We are using it for Windows Active Directory, DHCP Server, and application servers.
Manager Tech. & Support (Information Technology) at Texitech
Good performance, stable, and easy to install
Pros and Cons
- "Its performance is very good, and it is stable. All applications are working perfectly, and there is no issue."
- "Its performance is very good, and it is stable, all applications are working perfectly, and there is no issue."
- "It can have more integration, which will be useful for the data integration process. More integration with different applications and different OS would be quite good."
- "It can have more integration, which will be useful for the data integration process. More integration with different applications and different OS would be quite good."
What is our primary use case?
What is most valuable?
Its performance is very good, and it is stable. All applications are working perfectly, and there is no issue.
What needs improvement?
It can have more integration, which will be useful for the data integration process. More integration with different applications and different OS would be quite good.
For how long have I used the solution?
We are using Windows Server for the last eight years.
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What do I think about the stability of the solution?
It is stable.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
We have three to four Windows Servers, and all users are connected to these servers.
How are customer service and support?
They are customer-friendly.
How was the initial setup?
Its initial setup is very simple and easy. It normally takes 20 to 30 minutes. After the installation is done, the configuration takes some time, but it depends on what type of configuration is required.
What about the implementation team?
I did it myself. We have four technical guys who are connected to the deployment and maintenance of these servers.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
We have perpetual licenses.
What other advice do I have?
I would recommend this solution to others. I would rate Windows Server an eight out of 10.
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.
Modern Data Center and Cloud Engineer II at IE Network Solutions PLC
Beneficial application compatibility, highly stable, and good technical support
Pros and Cons
- "The solution is easy to use and it supports multiple applications compared to other basic systems that are currently in a production environment."
- "The solution is easy to use and it supports multiple applications compared to other basic systems that are currently in a production environment."
- "The solution could improve by having more integration and some of the new features that are being released in Windows 11."
- "The solution could improve by having more integration and some of the new features that are being released in Windows 11."
What is our primary use case?
We use Windows Server as a business operating system.
What is most valuable?
The solution is easy to use and it supports multiple applications compared to other basic systems that are currently in a production environment. Many people prefer the Windows environment because they are used to it from previous experiences.
What needs improvement?
The solution could improve by having more integration and some of the new features that are being released in Windows 11.
For how long have I used the solution?
We have been using the solution within the past 12 months.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
Windows Server is highly stable.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
The solution is scalable.
We have 100 users using this solution in my organization.
How are customer service and technical support?
The technical support from Microsoft has been good.
How was the initial setup?
The installation is easy and it takes approximately 10 minutes.
What about the implementation team?
I did the implementation of the solution.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
There is a license required for Windows Server and Microsoft the cost is based on the number of ports that you have on the production server.
What other advice do I have?
I would recommend this solution for enterprise use.
I rate Windows Server a ten 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.
Buyer's Guide
Windows Server
March 2026
Learn what your peers think about Windows Server. Get advice and tips from experienced pros sharing their opinions. Updated: March 2026.
886,576 professionals have used our research since 2012.
Sr Reporter at a media company with 201-500 employees
Good support, stable, easy to use, and easy to install
Pros and Cons
- "Windows server is easy to use."
- "I would recommend this solution to others who are interested in using it."
- "Windows Server needs to introduce more dashboards."
- "Windows Server needs to introduce more dashboards."
What is our primary use case?
We use this solution as our server application. Several applications are based on this operating system.
What is most valuable?
Windows server is easy to use.
What needs improvement?
Windows Server needs to introduce more dashboards.
A common user is not able to implement this solution. It could be simplified.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have been using Windows Server for a couple of years.
We are using version 2019.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
Windows Server is stable. I have no issues with the stability of the Windows Server.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
We have 45 servers in our organization.
How are customer service and technical support?
Technical support is good. We have no issues with the support of Microsoft.
Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?
We did not use any other solution.
How was the initial setup?
It is quick and easy to install.
The installation can take up to 45 minutes.
All technical people in our organization need to install Windows Server. Any IT engineer can deploy this solution. However, it cannot be set up by a regular user.
What about the implementation team?
