We use Windows Server for hosting web pages, our SQL databases, and other things.
IT Production Engineer at a consultancy with 201-500 employees
Stable, easy to use, and effectively hosts our web pages and SQL database
Pros and Cons
- "This is a stable product."
- "Overall, this is a good product and I recommend it."
- "We had some complaints about the initial setup."
What is our primary use case?
What is most valuable?
The interface is easy to use.
What needs improvement?
We had some complaints about the initial setup.
For how long have I used the solution?
We have been using Windows Server for a couple of years.
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What do I think about the stability of the solution?
This is a stable product.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
We have approximately 600 users and there are two engineers responsible for management.
How are customer service and support?
I have no direct experience with Microsoft technical support.
Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?
We do not have any Linux-based systems.
How was the initial setup?
This is a normal installation and the initial setup is of average complexity.
It did not take too long to install, although we had some complaints while doing it.
What about the implementation team?
I installed it myself.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
Licensing fees are paid on an annual basis, and the price could be improved.
What other advice do I have?
Overall, this is a good product and I recommend it.
I would rate this solution 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.
IT manager at a financial services firm with 1,001-5,000 employees
A server operating system that's easy to set up and deploy
Pros and Cons
- "It's easy to set up and deploy."
- "It could be more secure. We don't like it because if you compare it to Linux, Linux is better."
What is most valuable?
It's easy to set up and deploy.
What needs improvement?
It could be more secure. We don't like it because if you compare it to Linux, Linux is better.
For how long have I used the solution?
We have been using Windows Server for over 20 years.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
Scalability depends on the project. We have more than 1,000 users in our organization.
How was the initial setup?
The initial setup is straightforward.
What about the implementation team?
I don't install Windows Server by myself anymore. We have a full Department for that.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
We pay for the license every month.
What other advice do I have?
I would recommend this solution to potential users.
On a scale from one to ten, I would give Windows Server an eight.
Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.
Buyer's Guide
Windows Server
October 2026
Learn what your peers think about Windows Server. Get advice and tips from experienced pros sharing their opinions. Updated: October 2026.
920,929 professionals have used our research since 2012.
Science Technician at a government with 201-500 employees
Vast training support, easy to use, but could be more secure
Pros and Cons
- "The most valuable features I have found to be the flexibility and wide range of support training available."
- "In the future, there should be better protection for this solution."
- "We need to invest more in security when we are using Windows. It tends to be the target of attacks and hacks compared to other operating systems, such as Linux."
What is our primary use case?
We use the solution as a server for our information at our company.
What is most valuable?
The most valuable features I have found to be the flexibility and wide range of support training available.
What needs improvement?
In the future, there should be better protection for this solution.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have been using the solution for approximately 20 years.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
The solution is stable. However, you can receive a lot of cyberattacks. We need to invest more in security when we are using Windows. It tends to be the target of attacks and hacks compared to other operating systems, such as Linux.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
We have approximately 400 users using the solution in my organization.
Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?
We used Ubuntu Linux previously.
How was the initial setup?
The installation of the solution is easy. The time depends on what you are going to configure on the server. The install itself can be done in approximately 10 minutes.
What about the implementation team?
We did the implementation ourselves and we use a team of two developers and three administrators for maintenance.
What other advice do I have?
I would recommend this solution. However, I would advise investing in more security measures. We plan to continue using the solution in the future.
I rate Windows Server a seven 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.
Solution Architect at a tech services company with 11-50 employees
User-friendly and stable with a straightforward setup
Pros and Cons
- "The solution is stable. The performance has been great over the years."
- "We haven't had any issues so far, the solution is easy to use and very user-friendly, simple to navigate and work with, stable, with great performance over the years and the capability to scale."
- "It would be nice if the solution was a bit cheaper. The product is a little pricey."
What is our primary use case?
We are primarily using the solution as a domain controller for user authentication and a DNS server.
What is most valuable?
We haven't had any issues so far. It works basically without any issues.
The solution is easy to use and very user-friendly. It's simple to navigate and to work with.
