Tech specs
1-8 of 197 reviews
What is our primary use case? I administer Windows Server. We have Windows 10 and are migrating to Windows 11 under my organization. The people who work with me are handling the migration right now. We have several servers, most of them Windows Server. We have a couple of Linux servers, but most of our servers are Windows Server. We maintain the normal infrastructure, including domain controller. We still have a file server and other specific servers. We have an Exchange Server that is only for hybrid purposes as we use Exchange Online. For specific tasks, we need a server to be managed. What is most valuable? Several years of improvements have been made to the software itself. In the '90s, it was poorly reliable. Now it's very reliable; you can spin up a Windows Server box, and it will run without needing to reboot unless updating. It's quite secure, which wasn't the case previously. They improved security over the years. It's a standard, compatible and backwards compatible with several pieces of software, and it's a standard platform where you can find practically any server software that you need. For me, it's a standard platform right now. They gained the market over the years. What needs improvement? It's difficult to see improvements when using it daily. They improved compatibility with other platforms, such as Linux. One improvement I was thinking about some years ago was the ability to manage an on-premises server from Azure. Now, they have created Azure Arc, and we are using it as a very good way of managing on-premises servers. What can be improved is on the Azure side. With Active Directory on the server side and Entra ID on the Azure side in our hybrid environment, we find issues with data syncing to Entra ID. In Entra ID, Microsoft omitted some parameters. In Active Directory, you can put an expiring date to an account, but you cannot do that in Entra ID. We have other means of doing that, but it's common to have consultants working for six months, requiring account expiration or renewal processes. The Entra ID Connect syncing tool could be improved. Though they moved the service to Azure and use an agent instead of having a dedicated server, it remains cumbersome to set up due to the differences between Entra ID and Active Directory. For how long have I used the solution? I have used Windows Server since Windows NT 3.1 in 1993. What do I think about the stability of the solution? I would rate stability as nine. I don't tend to rate ten because nothing is perfect. I support it myself and don't recall having any issues requiring Microsoft assistance for Windows Server. I usually solve issues myself. In the '90s, I was at Microsoft on an internship, receiving good training on the internals of Windows NT, which is the basis for the actual Windows Server. Though it has changed significantly, the inner workings remain generally the same. What do I think about the scalability of the solution? It's quite scalable. I would rate it nine because it's very scalable internally, and you can use federation to connect to other systems. During company fusions, it's straightforward to connect them if you understand the process. You can use external authentication features to authenticate with Facebook, Google, or Apple. It's quite flexible, scalable, and can manage a tremendous amount of users. My current company is small with approximately 2,600 users, but I've worked in companies with 20,000 to 100,000 users, and it scales beautifully without issues. How was the initial setup? The setup complexity depends on your training. You need to understand what you're doing. I've seen many people trying to set up Windows Server as if it were Windows desktop. They don't properly manage permissions or understand the difference between local permissions and domain permissions. If you are properly trained and understand how permissions work, then setting up Windows Server isn't problematic. The installation itself is simple, as they have improved it significantly. However, the challenge lies in knowing which services, roles, and features to add afterward. Training is essential for these aspects. What about the implementation team? I usually support it myself. What was our ROI? The return on investment is very good. You get a standard platform that is very secure and stable. The return on investment is very good. What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing? The pricing is fair. There isn't much competition apart from Linux, which has support pricing rather than product pricing. Microsoft offers product pricing with licenses per processor and CAL licenses for accessing. The complexity of licensing can be difficult to understand for inexperienced users, but regarding pricing, there is no comparison. What other advice do I have? I would rate Windows Server at seven because while it's not overly difficult to understand, the experience level matters significantly. For me, having started in 1993 with Windows Server, I do it from memory. I know what to set up, what services need to be running, and how to harden it. I would recommend the product. Training is very important before implementation if you don't have previous experience, or alternatively, engage a consulting company that knows what they are doing for proper implementation. The overall rating for Windows Server is nine out of ten. Which deployment model are you using for this solution? Hybrid Cloud If public cloud, private cloud, or hybrid cloud, which cloud provider do you use? Microsoft Azure Disclaimer: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
