We are using this solution for some database applications.
Software Engineer at a comms service provider with 51-200 employees
Easy to deploy, simple to set up and stable
Pros and Cons
- "The scalability is okay."
- "The solution should be less expensive."
What is our primary use case?
What is most valuable?
The solution is mostly stable.
The scalability is okay. We just need to get the correct edition of the Server.
The initial setup is easy and the deployment is fast.
What needs improvement?
There are some limitations around scalability.
The solution should be less expensive. Linux options are far less costly.
For how long have I used the solution?
I've been using the solution for five years, at least, in this company.
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What do I think about the stability of the solution?
The product, for the most part, is stable. I would say the hardware will cause some issues before the operating system.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
In terms of hardware, it is scalable, if we can increase the hardware resources. We are not using the data center version of the OS. We're just using the standard version.
We have around 30 people using the solution.
How are customer service and support?
I haven't dealt with technical support. So far we haven't escalated anything as our installation is very simple.
How was the initial setup?
The initial setup is not overly complex. It is basically like any other Windows operating system. It's fairly straightforward.
The implementation only takes about 30 minutes.
We have a team of three in the IT department that can handle deployment and maintenance.
What about the implementation team?
We did not need any integrator or consultant. it's very easy for a company to handle by itself.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
The pricing could be more competitive.
We only pay a one-time fee and do not have to continuously pay monthly or yearly.
What other advice do I have?
I'm a customer and an end-user.
We are still using 2012, and we're planning to upgrade to 2019.
I'd rate the solution a nine out of ten.
I would recommend the solution to other organizations.
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 non-profit with 1-10 employees
An easily deployable solution
Pros and Cons
- "The deployment can be done with rapidity and much ease."
- "While the solution is stable, it could be more so."
What is our primary use case?
I use Windows Server 2015.
We have data center and now we use the software to do the virtualization. We develop certain functions.
What needs improvement?
While the solution is stable, it could be more so. There are times when there is a need to make corrections.
It would also be nice to see more integration.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have been using Windows Server for awhile, at least for a couple of years.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
Although the solution is stable, this could stand some improvement.
How are customer service and technical support?
Owing to the distance which is sometimes involved, the technical support can stand improvement.
How was the initial setup?
Windows Server is very easy to install. There is no issue in this regard. It can be done on one's disc, if he has one.
The deployment can be done with rapidity and much ease.
What about the implementation team?
While I have five people in my organization, the deployment can be handled by a single engineer in my company.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
There are no fees involved in the solution.
The government directly pays the licensing fees for all public organizations, of which we are included. The organization's name is IDU, which does license development for the country in the computer science department. They give us the SQL Server and Microsoft Office to install in our public hospital.
What other advice do I have?
I work in MS Office, Oracle and SQL Server. Our company primarily uses MS Office.
We have, perhaps, 200 users.
I would recommend the solution to others, as I have done so in the past.
I rate Windows Server a ten out of ten.
Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.
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Windows Server
August 2025

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Sr Reporter at a media company with 201-500 employees
Good support, stable, easy to use, and easy to install
Pros and Cons
- "Windows server is easy to use."
- "Windows Server needs to introduce more dashboards."
What is our primary use case?
We use this solution as our server application. Several applications are based on this operating system.
What is most valuable?
Windows server is easy to use.
What needs improvement?
Windows Server needs to introduce more dashboards.
A common user is not able to implement this solution. It could be simplified.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have been using Windows Server for a couple of years.
We are using version 2019.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
Windows Server is stable. I have no issues with the stability of the Windows Server.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
We have 45 servers in our organization.
How are customer service and technical support?
Technical support is good. We have no issues with the support of Microsoft.
Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?
We did not use any other solution.
How was the initial setup?
It is quick and easy to install.
The installation can take up to 45 minutes.
All technical people in our organization need to install Windows Server. Any IT engineer can deploy this solution. However, it cannot be set up by a regular user.
What about the implementation team?
I completed the installation myself.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
There is a licensing fee that is paid yearly.
It is an expensive solution.
What other advice do I have?
I would recommend this solution to others who are interested in using it.
It is very popular, I would rate Windows Server a ten 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.
AGM, Enterprise Solutions at Omgea Exim Ltd
Easy to use and install but the performance needs to be improved
Pros and Cons
- "The installation process is great."
- "There's a short availability that could be much better."
What is our primary use case?
We work mostly on the banking organization segment. In banking organizations, they are using around 40% of Windows Servers. If there is any database they will be using MySQL. Including enterprise segments. 80% of people are using Windows Server and SQL or Exchange though, actually, now people are migrating to the cloud. Groups of companies, including enterprise pharmaceuticals, are mostly using Microsoft.
What is most valuable?
The ease of use is great.
The installation process is great.
What needs improvement?
We've had a lot of problems from day one.
The security could be better. One of the banks suffered ransomware attacks and they were able to penetrate the servers.
There's a short availability that could be much better.
The performance is not up to snuff. They need to work on increasing resources.
For how long have I used the solution?
I've used the solution since the inception of our company, which has been about seven years.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
The performance is not ideal. It could be a lot better.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
We have around 200 clients and most of them are using Microsoft in one way or another.
