It's there just hosting the SQL Servers and they're not using IIS or some Microsoft-specific technology. We're just hosting some MSSQL.
Chief Technology Officer at a financial services firm with 11-50 employees
Easy to install, scalable, and stable
Pros and Cons
- "The product is scalable."
- "The solution is very stable."
- "The solution needs container compatibility."
What is our primary use case?
What is most valuable?
The solution is very stable.
The product is scalable.
The solution is pretty easy to install.
What needs improvement?
I can't speak to any missing features. I don't have any opinion on how to improve the product.
The solution needs container compatibility. Windows Server is not able via Docker, for example.
For how long have I used the solution?
I've been using the solution for half a year.
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What do I think about the stability of the solution?
The solution is stable. 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 scales well. A company shouldn't have any issues if they want to scale.
That said, I didn't choose Windows Server for that kind of purpose. It's just there for hosting the SQL Server.
There is one user for the Windows Server itself. Everyone else is using just the database and not the Windows Server.
How are customer service and support?
We haven't dealt with technical support yet. I haven't been in contact with them.
Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?
We're also using Linux Servers.
How was the initial setup?
The solution is pretty straightforward. It's not overly complex.
While I didn't handle the installation myself, I would estimate deployment takes about 20 to 30 minutes.
We have four team members that are able to handle deployment and maintenance.
What about the implementation team?
We had a team member who handled the implementation in-house. We did not need a consultant or integrator.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
I don't have any insights into the licensing.
What other advice do I have?
We use the solution both on-premises and on the cloud.
I'd rate the solution at a five out of ten. I'm neutral on it. It doesn't impress me. It just does what it does.
I'd advise those considering the solution that if they want to run some Microsoft-specific applications, then there's a lot of choices.
Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.
Project Manager at a comms service provider with 51-200 employees
Good technical support, stable, and easy to set up
Pros and Cons
- "The initial setup is quite straightforward."
- "The solution is absolutely integral to our business processes."
- "The price could be a little less. It's a bit expensive."
What is our primary use case?
We primarily use the solution as a base layer for our software. Our developers decided they should create our products based on the Microsoft platform. We have to use the Windows Server as the applied model.
We have some solutions based on Linux, however, Microsoft Windows Server is the primary operating system.
How has it helped my organization?
The solution has improved our organization as we are able to sell our products with Microsoft. Without it, we can't make our business work.
What is most valuable?
The solution is absolutely integral to our business processes.
It's a widely used system.
The product is very stable.
The initial setup is quite straightforward.
Technical support is very helpful.
What needs improvement?
I haven't had any experience with active data storage or high-level configuration. From my perspective, Windows Server can stay on this level without any development as it works for me how it is.
The price could be a little less. It's a bit expensive.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
Maybe 10 or 15 years ago, there were some problems with stability, however, right now, we haven't needed to install any patches and we have not faced any problems. I'd describe it as quite stable at this point.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
The solution is used widely across the company. However, I cannot speak to how many servers we have at this time.
We do plan to increase usage as we continue to grow.
How are customer service and technical support?
Microsoft technical support has been great. They are helpful and responsive. We are very happy with the level of support on offer.
How was the initial setup?
The initial setup is very straightforward and not overly difficult.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
The pricing isn't the cheapest. For example, Linux would be a free option. People don't have to pay for it. With Microsoft, you need to pay to license it.
What other advice do I have?
We are a customer and end-user. We are also a Microsoft reseller.
SQL Server 10 can't work without an operating system. It needs to be installed on the machine with an operating system, so it is dependent on it. A Windows Server needs to be installed as a first step before SQL will be installed.
We primarily use on-premies or private cloud deployment models.
I'd rate the solution at an eight out of ten.
I'd recommend the solution. It's a very good platform.
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. reseller
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Windows Server
September 2026
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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 initial setup is easy and the deployment is fast."
- "The solution should be less expensive."
What is our primary use case?
We are using this solution for some database applications.
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.
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 technical 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.
Programma / Project Manager at a transportation company with 1,001-5,000 employees
Easy to set up, scalable, and secure
Pros and Cons
- "The solution has a sufficient amount of stability and performance that meets my needs."
- "As an end-user, the experience of the solution is that it's very reliable."
- "The cost to use the solution is quite high."
- "The pricing is quite high on Microsoft products."
What is our primary use case?
I primarily use it for my day-to-day business tasks.
What is most valuable?
As an end-user, the experience of the solution is that it's very reliable. It just works. As long as it doesn't affect my daily operation and we can work safely and securely with each other, that's all I care about.
The solution has a sufficient amount of stability and performance that meets my needs.
I can work securely and all the files are easily accessible.
The initial setup is very simple and straightforward.
The scalability potential is quite good.
What needs improvement?
The cost to use the solution is quite high.
Our main problem is the Citrix environment we're still in. However, we're migrating from that to the Windows 10 environment, so Citrix will be out within two or three years. Therefore, performance is not really an issue - on the operating system at least.
For how long have I used the solution?
