We use Windows Server as the endpoint solution and for hosting our enterprise applications.
Team leader technical support at a manufacturing company with 201-500 employees
Reliable, scalable, and compatible with most applications
Pros and Cons
- "Most applications are compatible with this operating system."
- "The security suffers the same issues as our Windows 10 for endpoint deployments. It could be more secure."
What is our primary use case?
What is most valuable?
It makes an ideal tool for certain solutions. Most applications are compatible with this operating system.
What needs improvement?
The security suffers the same issues as our Windows 10 for endpoint deployments. It could be more secure.
The support could be more straightforward.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have been using Windows Server since its existence. It's been more than twenty years.
We use versions 2012Rs and up.
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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?
It is a scalable product. We have approximately 300 users in our organization who are using Windows Server.
How are customer service and support?
Technical support is a bit varied. Depending on the type of technical support that you need, most are very responsive and usually, they are quite knowledgeable.
There is definitely room for improvement, especially with more complex and less straightforward questions. It tends to stay in the area of data gathering.
Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?
We have just a few applications running on the SUSE Linux platform. These applications are few and far between and we are moving away from that platform.
How was the initial setup?
We use Marketplace VMs from Azure or templated solutions from our on-premise Hypervisor. Deployment takes less than 10 minutes.
What about the implementation team?
Setting up the environment where this service solution can be deployed takes a little bit longer. But we can do that ourselves with no problem.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
They are the same type of licensing for the Windows 10 endpoint solutions.
We pay these on an annual basis.
It is also dependant on your relationship with Microsoft as a company.
What other advice do I have?
I would recommend this solution to others who are interested in using it.
I would rate Windows Server an eight 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.
Regional Head Customer Experience at a financial services firm with 10,001+ employees
User-friendly, highly secure, and good performance
Pros and Cons
- "We have many applications which require Windows Server, such as SQL Server and an application server that acts as a middle layer."
- "Windows Server could improve by having a faster browser, IE is too slow. There are better alternatives, such as Chrome."
What is our primary use case?
We have many applications which require Windows Server, such as SQL Server and an application server that acts as a middle layer.
What is most valuable?
The solution is user-friendly, you do not need a command line technical team to operate it.
What needs improvement?
Windows Server could improve by having a faster browser, IE is too slow. There are better alternatives, such as Chrome.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have been using this solution for approximately four years.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
The solution is highly secure and stable with many policies. We did not have any issues with the performance.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
We have approximately 2,000 users using the solutions.
How was the initial setup?
The installation was straightforward.
What about the implementation team?
We have a team that does the maintenance and policies for the solution.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
There is not a license required for this solution.
What other advice do I have?
I rate Windows Server an eight out of ten.
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
December 2025
Learn what your peers think about Windows Server. Get advice and tips from experienced pros sharing their opinions. Updated: December 2025.
879,310 professionals have used our research since 2012.
Founder at a tech services company with 1,001-5,000 employees
High performance, scalable, and straightforward installation
Pros and Cons
- "If everything is configured correctly this solution provides high performance. Building a Failover Cluster is comparatively much easier in Windows Server than any of the Linux-based solutions."
- "They should release a command-line version of the solution."
What is our primary use case?
Windows Server can be used for various mission-critical applications, such as SAP, web servers, SQL databases, and hosting. Various security applications, for example, Symantec or McAfee, all need Windows Servers as the back end to operate. Additionally, this solution can be used to build up a Failover Cluster.
What is most valuable?
If everything is configured correctly this solution provides high performance. Building a Failover Cluster is comparatively much easier in Windows Server than any of the Linux-based solutions.
What needs improvement?
They should release a command-line version of the solution.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have been using the solution for approximately 15 years.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
Windows Server is stable. However, there is some maintenance required for smooth operations.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
The solution can easily scale.
How was the initial setup?
The installation is straightforward and takes approximately one hour.
What about the implementation team?
