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reviewer1369971 - PeerSpot reviewer
Head of IT at a manufacturing company with 501-1,000 employees
Real User
Top 5
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.

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Windows Server
January 2026
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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
Daniel Hermink - PeerSpot reviewer
Oracle business analyst at a manufacturing company with 1,001-5,000 employees
Real User
Top 5
Feb 11, 2024
An easy-to-access solution that helps to manage file servers
Pros and Cons
  • "The tool is easy to access and manage. You don't have to take any backups."
  • "Windows Server needs to improve its speed and stability."

What is our primary use case?

I use the solution to manage file servers. 

What is most valuable?

The tool is easy to access and manage. You don't have to take any backups. 

What needs improvement?

Windows Server needs to improve its speed and stability. 

For how long have I used the solution?

I have been working with the product for 20 years. 

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

I rate the product's stability an eight out of ten. 

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

Windows Server is scalable, and my company has 2000 users. It is used extensively. 

How are customer service and support?

I haven't contacted Microsoft support. 

How was the initial setup?

The tool's deployment is straightforward and takes six months to complete. The product is overseen by a technical team of ten resources. 

What about the implementation team?

Our consulting company helped with the deployment. 

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

The tool's licensing costs are yearly. 

What other advice do I have?

I rate the overall product an eight out of ten. 

Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.
PeerSpot user
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.
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WilyonTjahyadi - PeerSpot reviewer
Head of Major Account Sales Operation 1 at a manufacturing company with 1,001-5,000 employees
MSP
Top 20
Feb 6, 2024
Effective but lacks scalability in certain aspects
Pros and Cons
  • "What I like about Windows Server is that it is an effective and useful solution for my needs."
  • "Windows Server could improve its integration with cloud and hybrid environments to better adapt to modern computing needs."

What is most valuable?

What I like about Windows Server is that it is an effective and useful solution for my needs.

What needs improvement?

Windows Server could improve its integration with cloud and hybrid environments to better adapt to modern computing needs.

For how long have I used the solution?

I have been using Windows Server for over 20 years.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

I would rate the stability of the solution as a six out of ten.

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

I would rate the scalability of Windows Server at five out of ten. It is okay for basic upgrades, but it lacks the flexibility needed for more advanced scaling, especially in cloud or hybrid environments. It is not quite ready for those kinds of setups yet.

How are customer service and support?

I would rate technical support directly from Windows at around three out of ten—it is not the best. However, if you go through a partner who sells or supports Windows, the support could be around seven out of ten, because Windows relies on these partners for assistance.

How would you rate customer service and support?

Neutral

How was the initial setup?

I would rate the easiness of the initial setup as a seven out of ten. Deployment took a few hours.

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

I would rate the costliness of Windows Server as an eight out of ten. It is quite expensive.

What other advice do I have?

Overall, I would rate Windows Server as a seven out of ten.

Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.
PeerSpot user
Virimai Mare - PeerSpot reviewer
L3 Engineer at a financial services firm with 10,001+ employees
Real User
Top 10
Jan 15, 2024
Easy to setup, stable and caters to my wide range of use cases but lacks user-friendly interface
Pros and Cons
  • "It's quite stable."
  • "It would be nice if it was more user-friendly."

What is our primary use case?

It's used for a variety of things, like Active Directory, DNS, cloud shares, and application hosting. We also have some third-party applications running on it and web services.

What needs improvement?

It would be nice if it was more user-friendly, especially for migrating applications.

For how long have I used the solution?

I've been working with Microsoft for about 12 years now, since December 2004.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

It's quite stable, probably an eight out of ten. It really depends on the specific business needs and applications running on it.

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

It can be scalable to a certain extent, but it depends on the resources you have available and the applications you're running. We have around a thousand end users using this solution.

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

I've worked with Unix and Linux before, but it was a long time ago.

How was the initial setup?

The initial setup is quite easy for me, especially since I've been using it for so long. It usually takes just a few steps, depending on whether it's deployed in the cloud or on-premises.

What about the implementation team?

We handle it in-house, no need for external help.

What was our ROI?

We've seen value in Windows Server because the systems work smoothly without any problems. And the additional benefit is the support we receive.

What other advice do I have?