How are customer service and technical support?
Most of the time, we've noticed that customers can go and troubleshoot issues on their own. It seems rare to raise a ticket on Microsoft support. Due to the fact that it's so rare to need to raise issues, I can't really speak to having any direct experience dealing with them. That said, sometimes, if a patch is needed, they do need to go to Microsoft and get it.
How was the initial setup?
The installation is very straightforward and it is not overly difficult or complex. With a certain level of experience, anyone can install and configure it. It's not a problem.
You likely just need one person to handle deployment and maintenance. You can handle this solution with a minimal number of technical staff.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
The license is perpetual. Once you buy the server, you don't have to continue to renew the license itself.
What other advice do I have?
Microsoft is a popular and necessary addition to any company. Most companies can't run at all without Microsoft being used at some level.
If a customer has more than 100 workstations installed in Microsoft then I recommend them to use this sort of solution. If a customer is using .NET applications then by default the choice is Windows, however, if they are using Java or Oracle I recommend that they use Linux due in large part to the security.
Which deployment model are you using for this solution?
On-premises
Disclosure: My company has a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.
Systems Engineer at a tech services company with 11-50 employees
Flexible with easy deployment and good technical support
Pros and Cons
- "We find the solution to be easy to use and simple to navigate."
- "The solution could be more reasonably priced."
What is our primary use case?
The solution is very useful if the company doesn't want open storage, OS. In those cases, we usually recommend customers to use Microsoft services. Most of the time it's actually the client who gives us advice on what kind of OS they want to use and they will just ask for the quotation.
What is most valuable?
The solution is very flexible.
We find the solution to be easy to use and simple to navigate.
The stability is very good.
The security on the server has been great. It's much more secure than, for example, other open-source operating systems.
We find the solution very easy to install.
Technical support is very helpful.
What needs improvement?
The solution could be more reasonably priced.
For how long have I used the solution?
We've been dealing with the solution for a couple of years at this point. It's been a while now. We've had some time with it.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
The stability of the product is good. The product doesn't crash or freeze and there are no bugs or glitches. It's reliable.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
There is no need to scale the solution. It's not the type of solution that really needs to scale.
I'm not sure the exact number of people using the solution. It's my understanding that it's over ten at this time.
How are customer service and technical support?
Technical support is very fast when it comes to replying. They were able to solve any issues we raised with them. We're satisfied with their level of service.
How was the initial setup?
The initial setup is not complicated to set up. It's pretty simple and straightforward. A company shouldn't have any issues with the process.
The deployment process may take about 30 minutes or so, as long as you don't run into any errors.
You only need two technical people to manage the deployment process. You don't need a very big team.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
The pricing could be a bit more competitive.
The solution offers a permanent license. You don't have to pay a monthly or yearly subscription.
What other advice do I have?
We are Windows Server consultants.
I'd rate the solution at a nine out of ten. We've been quite satisfied with its capabilities.
I would recommend the product to other users and companies, especially those that don't want to use an open-source option.
Which deployment model are you using for this solution?
On-premises
Disclosure: My company has a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer. Partner
Sales Manager at INFOSEC
Stable, integrates well with different solutions, and offers a very good operating system to customers
Pros and Cons
- "The product integrates well with Sophos."
- "A typical user will find implementing it on their own difficult."
What is our primary use case?
We primarily use the solution in order to manage clients, the CRM, or ERP (such as SAP), or such applications as Microsoft Dynamics. We use it for a variety of things.
What is most valuable?
The product is a good operating system. The features fit our needs very well. For example, with Windows Server, you can use a machine for printing, accessing the internet, or using some applications. You can do it all with one server. You don't need several servers. One is enough.
For those with a bit of technical know-how and have a level of comfort with Microsoft, it's not too difficult to implement.
The solution can scale if you need it to.
I've found the product to be stable.
The product integrates well with Sophos.
What needs improvement?
It's incompatible sometimes and doesn't communicate with all applications. When you need to share some data, communication is difficult between the server and the app.
A typical user will find implementing it on their own difficult.
For how long have I used the solution?
We've used the solution for about ten years or so. It's likely been a decade. We've used it for a long time at this point.
I personally have 20 years of experience working with a variety of Microsoft products.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
The stability is very good. There are no bugs or glitches. It doesn't crash or freeze. It's reliable.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
The solution can scale if you need it to.
Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?
I also use Windows 10.
How was the initial setup?
The initial setup is neither overly difficult nor very simple. It's somewhere in the middle. There's a moderate level of difficulty, however, it's not too hard. For a common user, it may come across as complex, however, with my level of knowledge, I don't find it too bad.
What about the implementation team?
I have enough experience with the solution that I can handle it myself.
What other advice do I have?
We are just a customer and an end-user. We don't have a business relationship with Microsoft.
We tend to use Windows Server 2012 or 2016, depending on the enterprise applications.
I'd rate the product at a nine out of ten. I've been please with its capabilities so far.
Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.
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?
We use Windows Server as the endpoint solution and for hosting our enterprise applications.
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.
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 technical 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.
Senior Solutions Architect at a manufacturing company with 51-200 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.

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