If the server environment is large I would advise using an integrator. We have a team that does the maintenance of the solution which is important because it is used for mission-critical applications.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
The solution could improve by changing the licensing model. In Windows Server 2008 they provided two versions, one regular and the other was free with no graphics. In Windows 2012 they stopped providing the free version. They should go back to the previous model and let customers have the choice whether they want to opt for a free version or have the Microsoft supported version or the OEM version.
If you choose Windows Server on-premises, you will receive a perpetual license and there is also a subscription license option. For the cloud version, there are several options available, such as a monthly subscription.
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.
System Administrator & IT Specialist at a computer software company with 51-200 employees
Scalable and has a lot of features, but needs more stability, fewer automatic updates, and a CLI approach
Pros and Cons
- "There are a lot of features. Active Directory is most valuable."
- "It should have more stability and fewer automatic updates. A CLI approach, similar to Linux, is missing right now."
What is our primary use case?
We are using it mainly for Active Directory, Exchange Servers, and file services.
What is most valuable?
There are a lot of features. Active Directory is most valuable.
What needs improvement?
It should have more stability and fewer automatic updates. A CLI approach, similar to Linux, is missing right now.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have been using this solution for 12 years.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
It should have more stability.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
I am quite satisfied with its scalability. We are an IT company, and we provide professional services to other companies, so we deploy a lot of services. Combined, we have a lot of users, but if you look at a specific company, we have between 200 to 500 employees.
How are customer service and technical support?
I am satisfied with their technical support most of the time.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
We have multiple types of licenses. Some of them are on a yearly basis, and some of them are prepaid.
What other advice do I have?
I would rate Windows Server a seven out of 10.
Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.
System Administrator at a non-tech company with 10,001+ employees
Reliable, commonly known and used, and scalable
Pros and Cons
- "Windows Server is most commonly used and practiced."
- "Often, we get updates that affect productivity."
What is our primary use case?
We upgraded to 2019 and use this as our operating system for our domain controller, for our file server, and for running our ERP. We're also run our ERP on Microsoft Dynamics.
What is most valuable?
Windows Server is most commonly used and practiced. It is compatible with what we are running. You can run Dynamics on Linux or other operating systems, but our clients commonly use Windows Server, Microsoft products, and Office 365.
What needs improvement?
Often, we get updates that affect productivity. It's the way they do the updates.
After an update has been done, Microsoft notifies us that there is a problem.
It is not practical to have a test environment. There should be an easier process, as currently, it's a bit tedious. They should find a way of proving or revamping this procedure. It should be very fast.
When you are running Windows and Microsoft, you will see an error message regarding ransomware and suggest the security is up-to-date, but the update always affects the operating system. Most of the issues we have are when we apply security updates or critical updates, which will affect the operating system, the production environment, and your business.
It is recommended to have a test environment, run it on the test environment to make sure that it is working well then put it in the production environment. This is a tedious process. Most of the time, people just take a risk and just apply it without doing the test.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have been using Windows Server for more than 10 years.
We are using Windows 2019, 2016, and 2012.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
It's a stable solution.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
Windows Server is scalable.
Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?
We are also using Exchange version 2016, and Windows 10.
What other advice do I have?
With a proper deployment, Windows Server is good.
I would rate Windows Server an eight out of ten.
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.
GM: Information Systems at a logistics company with 501-1,000 employees
User friendly and compatible with other solutions
Pros and Cons
- "The features that I have found most valuable are its ease of use and the compatibility with most other products."
- "I would definitely like to see bolting monitoring tools. To monitor the server you usually have to install third party tools. I would like to be less reliant on third-party tools. They always create some sort of security issue regarding ports that need to be opened, that type of thing. Windows Server has internally monitorable software but remote monitoring software would be a great add-on."
What is our primary use case?
We are using Windows Server on virtual machines running off-premise.
This operating system for business can be useful for personal documents or any daily or routine stuff.
What is most valuable?