The solution is stable. The performance has been great over the years.
The product has the capability to scale.
The installation was very straightforward.
What needs improvement?
It would be nice if the solution was a bit cheaper. The product is a little pricey.
For how long have I used the solution?
I use the solution daily. I've used it over the last ten years or so. It's been a decade. I've been using it for a long time.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
The solution is very stable. We upgraded from 2016 to 2019 versions and we didn't have any issues. There are no bugs or glitches. It doesn't crash or freeze. It's very reliable and the performance is good.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
I have read about its scalability, however, our environment is not too big. Therefore, I don't have any experience with scaling the product directly. That said, I read that it's scalable. It's just that I haven't attempted to expand it myself.
We have about 50 users on the solution currently.
We do intend to increase usage in the future.
How are customer service and technical support?
I can't speak to how technical support is. I'm not responsible for that server. I've not experienced any issues myself that would require me to call into support.
Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?
Before using the Windows Server, I did not use other operating systems for business products. We've always just used Windows and Microsoft Office-based systems.
How was the initial setup?
The initial setup was not overly complex or difficult. It was quite straightforward and fairly simple.
The deployment is fast. It takes less than 20 minutes.
We also moved from 2016 to 2019 versions without any issues.
Maintenance does not require a large amount of staff. One person is responsible for the environment for the Window Servers. We have an IT administrator handling the duties.
What about the implementation team?
I handled the implementation myself. I did not need the assistance of any consultants or integrators.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
The solution does require a company to obtain a license.
We would like the licenses to be less expensive. Generally, the price is too high.
What other advice do I have?
We are just a customer and an end-user. We don't have a business relationship with Microsoft.
I would recommend this solution to other organizations.
I'd rate the solution at a ten out of ten. We've been very pleased with its overall capabilities.
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.
Information Systems Infrastructure Manager at a comms service provider with 1,001-5,000 employees
User-friendly, easy to install, priced well, but the security should be improved
Pros and Cons
- "It's user-friendly."
- "We plan to continue to use this solution and would recommend it to others who are interested in using it."
- "The security is not good. Windows Server has never been secure."
What is our primary use case?
We use this solution for business applications.
What is most valuable?
It's user-friendly.
What needs improvement?
The security is not good. Windows Server has never been secure. You have put firewalls in place and do other things such as installing anti-virus software to secure Windows, otherwise, it won't work well.
Windows will never be secure, but it should be.
For how long have I used the solution?
We have been using this solution for several years from 2008 to version 2015. We use it extensively.
How are customer service and technical support?
Technical support is fair. It's okay.
How was the initial setup?
It is very easy to install.
It doesn't take very much time at all, it's very easy, just click until it's finished.
What about the implementation team?
I completed the installation myself.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
It is priced very well and we pay an annual license fee.
It's not very expensive when compared to Linux.
What other advice do I have?
We plan to continue to use this solution and would recommend it to others who are interested in using it.
I would rate Windows Server a seven out of ten.
Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.
System Administrator at a insurance company with 201-500 employees
Server operating systems that boast simplicity, but require more security features
Pros and Cons
- "I like its simplicity."
- "Windows Server is a stable solution."
- "It would be better if they had more security features and fewer bugs. They can also improve their technical support."
What is our primary use case?
We use it for the operating system.
What is most valuable?
I like its simplicity.
What needs improvement?
It would be better if they had more security features and fewer bugs. They can also improve their technical support.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have been working with Windows Server for about ten 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?
Windows Server is scalable.
How are customer service and technical support?
Technical support isn't very good. I would rate it somewhere in the middle.
How was the initial setup?
The initial setup was straightforward.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
It could be cheaper.
What other advice do I have?
I would tell potential users that it depends on the solution and the setup. If it's related to security, maybe it's better to go for Linux. If they're looking for usage and administration, they can go for Windows.
On a scale from one to ten, I would give Windows Server a seven.
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.
