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Du Hoac Kim - PeerSpot reviewer
Deputy Manager at sacombank
Real User
Mar 18, 2024
User-friendly and easy to manage for users
Pros and Cons
  • "My organization benefits from the use of the product since it is a tool that offers security while being user-friendly and easy to manage."
  • "The product has certain shortcomings related to security capability in the area of incident response, making it the tool's component where improvements are required."

What is our primary use case?

I use Microsoft System Center to manage our Windows Server.

How has it helped my organization?

My organization benefits from the use of the product since it is a tool that offers security while being user-friendly and easy to manage.

What is most valuable?

The most valuable feature of the solution is its performance. My company currently uses Microsoft SCOM to monitor the performance of Windows Server. My company wishes to have some applications on QRadar or log management tools like ELK.

What needs improvement?

The product has certain shortcomings related to security capability in the area of incident response, making it the tool's component where improvements are required. My company uses QRadar to resolve our server-related issues quickly.

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Windows Server
February 2026
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For how long have I used the solution?

I have been using Windows Server for twenty years.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

It is a stable solution. More than 15,000 people in my company use the solution.

My company has no plans to increase the use of the solution.

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

It is a scalable solution.

How was the initial setup?

The product is deployed on the cloud model.

To start the deployment process in our company, we first need to make a request to the IT team. After that, the IT team looks at the requirements and deploys the server. In our company, we have a system to follow the deployment process.

The solution can be deployed in a couple of minutes since our company already has some idea and image about Windows Server. My team deploys the product in a couple of minutes every time there is a requirement in a department that is associated with our company.

Around three people in my company are required to take care of the product's deployment and maintenance processes.

What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?

My company has an enterprise agreement with Microsoft. I feel that the price of the product is okay.

What other advice do I have?

Windows Server helps our company to install a virtual environment.

Speaking about the beneficial features of Windows Server for our company's IT infrastructure, I would say that my company uses Microsoft Active Directory, along with some other services like Office 365 and the cloud services offered by Microsoft.

There are product security updates, which serve as a security feature for our company.

I recommend the product to those who plan to use it, but they need to use it based on their requirements.

My company did not face any problems while using the integration capabilities of the product with the existing systems in our environment.

The only problem with Windows Server stems from the area revolving around the software lifecycle since our company has to apply the latest version to our current system every couple of years.

I rate the tool an eight out of ten.

Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.
PeerSpot user
SHUBHAM BHINGARDE - PeerSpot reviewer
Project Engineer at CDAC
Real User
Top 5Leaderboard
Feb 12, 2024
Has an easy-to-use graphical user interface (GUI), but its deployment is a bit difficult
Pros and Cons
  • "Since Windows Server has a graphical user interface (GUI), it is easy to use and implement the services that we are using."
  • "Compared to Linux, the solution is a bit difficult to deploy."

What is our primary use case?

We use Windows Server for Active Directory (AD). We use the solution to manage user data and access through Active Directory. We use Windows Server to host and configure the mail servers.

What is most valuable?

Since Windows Server has a graphical user interface (GUI), it is easy to use and implement the services that we are using.

What needs improvement?

Compared to Linux, the solution is a bit difficult to deploy. The solution should have a faster deployment.

For how long have I used the solution?

I have been using Windows Server for more than five to six years.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

The solution has good stability.

I rate the solution an eight out of ten for stability.

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

Around 50 employees are using the solution in our organization. The solution is used extensively in our organization, and we have plans to increase the usage.

How was the initial setup?

The solution’s initial setup is straightforward.

What about the implementation team?

The solution's installation process is a bit lengthy and hectic. It took more time than the Linux operating system used to take. Our in-house team follows the documentation part, and we do the deployment ourselves from scratch.

What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?

We use only the license versions of Windows Server.

What other advice do I have?

We currently have our own data center where we host the services. Since we are a government-based R&D organization, we do not trust any cloud platform services like Azure, Google, and AWS.

We had to configure all the services and features that were available. We had to look for additional plugins that we could create and integrate for the security of our organization. I would recommend Windows Server for an organization dependent on the GUI part. Otherwise, I recommend using Linux servers.

The hardware requirement for Windows Server is very large compared to Linux. For that, we need to use or deploy the maximum hardware that is necessary.

Overall, I rate the solution 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.
PeerSpot user
Buyer's Guide
Windows Server
February 2026
Learn what your peers think about Windows Server. Get advice and tips from experienced pros sharing their opinions. Updated: February 2026.
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Sven Missorten - PeerSpot reviewer
Senior System Engineer at a transportation company with 501-1,000 employees
Real User
Jul 18, 2023
Transparent and easy-to-learn, but the product is not stable
Pros and Cons
  • "The GUI is familiar. Anyone who doesn't know how to use a file server can be taught to use the product in a few minutes."
  • "The solution should improve its stability."