What is our primary use case? I use Windows Server to run our IT infrastructure. Almost everything is located on Windows Server, including our SQL database, our system, web server, and virtualization via Hyper-V. What is most valuable? Windows Server offers easy-to-use features, support, a web interface with a Windows interface, and security. The security features, such as Windows Defender, are excellent. I can manage the firewalls on the server easily, open or close ports to manage security traffic, and use encryption on the hard disk to keep data secure. For how long have I used the solution? I have been using Windows Server for about twenty-five years, starting with Windows 2003. What do I think about the stability of the solution? I would rate the stability of Windows Server between eight and nine. Sometimes Microsoft publishes updates that aren't compatible with the system, which they then pull back. In general, stability is between eight and nine. What do I think about the scalability of the solution? I rate the scalability of Windows Server as eight out of ten. There are some systems that do not work on Windows or are complicated to deploy on Windows, especially those that operate in a Linux environment and cannot be installed on Windows. How are customer service and support? I had one experience with Microsoft's technical support, which was very good. I would rate them nine or ten. I don't have extensive experience with IT support because I don't often need it. Most issues can be resolved through public websites and forums. When I had an issue with Hyper-V, the support was excellent. How would you rate customer service and support? Positive Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch? I use Red Hat Linux alongside Windows Server. How was the initial setup? The installation is straightforward and easy to install. What about the implementation team? My colleagues and I deploy the servers ourselves. What was our ROI? I get the features I am looking for from the price, despite it being a bit expensive. I benefit from Microsoft 365, Azure, and the features and services I need. What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing? The price of Microsoft products has become expensive over the last two years. What other advice do I have? I recommend Windows Server to others. Based on my experience, I rate this solution as a ten out of ten. Which deployment model are you using for this solution? Hybrid Cloud If public cloud, private cloud, or hybrid cloud, which cloud provider do you use? Microsoft Azure Disclaimer: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
What is our primary use case? I am working in a bank, and we use Windows Server for different purposes and services. Specifically, it is used for our banking system and banking software. We need to install software and databases on Windows Server. What is most valuable? Windows Server is user-friendly compared to other operating systems, like Linux. It offers virtualization techniques, such as Hyper-V, and other features that make it favorable. It is also user-friendly, which is beneficial for my organization as it simplifies processes. What needs improvement? One area that needs improvement is the protection against ransomware attacks. A mechanism similar to what Linux offers for preventing ransomware attacks would be beneficial. For how long have I used the solution? I have been working with Windows Server for at least ten years. What do I think about the stability of the solution? I would rate the stability of Windows Server as nine out of ten. What do I think about the scalability of the solution? I would also give a rating of nine out of ten for scalability and its ability to expand. How are customer service and support? I would rate the technical support from Microsoft an eight out of ten. The response time is one area that could use improvement. How would you rate customer service and support? Positive How was the initial setup? The initial setup of Windows Server is very simple. While it used to be complex, it has become more straightforward and easier over time. What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing? The pricing for Windows Server is moderately high, and with time, the price is increasing. It is suggested that Microsoft focuses on the pricing issue. Which other solutions did I evaluate? Windows Server's main competitor is Linux, but it is not as user-friendly, making Windows Server a preferred choice in my country. What other advice do I have? I would give Windows Server an overall rating of eight out of ten. Which deployment model are you using for this solution? On-premises Disclaimer: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
What is our primary use case? In my organization, we use Windows Server both for our own company purposes and for our customers who use our software products. We are based in India, and most of our enterprise customers use Windows Server. What is most valuable? Network configuration and management in Windows Server is very easy, providing fast deployment, plug and play capability, and simplified partition creation. This ease is crucial for us as we operate in analytical sciences with multiple laboratories. Additionally, backup work is facilitated by our own backup deployment managers, enhancing our management capabilities. What needs improvement? An area of improvement in Windows Server is the diagnostics of network drops, especially in a cloud environment. The current diagnostic logs have not seen much improvement in the last ten years and aren't very helpful in addressing network-related