The features that I have found most valuable are its ease of use and the compatibility with most other products.
What needs improvement?
I would definitely like to see bolting monitoring tools. To monitor the server you usually have to install third party tools. I would like to be less reliant on third-party tools. They always create some sort of security issue regarding ports that need to be opened, that type of thing. Windows Server has internally monitorable software but remote monitoring software would be a great add-on.
In the next version I would like to see monitoring tools or maybe an easier way to figure out who were the last people that were working on the server, something that gives me better insights into the actions taken by different users who need to access the server. Our server is definitely not for everybody to access, but even if it had logging installed or activated, it's quite difficult to figure out who did what.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have been using Windows Server for a couple of years.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
It is a stable solution.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
Windows Server is definitely scalable.
We have 200 users using it in the network.
How was the initial setup?
I was not part of the initial setup, I'm not part of the technical team. But I know from the people who did install it that it was quite easy.
What other advice do I have?
On a scale of one to ten I would give Windows Server a nine.
I would recommend Windows Server for users who want to start using it.
Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.
Lead Solutions Architect - International Projects at a media company with 501-1,000 employees
Scalable, easy to install and best used for Microsoft applications
Pros and Cons
- "The solution is scalable."
- "The solution is less stable than Linux."
What is our primary use case?
We have an asset management system from a vendor that requires Windows Server. That's where the old content of customers is being stored.
What is most valuable?
The solution is perfect for Microsoft applications.
The stability is okay.
The solution is scalable.
The installation process is easy.
What needs improvement?
I don't like it. However, I'm forced to use it, due to the applications, or the vendor supply, that need to run on it. Many of the applications only support Windows Server.
The solution is less stable than Linux.
For how long have I used the solution?
We've used the solution for a while. We use it constantly.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
The solution is pretty stable. There are no bugs or glitches. It doesn't crash or freeze. It's pretty reliable. That said, Linux is even more reliable.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
The solution can scale. If a company needs to expand it, it can do so easily.
Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?
We also use Linux. We're 50% Linux, 50% Windows.
How was the initial setup?
The installation process is very straightforward. It's very easy. It's not too complex. A company shouldn't have any problems handling the process.
What other advice do I have?
We use various versions of the solution, including 2008, 2012, 2016, and 2019.
We're a service provider. I have colleagues who are MSP-certified. They are the consultants to our customers.
I'd rate the solution at a seven out of ten. it's okay. However, it's not my first choice. I find Linux, for example, more stable.
I would only recommend the solution to a user if they really needed to use it for specific applications. I would not advise it if you needed to install it. I'd only advise it if your application requires Windows. If that's the case, then, of course, you should use it.
Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.
Director of Information Technology at a hospitality company with 10,001+ employees
Good performance, simple, and works with all kinds of software
Pros and Cons
- "It is pretty simple and flexible. It works with all kinds of software. That's why we are using it. We avoid using Linux and other platforms."
- "It can have more integration with different platforms."
What is our primary use case?
We use it for our servers. We have Windows 2012 and Windows 2016. We are not on the latest version, but we are almost there.
What is most valuable?
It is pretty simple and flexible. It works with all kinds of software. That's why we are using it. We avoid using Linux and other platforms.
Its performance is also good.
What needs improvement?
It can have more integration with different platforms. Its installation could also be easier.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have been using this solution for six years.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
Currently, we have around 150 users. We don't have any plans to increase its usage.
How are customer service and technical support?
I don't have experience with their technical support.
How was the initial setup?
Its installation is of medium complexity. It can be tricky.
Normally, the installation takes half an hour to one hour. The updates take more time than the installation.
What about the implementation team?
Normally, I do it myself. Only when I have issues, I use a consultant.
We have a technical team of two engineers for deployment and maintenance.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
Its price is fine. Its licensing is on a yearly basis.
What other advice do I have?
I would surely recommend this solution to others who want to start using it.
I would rate Windows Server an eight out of ten.
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.
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