What is our primary use case?

We use the solution for mass storage and application storage.

What is most valuable?

DFS is the most valuable feature of the product. The product is very transparent. Any changes to the underlying file servers are not visible to users. It is a huge benefit for us. 

The GUI is familiar. Anyone who doesn't know how to use a file server can be taught to use the product in a few minutes.

What needs improvement?

The solution should improve its stability. After some updates, one of the KBs faced issues while booting. On boot, it started boot looping randomly.

The solution is very rigid. Whenever we want to make changes that are slightly out of the ordinary, we have to do them manually.

For how long have I used the solution?

I have been using the solution for four and a half years.

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

The solution is definitely scalable. Around 1,500 people are currently using the solution in our organization.

What about the implementation team?

It is quite easy to maintain the product. We have deployed the solution across the whole company.

What other advice do I have?

I have used all the versions from 2003 to 2022. You can change the host and IPs and switch on the whole configuration. The users do not notice anything as long as DFS is active and the file system is the same. The product is a good choice for small-scale environments. Overall, I rate the product 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.
PeerSpot user
Team Lead at Regnology
Real User
Top 20
Jul 8, 2024
Enables us to build and test applications directly on the server from scratch.
Pros and Cons
  • "We use Active Directory and IIS to host different kinds of web apps. We have also used the FTP feature for our FTP server."
  • "Active Directory should have groups and policies. It could probably provide a better overview of how Active Directory is built."

What is our primary use case?

We use the solution for deployments, troubleshooting, Active Directory policies, and Windows patching.

What is most valuable?

We use Active Directory and IIS to host different kinds of web apps. We have also used the FTP feature for our FTP server.

FTP functionality does not require additional payment because Windows Server already includes the feature, reducing the costs of these tools. Windows Server also includes IIS, a web server hosting applications. This allows us to build and test applications directly on the server from scratch.

What needs improvement?

Active Directory should have groups and policies. It could probably provide a better overview of how Active Directory is built.

For how long have I used the solution?

I have been using Windows Server as a consultant for ten years. We are using the 2022 version of the solution, as well as the 2008, 2016, and 2018 versions.

What other advice do I have?

We have various security measures, such as antivirus software and firewalls. Additionally, on the network side, we utilize different types of firewalls to manage and enhance the security of the infrastructure itself.

Overall, I rate the solution an eight out of ten.

Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.
PeerSpot user
reviewer1369971 - PeerSpot reviewer
Head of IT at a manufacturing company with 501-1,000 employees
Real User
Top 10
Mar 11, 2024
Easy to deploy and offers good security to its users
Pros and Cons
  • "The product's installation phase is easy."
  • "The scalability of the product needs to be improved, considering that organizations may have an increase in resource requirements."

What is our primary use case?

I use the solution in my company for our applications and security.

What is most valuable?

Windows Server is similar to any other typical server, considering that there are multiple servers available in the market. The ease of administration that the product provides is one of the reasons why my company uses it.

What needs improvement?

The product's price is an area of concern where improvements are required, considering that there has been an increase in the tool's licensing costs, especially the ones required for virtualization.

The scalability of the product needs to be improved, considering that organizations may have an increase in resource requirements.

For how long have I used the solution?

I have been using Windows Server for a few years. I use the versions that were released in 2016 and 2018.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

It is a stable solution. Compared to the stability offered by the product in the previous year, I feel that there have been improvements in the current year.

How are customer service and support?

I have experience with the solution's technical support. My company is able to find solutions to our ratios with the help of the product's technical team. The product's technical team is neither good nor bad, meaning the support team offers normal support services.

Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?

My company uses IBM Power AIX and SUSE Linux Enterprise servers. My company has also tested some of the Linux servers' versions.

How was the initial setup?

With the help of SentinelOne, Windows Server was installed and used for the management of the virtual environment. My company also uses a PAM solution along with a security-oriented product.

The product's installation phase is easy.

In my company, we know the product's deployment process. Due to the aforementioned reason, it doesn't take my company much time to deploy the product.

The solution is deployed on an on-premises and cloud model.

What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?

It is an expensive product. My company makes payments towards the licensing costs attached to the product.

Which other solutions did I evaluate?

My company uses Windows Server, considering the knowledge that my organization possesses about the product and the information concerning the integration capabilities the tool offers.

What other advice do I have?

The security features offered by the product to protect our enterprise's resources are good. Though there is a scope for improvement in the product's security features, it is one of the most used solutions in the world when compared to the other tools in the market.

It is one of the cleaner systems available in the market that can be tailored to fit into your environment. Most people have experience using Windows Server in their environment. Windows Server is the easiest option my company chooses, considering the amount of experience we have with it in our environment.

I don't think that I have any special comments on how the product has improved our company's system performance area.