issues specific to individual customer locations. For how long have I used the solution? I have several years of experience with Windows Server, possibly even decades. What was my experience with deployment of the solution? The initial setup of Windows Server was complex. We deployed it on Azure, and the process took approximately one to two days at most. What do I think about the stability of the solution? Windows Server is very stable, and I would rate its stability at nine out of ten. What do I think about the scalability of the solution? Windows Server offers high scalability. I would rate its scalability at eight point five out of ten. How are customer service and support? The technical support for Windows Server is of very high quality. I would rate it at nine point five out of ten. How would you rate customer service and support? Positive Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch? My team and I have been dependent on Windows Server for several years and have never used any other solutions. How was the initial setup? The initial setup of Windows Server was complex. What about the implementation team? We handled the deployment ourselves in-house for both our internal requirements and our customers'. If a customer's workflow restricts us, we request them to deploy their own team or use a third-party team. What was our ROI? We calculate ROIs for several solutions, including Windows Server, and propose the results to our customers to convince them why they should upgrade. Our company manufactures both hardware and software, and we use our previous experiences for these calculations to maximize the utilization of resources available. What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing? The price of Windows Server is high, with significant costs for maintenance, initial deployment, and hardware. These high costs can limit expansion for organizations unable to afford it, but those with the means can benefit from its scalability. Which other solutions did I evaluate? I went straight with Windows Server without evaluating other options. What other advice do I have? Overall, I rate Windows Server as nine out of ten. It is one of the best solutions available globally. I recommend Windows Server to others. 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 Disclaimer: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
What is our primary use case? All our IT infrastructure is Windows. We run our banking applications on Windows Server, along with Oracle databases. In addition, our digital banking section utilizes AI and Copilot to enhance processing in the bank and serve customers. What is most valuable? Windows Server meets our needs; no one works without Microsoft these days. We run applications on top of Windows Server, and all our banking applications use Windows Server. Although we have some Oracle databases and Unix systems, most of our servers are Windows Server, totaling around seven hundred. Our strategy is to move everything to the cloud, decreasing the operational cost. What needs improvement? I don't know exactly how to enhance Windows Server, but it meets our requirements. We can work with both virtual and physical setups. If there are new features from Microsoft, we are happy to test them. For how long have I used the solution? We have had an enterprise agreement with Microsoft since 2008 for Windows Server. What do I think about the stability of the solution? Windows Server is stable. What do I think about the scalability of the solution? I would rate the scalability nine out of ten. It has supported our organization's growth well. How are customer service and support? Support is okay, but sometimes it takes time to get assistance unless it is opened as a security issue. I would rate Microsoft tech support seven out of ten. How would you rate customer service and support? Neutral Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch? For me, it's only Windows Server. Our organization's database admins use other systems, but I have only used Windows Server. How was the initial setup? We are familiar with Windows Server. There are no hassles, especially with virtual machines, which take about ten to fifteen minutes to set up. What was our ROI? We observe cost savings through virtualization and the use of Microsoft Cloud, which decreases running costs. What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing? Previously, server licenses were purchased. Now, it's core-based licensing, which costs more. This is now Microsoft's licensing approach. What other advice do I have? Without the need for recommendations, everyone uses Windows Server. I rate Windows Server nine out of ten. Which deployment model are you using for this solution? Hybrid Cloud If public cloud, private cloud, or hybrid cloud, which cloud provider do you use? Other Disclaimer: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
