We typically use the solution for hosting applications, which is more related to Visual Studio and other similar items.
Senior IT Manager at a pharma/biotech company with 1-10 employees
Flexible and user-friendly with a straightforward setup
Pros and Cons
- "We've found the solution to be very flexible."
- "The solution could have better security features."
What is our primary use case?
What is most valuable?
The solution's usability is very good. It's very user friendly.
We've found the solution to be very flexible.
It's very useful for domain authentication and other tasks.
It's great for hosting all kinds of applications.
The initial setup is straightforward.
What needs improvement?
The solution could have better security features.
The pricing is a bit high. Linux has better pricing. They should try to make their product more competitively priced.
For how long have I used the solution?
We've been using this solution for about a decade. It's been ten years, so it has been a while.
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What do I think about the stability of the solution?
The solution is very stable and reliable. It doesn't crash or freeze. It doesn't have bugs or glitches. The performance is good.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
The solution can scale well. If a company needs to expand it, it can do so. There wouldn't be anything stopping them.
We have 20 or so people on the servers right now.
We do plan to continue using the product.
How are customer service and support?
I've found the technical support from Microsoft to be quite good. We've been satisfied with the level of service provided to us so far. I'd rate it at a nine out of ten overall.
How was the initial setup?
We found the initial setup to be pretty straightforward and simple. It's not complex. A company shouldn't have any issues with the process.
The deployment is very quick and takes about five minutes in total.
In terms of the size of the team you need, it depends on the application. The bare-bones operating system only two to five minutes, or maybe two to 10 minutes. The deployment, with respect to software and other things, such as security checks, et cetera, it can take a while to get everything on there. It can take up to four hours.
What about the implementation team?
We handle the implementation ourselves. We didn't need an implementor or a consultant to help us. It was all handled in-house.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
We pay the license on a yearly basis.
It's a bit expensive if you were to compare it to Linux.
Which other solutions did I evaluate?
We're not currently evaluating other options at this time.
What other advice do I have?
We are not using the latest version of the solution. We're using N-1, one solution behind the most recent release.
We use multiple deployment models - both on-premises and cloud.
I'd rate the product eight out of ten at this point. Overall, we've been pretty happy with it.
Which deployment model are you using for this solution?
Public Cloud
Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.
Manager at a tech services company with 11-50 employees
A simple solution that's easy to use and has okay stability
Pros and Cons
- "The product, overall, is very simple. It's easy to use and navigate. It's got a good design."
- "The stability is okay, however, it could be better. It's an area that they could improve on if they wanted to."
What is our primary use case?
We primarily use the solution as a database.
What is most valuable?
The product, overall, is very simple. It's easy to use and navigate. It's got a good design.
The implementation is very easy. It doesn't give you any trouble.
What needs improvement?
The stability is okay, however, it could be better. It's an area that they could improve on if they wanted to.
For how long have I used the solution?
I've been using the solution for two years at this point.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
The stability is somewhere in between good and bad. It's so-so. It could be better.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
We have 15 people that use the solution, and five engineers that manage everything as necessary.
We do plan to continue to use the product going forward.
How are customer service and technical support?
I don't really need the assistance of technical support. I'm an engineer. Typically, I can fix any issues that may arise. Therefore, I don't contact Microsoft. I can't speak to their support service and how helpful they are.
How was the initial setup?
We found the initial setup to be very simple and straightforward. It's not complex. We didn't have any issues.
I can't recall how long the actual deployment took. It was a while ago now.
I handled the installation by myself. You only really need one person to deploy the product.
We have engineers that can handle maintenance on the solution in our company.
What about the implementation team?
I handled the implementation myself. I didn't need to have the installation done by a consultant or integrator.
What other advice do I have?
We only really use Windows Server for one thing. We don't have too complicated of a setup.
I would recommend the solution to other organizations. I've mostly been happy with the product overall.
I'd rate the solution at a nine out of ten.
Which deployment model are you using for this solution?
Public Cloud
If public cloud, private cloud, or hybrid cloud, which cloud provider do you use?
Microsoft Azure
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.
881,733 professionals have used our research since 2012.
ICT Manager at a hospitality company with 1,001-5,000 employees
Stable and easy to use, but the initial setup could be simpler
Pros and Cons
- "It is very easy to use. The system is very user-friendly."
- "The solution is rather expensive and could be more affordable."
What is our primary use case?
We primarily use the solution on our DNS network. It's the de facto operating system in our organization.
What is most valuable?
The solution is very stable. We haven't run into any performance issues so far.
It is very easy to use. The system is very user-friendly.
The solution allows for many applications to run on it.
What needs improvement?
The initial setup could be easier. Right now, it's more difficult than it needs to be.
The solution is rather expensive and could be more affordable.
For how long have I used the solution?