I rate the overall tool 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.
PeerSpot user
Joao Alves - PeerSpot reviewer
Risk Manager at Novo Banco
Real User
Jan 20, 2024
A powerful solution for network management
Pros and Cons
  • "The product is reliable. It is powerful and we can make a lot of tools to work with it."
  • "Windows Server needs to improve stability and pricing."

What is our primary use case?

We use Windows Server for network management. 

What is most valuable?

The product is reliable. It is powerful and we can make a lot of tools to work with it. 

What needs improvement?

Windows Server needs to improve stability and pricing. 

For how long have I used the solution?

I have been using the product for five years. 

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

The product is stable. I rate it a nine out of ten. 

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

Windows Server is scalable. I rate it a nine out of ten. 

How are customer service and support?

The technical team is knowledgeable and responsive. 

How was the initial setup?

Windows Server is easy to deploy. You only need to install the application. The deployment steps typically involve working with virtual environments. We use templates to set up the machines, specifying the number of interfaces, IP addresses, and routing information. After that, we shift to the system, and the process of putting on the applications is relatively fast. You need around 30 technical resources to handle maintenance and deployment. 

What was our ROI?

Windows Server is worth its money. 

What other advice do I have?

I rate the product a nine out of ten. We use Windows Server and Red Hat Linux, depending on the application. If the application is designed for Windows, we opt for Windows Server as it is easier to install and deploy.

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.
PeerSpot user
Phaniraj DJ - PeerSpot reviewer
General Manager at TT Systems LLC
Real User
Oct 25, 2023
Easy to install and adapt product with efficient GUI
Pros and Cons
  • "The product is easy to use and adapt. It is known for GUI."
  • "They could provide a lot of patches for the platform."

What is our primary use case?

We use Windows Server to manage Active Directory.

What is most valuable?

The product is easy to use and adapt. It is known for GUI.

What needs improvement?

They could provide a lot of patches for the platform.

For how long have I used the solution?

We have been using Windows Server for 10 to 12 years.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

I need to ensure patches are updated on time. I rate its stability an eight out of ten. It could be improved.

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

We have 400 Windows Server users in our organization. I rate its scalability a ten out of ten.

How was the initial setup?

It is an easy-to-install product. It requires two engineers to manage the infrastructure and takes three to four hours to complete.

What about the implementation team?

We take help from third-party integrators, consultants, and resellers for implementing the product.

What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?

We have purchased Windows Server’s yearly license. I rate its pricing a four out of ten.

What other advice do I have?

I advise others to ensure updating patches regularly for Windows Server. It is a flexible product. I rate it a nine 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.
PeerSpot user
Ahmed-Ramy - PeerSpot reviewer
CEO at TMentors
Real User
Mar 2, 2022
Great support and good availability of resources but the Windows Server Core needs to link to a console
Pros and Cons
  • "The support that Microsoft provides for this is very good."
  • "For countries in the Middle East and Africa, their pricing is a little bit high."

What is our primary use case?

We do software services, and most of the time we use this for UAT and testing purposes.

What is most valuable?

The availability of resources that are aware of Windows is great. It's more than any operating system. 

The support that Microsoft provides for this is very good. If you have an issue with the Windows Server, you'll get a lot of support from Microsoft.

The integration is great.

The interface and dashboards are fine.

What needs improvement?

While I would say scripting needs improvement, I've noticed that they started to do this couple of years ago. They do have their own WSL and PowerShell Scripts.

Generally, there is always room for improvement. However, nothing comes on top of my head right now. 

For countries in the Middle East and Africa, their pricing is a little bit high. Microsoft is having unified pricing across the globe. That's an issue. They don't negotiate on that. It's very expensive for many countries in this region.

They have something called Windows Server Core, and it doesn't have a graphical user interface, which is fine. However, there should be a management console or something that you can hook up to Windows Server Core so you can manage it much easier if you need UI or something.

For how long have I used the solution?

We have used the solution since the beginning of the company, about 12 years at this point.

How are customer service and support?

Technical support is great. If a company needs assistance, Microsoft is great at helping assist in troubleshooting. We are satisfied with the level of support.

Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?

We use Windows and Azure, Google Cloud GCP, and many flavors of Linux. For the database, we also use SQL Server and MySQL.

What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?

The pricing is high in certain regions as they don't price adjust for certain countries. They also do not negotiate their pricing. The cost is the cost. 

What other advice do I have?

We use various deployment models, including on-premises, on the cloud, and hybrid.

I'd rate the solution at a seven out of ten. If the pricing was more flexible, it would be better for the customer.

Disclosure: My company has a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer. partner
PeerSpot user
Buyer's Guide
Download our free Windows Server Report and get advice and tips from experienced pros sharing their opinions.
Updated: February 2026
Buyer's Guide
Download our free Windows Server Report and get advice and tips from experienced pros sharing their opinions.