customer service and support?
We have premium support with Microsoft, and it is good.
Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?
I have used Windows 10.
How was the initial setup?
The installation is simple, and it takes approximately one hour.
We have a golden copy of Windows Server, and we only need to apply it to the systems. This does not take much time for us, approximately seven minutes and Windows Server will be ready. We do the maintenance, such as patching, antivirus, and all the security that we have been approved in the bank. However, it's virtual now. All our environment is virtual, we only need to apply the golden copy.
Depending on the application or use case, we might use Windows 19, 16, or 12.
What about the implementation team?
I can do the implementation of the solution.
We have 10 engineers and managers that support Windows Server.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
We have an enterprise agreement with Microsoft and the price for the license is bundled together. The solution is expensive but for the bank that is using it, the price is fine. We pay for a license every three years.
What other advice do I have?
I would recommend this solution to others.
I rate Windows Server a nine out of ten.
Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.
Project Leader at a tech services company with 1,001-5,000 employees
A user friendly solution
Pros and Cons
- "The performance of Windows Server is good."
- "The solution is old so it is not user friendly. I assume that he newer versions would be better than our current one."
What is our primary use case?
We login and run our personal and business applications on Windows Server. We have 50 users in our organization.
What is most valuable?
The performance of Windows Server is good.
What needs improvement?
The solution is old so it is not user friendly. I assume that he newer versions would be better than our current one.
For how long have I used the solution?
We have been using Windows Server for five years.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
Windows Server is stable, we have had no issues.
How was the initial setup?
The solution has been installed for many years.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
We pay a license to use Windows Server.
What other advice do I have?
I would recommend Windows Servers to others who would like to start to use it. I would rate it an 8 out of 10.
Which deployment model are you using for this solution?
On-premises
Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.
Buyer's Guide
Windows Server
January 2026
Learn what your peers think about Windows Server. Get advice and tips from experienced pros sharing their opinions. Updated: January 2026.
881,360 professionals have used our research since 2012.
Senior Consultant at a tech services company with 11-50 employees
Simple to set up, reliable, and has very little downtime
Pros and Cons
- "The product can scale."
- "The performance could be a bit better."
What is our primary use case?
The solution helps fulfill customer requirements. We use it for applications.
What is most valuable?
The solution is very stable. There isn't a lot of downtime.
The product can scale.
The initial setup is very easy.
What needs improvement?
There was one instance in which, during an installation, I got an error I could not easily resolve.
The performance could be a bit better.
For how long have I used the solution?
I've used the solution for around ten years or so.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
We've found the stability to be reliable. It doesn't crash or freeze. there are no bugs or glitches.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
Scalability is possible. If you need to expand it, you can do so.
We have about 15 customers on the solution right now.
How are customer service and support?
I've never really had a problem with the solution, and I've worked with it for many years, I've never had to contact technical support in the past.
How was the initial setup?
With ten years of experience under our belts, we've handled implementations many times over. It's not a problem at all for us. We find the process very straightforward, very simple.
We have five or six engineers on our team that are able to easily handle deployment and maintenance.
What about the implementation team?
We can handle the implementation process for our clients.
What other advice do I have?
We are both a customer and a consultant.
I'd recommend the solution to others.
I started to work as an engineer and I started working with the server in 2012. I've seen many user requirements met by this server, which is why I can confidently recommend it to others. It helps resolve a lot of issues with the infrastructure.
I'd rate the solution at a nine out of ten.
Disclosure: My company has a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer. Partner
Senior Oracle Database Administrator at a financial services firm with 51-200 employees
It offers a lot of services, but there are limitations on the number of simultaneous users on the basic license
Pros and Cons
- "The biggest advantage of Windows Server is the services. It offers the ability to configure services, so your application can run on a Windows Server."
- "But one issue I have with Windows Server is the limit on the number of concurrent sessions. You cannot have more than three simultaneous users unless you activate a license. You have to install it so that more people can access the applications simultaneously."
What is our primary use case?
Window Server is for the front-end applications. It is on the client-facing side.
What is most valuable?
The biggest advantage of Windows Server is the services. It offers the ability to configure services, so your application can run on a Windows Server.
For how long have I used the solution?
We've been using Windows Server for a couple of years. Since the company was founded, we've been using Windows Server and Linux. We're still using Red Hat. When I joined the company, I migrated all the databases over to Linux. Everything on the application side is on Windows Server.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
Windows Server is stable as far as I know.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
I can't really say that it's scalable. At the application level, we only have about 20 users.
How are customer service and support?
I'm not the one in charge of the platform. The person in charge takes care of things when there is a critical error and there are new updates or patches from the Microsoft site. They're the one who contacts the technical support team if needed.