What is our primary use case? The complete setup is running on the Microsoft platform, including Active Directory and Azure, and servers which are running various applications for business purposes. What is most valuable? In my opinion, the ease of use of Windows Server is the most effective feature. The recent versions of 2009 and 2002 show valuable enhancements, making Windows Server highly effective and reliable. What needs improvement? I find the recent versions of 2009 and 2002 to be good. Currently, I do not have any suggestions for improvement. For how long have I used the solution? I have about fifteen years of experience with Windows Server. What do I think about the stability of the solution? I find Windows Server to be very stable. Very rarely do I see any blue screens or crashes. What do I think about the scalability of the solution? Windows Server is highly scalable; I can upgrade the hardware capacity or storage capacity smoothly. I rate the scalability nine out of ten. How are customer service and support? I find technical support to take some time, and the answers or resolutions are not straightforward. Sometimes necessary people may not join, and I end up needing someone else. I rate support between seven and eight. How was the initial setup? I find the initial setup to be straightforward. What other advice do I have? Based on my overall experience, including the service support, I rate Windows Server between nine and ten. I definitely recommend Windows Server to others. Which deployment model are you using for this solution? On-premises Disclaimer: My company has a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer:Partner
What is our primary use case? Windows Server is the operating system we run on our servers. We use it in the IT department, primarily as the OS for our servers. What is most valuable? Windows Server is the OS for servers in our IT environment. Its features depend on the servers we're running, such as web servers or file servers. It's a well-known server OS, making it suitable for all our needs. For security, we have no issues as we use several security applications like BlackPoint and Kaspersky, along with backup systems, and we keep the server up-to-date. What needs improvement? I think there is room for improvement in the stability of older versions. Additionally, Windows Server could be more power-efficient, especially for individuals doing labs or studies on personal computers or laptops. For how long have I used the solution? I have been working with Windows Server for eight or nine years. What was my experience with deployment of the solution? I have not faced any deployment issues. What do I think about the stability of the solution? The stability is better with the newer versions like 2019. Older versions like the 2008 servers had several issues. The current version is stable, and I rate it between eight and nine. What do I think about the scalability of the solution? Windows Server is very scalable. We use it everywhere, and it serves approximately two thousand users in our company as a backend service. How are customer service and support? I have never contacted customer service. How would you rate customer service and support? Positive Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch? Windows Server has been my only experience. How was the initial setup? The initial setup process for Windows Server is very straightforward and easy. There is plenty of documentation and tutorials available online to aid in the setup. Which other solutions did I evaluate? I did not evaluate other operating systems before using Windows Server. What other advice do I have? Windows Server is a well-known and well-established OS, heavily used in organizations in Kuwait. It's the only option for companies, with a usage rate of 95 to 98 percent. Anyone wanting to work in a reputable organization should gain experience with Windows Server. I rate the latest versions of Windows Server at around eight or nine, providing room for improvement. Which deployment model are you using for this solution? On-premises Disclaimer: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
What is our primary use case? I use Windows Server primarily as an Infra Server and Active Directory domain controller. It acts as a domain controller, chain email server, application server, and file server. How has it helped my organization? Windows Server offers good operational benefits. It is quite sustained, provides good support, and is quite reliable. What is most valuable? All features are required for managing my data center. The domain controller is for Active Directory, and if you need to include an email server, you can't ask about features individually since all features are necessary. What needs improvement? The price is very expensive. It would be excellent if Microsoft could reduce the price. Also, the support team is getting worse in terms of expertise. No cost-saving benefits have been observed. For how long have I used the solution? I have been working with Windows Server for almost 20 years. What do I think about the stability of the solution? For stability, I rate Windows Server seven out of ten. What do I think about the scalability of the solution? Scalability is rated eight out of ten. How are customer service and support? The customer support team is not satisfactory. Their expertise has diminished. I rate them two out of ten. How would you rate customer service and support? Negative How was the initial setup? The setup is easy. I would rate it a nine out of ten. Deployment takes about five minutes per server. What about the implementation team? You need at least a team of two people for deployment to manage and support, especially when one person is unavailable. What was our ROI? There is no cost saving. I have not observed any cost-saving benefits. What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing? The price of Windows Server is very expensive. On a scale of one to ten, with ten being the most expensive, I rate it ten out of ten. What other advice do I have? It's better to have your own internal server capabilities. Do not rely on the support; you need your team to manage and support the server. I'd rate the solution seven out of ten. Disclaimer: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