I've used the product in many different places and therefore have used it for a long time by this point. It's been many years now, as far as I know.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
We've found the stability of the product to be excellent over the years. It's reliable. There aren't really bugs or glitches. It doesn't crash or freeze. It's very reliable.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
The solution can scale quite well. If you need to expand it, you can do so. It works for companies of all sizes.
We have about ten servers in our organization at this time that are Windows Servers. We have two people that manage them for us.
We will continue to use Windows unless, at some point, something else comes along that is cheaper and easier to use.
How are customer service and technical support?
I haven't really dealt with technical support much. I wouldn't be able to effectively comment on their level of service or their knowledgeability.
Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?
I have some experience with Linux. However, I find it limiting in terms of the number of applications you can actually run on it.
How was the initial setup?
The implementation process for Windows isn't exactly straightforward. It could be easier and more efficient. It can be a bit difficult sometimes.
The initial installation typically takes two to three hours or so.
What about the implementation team?
I handled the implementation with a partner.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
Of course, the solution itself is expensive. However, they are not many alternatives. There's very little choice on the market.
What other advice do I have?
We have servers that range from 2012 to 2016 to 2019. We're using both the older and the newest versions of the solution currently.
I would definitely recommend this product to other organizations. If you look at Linux, for example, it's not really a viable option as very very applications run on Linux. In the case of Windows, you don't have that shortcoming. You can run many, many applications on it, which is a good selling point. Many people who have legacy products like to use Windows.
I would rate the solution six out of ten overall.
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.
Technical and Project Manager Industrial Directorate EES CLEMESSY at a construction company with 10,001+ employees
User-friendly, stable, good online support, and easy to maintain
Pros and Cons
- "It's important to us that it is easy to use and has easy maintenance because we don't have specialists"
- "The initial setup could be simplified."
What is our primary use case?
We have many brands that we use here in our firm. As an example, we use Dell for our Laptops, we use Lenovo, we use IBM for our computers, Cisco for our switches, and Microsoft.
What is most valuable?
It's important to us that it is easy to use and has easy maintenance because we don't have specialists. It is necessary for us to have very simple maintenance procedures.
What needs improvement?
The initial setup could be simplified.
For how long have I used the solution?
We have been using Windows Server for more than two years, maybe five or more.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
It's a stable solution. We have not had any issues with stability.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
We have 200 users in our organization who are using Windows Server.
We have plans to keep using this solution.
How are customer service and technical support?
We have not contacted technical support.
I only use the support online.
Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?
We use Windows Server, and Windows 10 for our laptops and PCs.
How was the initial setup?
The initial setup depends on the preparation of the units.
If it is prepared by a specialist then the installation is easy.
We have to make sure that it has been configured properly.
We have a team of 20 for the deployment and maintenance of this solution.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
It is important to have the cheapest price for all of the material and licenses.
What other advice do I have?
We have so many customers with Windows Servers that we are obliged to use the same technical path.
We don't have any significant issues with Windows. 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.
IT manager at a manufacturing company with 5,001-10,000 employees
Scalable, easy to deploy and maintain
Pros and Cons
- "We have not contacted technical support."
- "The compatibility and the ease of use are areas that I would like to see improved."
What is our primary use case?
We use Windows Server as our certified server for compatibility.
What needs improvement?
It could be more compatible with other platforms.
The compatibility and the ease of use are areas that I would like to see improved.
For how long have I used the solution?
We have been using Windows Server since 2016.
We are using the latest version.
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?
It's a scalable product. We have approximately 3,000 users in our organization.
We plan to continue to use this solution.
How are customer service and technical support?
We have not contacted technical support.
How was the initial setup?
The initial setup was straightforward. It was easy to install.
The deployment took three to six months.
We have a team of 50 admins for deployment and maintenance.
What about the implementation team?
We had the help of a system integrator.
What other advice do I have?
Definitely, 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?
On-premises
Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.
Senior System Engineer at a comms service provider with 201-500 employees
A server operating system with a valuable user interface
Pros and Cons
- "I like the views in the user interface."
- "It would help if Microsoft made it lighter to run on the servers and made troubleshooting much easier."
What is our primary use case?
We use Windows Server to host applications, host files, emails, Windows server emails, and data exchange. But for the most part, we use it to host applications, directory services, and DNS services.
What is most valuable?
I like the views in the user interface.
What needs improvement?
It would help if Microsoft made it lighter to run on the servers and made troubleshooting much easier. I have to deal with unexpected errors and faults that happen in Windows. It also crashes.
When it's a big environment, especially in an industrialized environment, we see unexpected errors. They create instability, or unexpected errors happen in the infrastructure. You need to restart the server or restart the services. You don't know the root cause of these errors.
For how long have I used the solution?
I've been working with Windows Server for about 20 years.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
Sometimes we have to deal with unexpected errors that create instability.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
Windows Server is mostly scalable. However, you run into problems if it's going to be very big. If something happens, troubleshooting it will be very difficult.