How was the initial setup?
Installing Windows Server is straightforward. We have a technical team to manage the solution, but I can handle the deployment by itself.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
I think it's a yearly license.
What other advice do I have?
I rate Windows Server six out of 10. I would recommend Windows Server if you are working with .NET applications. But one issue I have with Windows Server is the limit on the number of concurrent sessions. You cannot have more than three simultaneous users unless you activate a license. You have to install it so that more people can access the applications simultaneously.
Which deployment model are you using for this solution?
On-premises
Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.
Technician at a tech services company with 11-50 employees
Helpful support and useful Active Directory
Pros and Cons
- "I have found Active Directory a valuable feature. When comparing Windows Server and VMware, I prefer the Windows environment because it is very easy to use."
- "Resolving problems in the Windows environment should be improved."
What is most valuable?
I have found Active Directory a valuable feature. When comparing Windows Server and VMware, I prefer the Windows environment because it is very easy to use.
What needs improvement?
Resolving problems in the Windows environment should be improved.
In an upcoming release, it would be beneficial to have result sharing with the Remote Desktop Service(RDS) Server from the network.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have used Windows Server within the last 12 months.
How are customer service and support?
The support from Microsoft is very good.
Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?
I have used VMware. The CPU licenses for Windows Server and VMware are different.
How was the initial setup?
Windows Server is easy to deploy in any environment.
What other advice do I have?
I have learned a lot and the Windows environment is very fast.
I rate Windows Server a nine out of ten.
Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.
ICT and Cyber Security Adviser at a educational organization with 201-500 employees
Easy to set up and works for any size organization, but needs to be more secure
Pros and Cons
- "We can scale the solution if we need to."
- "The performance from time to time can be a bit suspect."
What is our primary use case?
We primarily use the solution for many things. It's an operating system. We use to run many different application servers like SAP exchanges, and applications in our environment.
What is most valuable?
Overall, we've been happy with the solution.
The initial setup is pretty simple.
We can scale the solution if we need to.
The stability is decent.
Technical support has been okay.
What needs improvement?
We're concerned about Windows vulnerabilities and how to manage those vulnerabilities ourselves. These are the main things that are tricky in Windows, the environment.
The performance from time to time can be a bit suspect.
For how long have I used the solution?
I've used the solution for quite a long time. It's been something like 20 years or so that I have been using this product.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
To a certain extent, I would say the stability is fine. There aren't bugs or glitches. It doesn't crash or freeze.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
The product is scalable. If a company needs to expand it, it can do so. It's not a problem.
The size of the company doesn't matter. It works for any size of organization from small to large.
How are customer service and support?
Technical support was okay. We haven't really had any problems with them.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
You do have to pay for licensing of the product.
What other advice do I have?
We are a customer and an end-user of Microsoft. We do not have any special business relationship with them.
I'd rate the solution at a seven out of ten. We're mostly happy with its capabilities.
I would advise potential users to secure it well and keep it up to date.
Which deployment model are you using for this solution?
On-premises
Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.
IT Manager at a outsourcing company with 201-500 employees
User-friendly solution that is both stable and scalable
Pros and Cons
- "The Active Directory and the applications where the server is installed are the most valuable features."
- "Security is the main feature that needs improvement"
How has it helped my organization?
Windows Server is user-friendly.
What is most valuable?
The Active Directory and the applications where the server is installed are the most valuable features.
What needs improvement?
The main features that should be improved are the security and it should have better performance.
For how long have I used the solution?
We have been using Windows Server for nine years.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
Windows Server is a stable solution.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
This solution is scalable.
How are customer service and support?
Every month technical support has a deployment every month making it very easy.
How was the initial setup?
The setup was very easy.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
There are software costs that are dependent on the CAL requirements.
What other advice do I have?
I would rate Windows Server a 9 out of 10. It is better than Ubuntu Linux.
Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.
Associate Vice President at a tech services company with 501-1,000 employees
High performance, easy to use, and reliable
Pros and Cons
- "The solution is easy to use and it has good performance."
- "Windows Server can improve in patch management and security."
What is our primary use case?
We are using Windows Server as an operating system.
What is most valuable?
The solution is easy to use and it has good performance.
What needs improvement?
Windows Server can improve in patch management and security.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have been using Windows Server for approximately three years.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
Windows Server is stable.
How are customer service and support?
We have not had any issues that we would need to contact the support.
What about the implementation team?
Our in-house team of two technicians and one manager do the implementation and maintenance of the solution.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
We have purchased a perpetual license to use the solution.
What other advice do I have?
I would recommend this solution to others.
I rate Windows Server a nine out of ten.
Which deployment model are you using for this solution?
Hybrid Cloud
Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.
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