Insolvency Practitioner and Director at a financial services firm with 11-50 employees
Implementation and customer services needs improvement, but overall works well
Pros and Cons
- "The most valuable feature of the solution is it works well overall."
- "I would like to see easier implementation and better customer service in the future."
What is most valuable?
The most valuable feature of the solution is it works well overall.
What needs improvement?
I would like to see easier implementation and better customer service in the future.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have beends using the solution for 20 years.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
I have found the solution to be very reliable.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
We have 18 people in our organization using the solution.
How are customer service and technical support?
The customer service should be easier to access.
How was the initial setup?
I was involved in the installation of the solution and it did go well. We have an HP Server and we are using Microsoft software, they clashed. It took months to get it to work well.
What about the implementation team?
We used a consultant for the implementation and it took approximately six months to get everything working correctly.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
We had to purchase the solution and also the licenses to go on each computer system.
What other advice do I have?
We are going to continue using the solution until everything is on the cloud. I would not recommend it.
I rate Windows Server a five 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.
System Integration Engineer at a computer software company with 1-10 employees
Good performance, easy to set up, and good support
Pros and Cons
- "We like the performance."
- "We like the performance, and we use this solution because we need Microsoft."
- "The price could be better and the licensing model could be easier to understand."
What is our primary use case?
We use this solution for virtualization and the remote desktop.
What is most valuable?
We like the performance.
We use this solution because we need Microsoft. It's not a choice about the other operating systems.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have been using Windows Servers for approximately five years.
We are not yet using the latest version. We are using version 2016.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
We have approximately 80 users in our company and we have a range of a couple of customers to 1,000 customers who are using this solution.
How are customer service and technical support?
Technical support is okay.
How was the initial setup?
The initial setup is pretty straightforward.
Depending on the size of the infrastructure, you need one single person single-handedly to four or five people to maintain this solution.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
The price could be better and the licensing model could be easier to understand.
Our customers prefer lifetime licenses.
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?
On-premises
Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.
ASM at a healthcare company with 51-200 employees
A server operating system that's easy to use, but security could be better
Pros and Cons
- "I like that it's simple and the users are happy."
- "It could be more secure. We can't compare it to other products because they have their own security and all those things. When it comes to email security, there are issues. Microsoft products used to get hacked all the time, but we're still comfortable with that."
- "It could be more secure. When it comes to email security, there are issues."
What is our primary use case?
We're using it primarily for domain control, additional domains, and servers. Everything is used under the Windows platform.
What is most valuable?
I like that it's simple and the users are happy.
What needs improvement?
It could be more secure. We can't compare it to other products because they have their own security and all those things. When it comes to email security, there are issues. Microsoft products used to get hacked all the time, but we're still comfortable with that.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have been using Windows Server for almost ten years, and we're still using it.
How was the initial setup?
It was a straightforward installation.
What about the implementation team?
My four-member team of engineers can install and manage it themselves.
What other advice do I have?
I would recommend this solution to potential users.
On a scale from one to ten, I would give Windows Server a seven.
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.
IT Support Executive at a healthcare company with 51-200 employees
Flexible, easy to use, and reliable
Pros and Cons
- "I have found the solution to be flexible and easy to use."
- "I believe the solution needs to be more secure in the future."
What is our primary use case?
We use the solution as a typical server for our organization.
What is most valuable?
I have found the solution to be flexible and easy to use.
What needs improvement?
I believe the solution needs to be more secure in the future.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have been using the solution for 10 years.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
The solution has been stable.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
The solution is scalable but not as much as some of their competitors. We have approximately 400 users using the solution in my organization.
How are customer service and technical support?
The support is okay but it takes some time before you have someone on the telephone that is an expert that is needed for the issue.
Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?
I have previously used Linux and this solution is not as scalable.
How was the initial setup?
The installation was straightforward.
What about the implementation team?
The deployment is not a single-person job and we have used vendors in the past. For the deployment and maintenance of the solution, we have three technicians.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
There is a license needed for this solution.
What other advice do I have?
I would recommend using this solution to others.
I 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.
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