I've used the solution for more than three years at this point, It's been a while now.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
The solution is stable and the performance is good. I've found it to be reliable. It doesn't give me trouble. There are no bugs or glitches. It doesn't crash or freeze.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
The solution can scale if you need it to.
We have about 70,000 users on this product currently.
How are customer service and technical support?
I don't have any experience with technical support. I cannot speak to how helpful or responsive they are.
Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?
We did not previously use a different solution. It's always been Windows, although we may at some point have also used Unbuntu Linux.
How was the initial setup?
The initial implementation is easy. It's not overly complex or difficult. It's just pushed with the build we have and that way it doesn't affect the end-user. It's just ready to go. We find that the installation is simple and efficient.
While we have a technical team of about 5,000 or 6,000 users, I'm not sure how many were involved in the initial deployment.
What about the implementation team?
The initial setup was handled internally. They did it themselves. There's sufficient knowledge of the Windows Server products to do it in-house. We have a rather large IT department. It's over 5,000 people.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
The pricing is quite high on Microsoft products. It would be ideal if they were made to be more affordable.
With the magnitude of our organization, every three years, a proper review of the contracts would be handled.
Although it's my understanding that we have some special deal with Microsoft, I cannot speak to the exact cost or the licensing agreement that was reached.
What other advice do I have?
We are customers and end-users of the product.
In general, if you're asking me if I'm happy with Windows Server, yes, I am.
On a scale from one to ten, I would rate it at an eight. I'm satisfied with its overall capabilities.
I would recommend the solution to other users and 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.
VP Global Information Technology at a insurance company with 10,001+ employees
Easy to set up with good performance and helpful technical support
Pros and Cons
- "The stability and performance are great."
- "The solution is extremely stable and the performance has been great."
- "We've had a few minor compatibility issues."
What is our primary use case?
We primarily use the solution for hosting applications. We have six applications, which are VMs.
What is most valuable?
The stability and performance are great.
The initial setup is pretty straightforward.
The solution can scale.
Technical support is great.
What needs improvement?
We've had a few minor compatibility issues.
For how long have I used the solution?
We have been using Windows Server for 20 to 25 years at this point. It's likely been over two decades. We've used it for quite a while.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
The solution is extremely stable and the performance has been great. The product doesn't crash or freeze. We don't experience bugs or glitches. It's a reliable system.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
The scalability is good. We moved from the 2012 version to the 2019 version and found that the scalability has improved.
We have about 10,000 users on the solution currently.
How are customer service and technical support?
Technical support has been fine. We are satisfied with the level of support we get.
Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?
We previously used the 2012 version and have since moved to the 2019 version of Windows Server.
How was the initial setup?
The initial setup was very straightforward for us. We didn't run into any issues and didn't find any complexities or difficulties. We upgraded from the 2012 to the 2019 version and that took us about one day. It was pretty fast.
We have a team of about 15 technicians that can handle deployment and maintenance.
What about the implementation team?
We did not use a consultant or integrator when we did the implementation. We handled it ourselves, in-house. We were quite capable of handling the process internally.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
We pay a yearly licensing fee.
What other advice do I have?
We are using the 2019 version of the solution, which is the latest.
I'd rate the solution at an eight out of ten.
I would recommend the solution to other organizations and companies.
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."
- "Microsoft is a popular and necessary addition to any company."
- "There's a short availability that could be much better."
- "We've had a lot of problems from day one."
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.
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."
- "The product is a good operating system and the features fit our needs very well, allowing us to use one Windows Server for printing, accessing the internet, and running various applications instead of needing several servers."
- "A typical user will find implementing it on their own difficult."
- "It's incompatible sometimes and doesn't communicate with all applications."
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.
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."
- "The solution is highly secure and stable with many policies."
- "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.
Senior System Administrator at a financial services firm with 1,001-5,000 employees
Is easy to install, but integration and automation need improvement
Pros and Cons
- "Windows Server is very useful and easy to install."
- "It is not fast and is very slow. Versions before 2002 are not stable."
What is most valuable?
Windows Server is very useful and easy to install.
It has been stable after 2002, so versions 2016 and 2019 are stable.
What needs improvement?
It is not fast and is very slow. Versions before 2002 are not stable.
It is not easy to use, and it could be cheaper as well.
Windows Server could use low resources and have automation abilities.
Automation and implementation could be changed to work better with other systems. It needs be easy to integrate with other cloud and open source systems. Generally, people want to use open source systems because Windows Servers don't integrate easily.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have been using Windows Server since 2003.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
It is stable, particularly after 2002.
How are customer service and technical support?
If you use Microsoft application servers and if you use Microsoft products, you can generally get good technical support.
Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?
I used Linux operating systems.
How was the initial setup?
It is easy to install and takes about half an hour.
What about the implementation team?
I installed it myself.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
Windows Systems use more resources than Linux systems and can be very costly. If you use a Linux system, two CPUs are enough, but if you use a Windows system, you need eight CPUs. You should use a minimum of eight CPUs, and CPU resources are very expensive.
We have enterprise agreements regarding licensing.
What other advice do I have?
I would rate Windows Server at seven on a scale from one to 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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