How are customer service and technical support?
Microsoft technical support is good.
How was the initial setup?
The initial setup is mostly straightforward.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
The Windows Server standard edition is affordable. But the cost of the data center edition is high, especially compared to some competitors. Some competitors are offering their operating systems for free.
What other advice do I have?
I would tell potential customers of Windows Server that they need to study it. They need to understand their business case very well. If features are available in Windows Server, they can safely go for it, but they need to study the design very well.
On a scale from one to ten, I would give Windows Server an eight.
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.
Executive Personal Assistant at a insurance company with 1,001-5,000 employees
Stable, easy to use, and can handle huge workloads
Pros and Cons
- "Overall, Windows Server 2016 provides a stable environment for some of the very large workloads that it is subjected to in our organization, and it is very easy to use."
- "There are lots of improvements that can be brought by Microsoft, although for us Windows Server works mostly as expected. For how we're using Windows Server, security is a top priority, so when talking security, it can always be improved upon, no matter what."
What is our primary use case?
We are using Windows Server 2016 for our organization's backend applications which reside in a data center. HP provides us with our Windows platforms, and we also have Unix platforms from them as well.
We have been using Windows environments since I joined my organization, which is close to 20 years now. Currently, we're doing what you can call a hosted private cloud with colocation and we are running some huge workloads using Windows Server in this cloud.
From our side, the organization's 2800 end users are mostly running Windows 10 in a highly virtualized environment. So whenever we need more resources, it takes just a couple of minutes to get it up and running.
What is most valuable?
Overall, Windows Server 2016 provides a stable environment for some of the very large workloads that it is subjected to in our organization, and it is very easy to use.
What needs improvement?
There are lots of improvements that can be brought by Microsoft, although for us Windows Server works mostly as expected. For how we're using Windows Server, security is a top priority, so when talking security, it can always be improved upon, no matter what.
Then there's the performance side, which is not bad, but we are currently looking to increase capacity and we have found that we need to enhance the hardware to get the performance we are looking for. Because of this, we are going to be refreshing the hardware and moving to new infrastructure in the next few weeks.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have been using Windows Server for many years now.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
It is very stable.
How are customer service and technical support?
We have enterprise support with them which I cannot personally comment on.
How was the initial setup?
We are running a form of Windows Servers, from our side, which are highly virtualized. So from where we're sitting, to provision Windows Server takes just a couple of clicks and it is up and running.
What about the implementation team?
For the backend systems where we implement Windows Server at the data center, the entire IT team is around 120 people. Then, from a user perspective, much of it is self-service, meaning users can request to provision as needed from the pool of virtualized resources.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
Our current license is an enterprise license agreement which gives you a whole lot of possibility, especially when you go through an R&D process. For example, you can provision everything, spread the service use over six months, and then wrap it up. It gives you a lot of flexibility.
What other advice do I have?
Windows Server is a stable product and there's no way we will change it for something else.
I would rate Windows Server an eight out of ten.
Which deployment model are you using for this solution?
Private Cloud
If public cloud, private cloud, or hybrid cloud, which cloud provider do you use?
Other
Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.
Cloud Service Director at a insurance company with 10,001+ employees
Reliable and quite stable with a familiar operating system
Pros and Cons
- "We haven't had any issues with the server whatsoever. It's been very reliable."
- "The scalability could be improved a bit."
What is our primary use case?
We primarily use the solution for the Arctic directory, SharePoint, or the Information System's company.
What is most valuable?
The operating system is the solution's most valuable aspect. Many people on the team are extremely familiar with it.
We haven't had any issues with the server whatsoever. It's been very reliable.
What needs improvement?
The patching could be better within the solution. There are many updates, however, if you compare it with other parts of Windows, the patching has a different management structure.
The scalability could be improved a bit.
For how long have I used the solution?
I've worked with a company that has had the solution on and off over the course of maybe ten years or so. I've worked with them over the last two months.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
The solution is quite stable. I consider it reliable. I don't have issues with bugs or glitches. It doesn't crash or freeze. It's been good overall.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
We have at least 2000 uses on the solution currently in my organization. About 60 of those are software engineers and data scientists and other related positions.
I find the scalability to be pretty good. We don't have any issues in that sense. However, it could be a bit better.
We do plan to increase usage in the future.
How are customer service and technical support?
Technical support is good however, you do need to sign a contract with premier support in order to get excellent service.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
I don't deal with the pricing aspect of the solution and therefore can't really comment on how much it costs or if we are charged on a monthly or yearly basis.
What other advice do I have?
We're just customers. We don't have a business relationship with Microsoft.
We're using both the 2012 and 2016 versions of the solution right now.
Overall, I would rate the solution eight out of ten.
Which deployment model are you using for this solution?
Public Cloud
Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.
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