My main advice is to understand the business first. Then, see if the solution will work on that platform. Also, check which applications it supports. If they're using data and Microsoft, in some cases, we use applications verified by Microsoft. You can be sure they're compatible with Windows and find support from both ends. So, understand the business in terms of its goals, turnaround time, risk factors, and skill requirements. Consider if they have enough skilled people to support it, both for daily use and when issues arise. You need to know these things before making a decision.

Not every time is Microsoft the right choice. Some systems or platforms they want to run may not be supported by Microsoft. So, it's crucial to understand the business requirements first; then you know which platform or solution works best for you.

Overall, I would rate the solution a seven 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
Karen Yerznkanyan - PeerSpot reviewer
Chief Information Technology Officer at a financial services firm with 11-50 employees
Real User
Top 5
Mar 11, 2024
User-friendly platform with efficient feature for centralized management of applications
Pros and Cons
  • "Windows Server is a good technology that allows IT staff to consolidate their expertise on a single product, avoiding the need to manage different sources."
  • "The product's pricing needs improvement."

What is our primary use case?

We use the product as an application and SQL server.

What is most valuable?

The platform’s most valuable features are performance and centralization of operating systems. We can use one standardized system to host all applications.

What needs improvement?

The product's pricing needs improvement. 

For how long have I used the solution?

We have been using Windows Server for more than 20 years.

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

We have more than 100 Windows Server users in our organization. It is a scalable product.

How are customer service and support?

We contact the technical support team for a few queries.

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

We used Linux before. In some cases, it works better than Windows in terms of administration tools, especially for small companies.

From a centralization standpoint, Windows Server is a good technology that allows IT staff to consolidate their expertise on a single product, avoiding the need to manage different sources for Linux and Windows.

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

Windows Server is highly priced. They offer bundled licenses to be purchased yearly. Also, we need to pay extra for support services while utilizing different sources such as Linux.

What other advice do I have?

Windows Server’s integration with Active Directory enabled a single technology to manage multiple applications. Additionally, the feature for centralized management has proven beneficial in enhancing overall efficiency and meeting evolving requirements compared to Linux.

It is primarily suitable for enterprises as the cost would be a concern for smaller organizations. 

It is a user-friendly platform. I rate it a nine out of ten.

Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.
PeerSpot user
Eman Taky - PeerSpot reviewer
IT operation manager at a tech services company with 51-200 employees
Real User
Jan 25, 2024
Offers flexibility and easy deployment
Pros and Cons
  • "I find Windows Server valuable for its flexibility and user-friendly interface."
  • "In terms of improvement, performance could be enhanced."

What is our primary use case?

We use Windows Servers to manage user logins through Active Directory and facilitate VPN connections, supporting our researchers who are architecturally building on DSP DNS for enhanced security and access control.

What is most valuable?

I find Windows Server valuable for its flexibility and user-friendly interface.

What needs improvement?

In terms of improvement, performance could be enhanced.

For how long have I used the solution?

I have been using Windows Server for 13 years.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

Windows Server is very stable.

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

We have not had any issues with the scalability of Windows Server.

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

In large-scale environments with numerous simultaneous logins, Windows Server may not match the performance power of Linux. Linux tends to excel in handling extensive user loads, while Windows Server remains user-friendly for various tasks.

How was the initial setup?

The initial setup is quite straightforward and the deployment only takes about 30 minutes.

What about the implementation team?

We handled the deployment in-house without the need for a consultant or integrator. We manage it ourselves, and our subscription with Microsoft includes support, so whenever we have questions or issues, we contact Microsoft, and they assist us.

What other advice do I have?

I would recommend Windows Server to others but the choice depends on the specific technology and applications you plan to use. It is essential to consider compatibility and performance factors, as some applications may work better or be recommended for installation on Linux. Overall, I would rate Windows Server as an eight 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?

Amazon Web Services (AWS)
Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.
PeerSpot user
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 a recreational facilities/services company with 501-1,000 employees
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
Buyer's Guide
Download our free Windows Server Report and get advice and tips from experienced pros sharing their opinions.
Updated: January 2026
Buyer's Guide
Download our free Windows Server Report and get advice and tips from experienced pros sharing their opinions.