I completed the installation myself.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
There is a licensing fee that is paid yearly.
It is an expensive solution.
What other advice do I have?
I would recommend this solution to others who are interested in using it.
It is very popular, I would rate Windows Server a ten 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.
AGM, Enterprise Solutions at Omgea Exim Ltd
Easy to use and install but the performance needs to be improved
Pros and Cons
- "The installation process is great."
- "Microsoft is a popular and necessary addition to any company."
- "There's a short availability that could be much better."
- "We've had a lot of problems from day one."
What is our primary use case?
We work mostly on the banking organization segment. In banking organizations, they are using around 40% of Windows Servers. If there is any database they will be using MySQL. Including enterprise segments. 80% of people are using Windows Server and SQL or Exchange though, actually, now people are migrating to the cloud. Groups of companies, including enterprise pharmaceuticals, are mostly using Microsoft.
What is most valuable?
The ease of use is great.
The installation process is great.
What needs improvement?
We've had a lot of problems from day one.
The security could be better. One of the banks suffered ransomware attacks and they were able to penetrate the servers.
There's a short availability that could be much better.
The performance is not up to snuff. They need to work on increasing resources.
For how long have I used the solution?
I've used the solution since the inception of our company, which has been about seven years.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
The performance is not ideal. It could be a lot better.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
We have around 200 clients and most of them are using Microsoft in one way or another.
How are customer service and technical support?
Most of the time, we've noticed that customers can go and troubleshoot issues on their own. It seems rare to raise a ticket on Microsoft support. Due to the fact that it's so rare to need to raise issues, I can't really speak to having any direct experience dealing with them. That said, sometimes, if a patch is needed, they do need to go to Microsoft and get it.
How was the initial setup?
The installation is very straightforward and it is not overly difficult or complex. With a certain level of experience, anyone can install and configure it. It's not a problem.
You likely just need one person to handle deployment and maintenance. You can handle this solution with a minimal number of technical staff.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
The license is perpetual. Once you buy the server, you don't have to continue to renew the license itself.
What other advice do I have?
Microsoft is a popular and necessary addition to any company. Most companies can't run at all without Microsoft being used at some level.
If a customer has more than 100 workstations installed in Microsoft then I recommend them to use this sort of solution. If a customer is using .NET applications then by default the choice is Windows, however, if they are using Java or Oracle I recommend that they use Linux due in large part to the security.
Which deployment model are you using for this solution?
On-premises
Disclosure: My company has a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.
Systems Engineer at a tech services company with 11-50 employees
Flexible with easy deployment and good technical support
Pros and Cons
- "We find the solution to be easy to use and simple to navigate."
- "We find the solution to be easy to use and simple to navigate."
- "The solution could be more reasonably priced."
- "The solution could be more reasonably priced."
What is our primary use case?
The solution is very useful if the company doesn't want open storage, OS. In those cases, we usually recommend customers to use Microsoft services. Most of the time it's actually the client who gives us advice on what kind of OS they want to use and they will just ask for the quotation.
What is most valuable?
The solution is very flexible.
We find the solution to be easy to use and simple to navigate.
The stability is very good.
The security on the server has been great. It's much more secure than, for example, other open-source operating systems.
We find the solution very easy to install.
Technical support is very helpful.
What needs improvement?
The solution could be more reasonably priced.
For how long have I used the solution?
We've been dealing with the solution for a couple of years at this point. It's been a while now. We've had some time with it.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
The stability of the product is good. The product doesn't crash or freeze and there are no bugs or glitches. It's reliable.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
There is no need to scale the solution. It's not the type of solution that really needs to scale.
I'm not sure the exact number of people using the solution. It's my understanding that it's over ten at this time.
How are customer service and technical support?
Technical support is very fast when it comes to replying. They were able to solve any issues we raised with them. We're satisfied with their level of service.
How was the initial setup?
The initial setup is not complicated to set up. It's pretty simple and straightforward. A company shouldn't have any issues with the process.
The deployment process may take about 30 minutes or so, as long as you don't run into any errors.
You only need two technical people to manage the deployment process. You don't need a very big team.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
The pricing could be a bit more competitive.
The solution offers a permanent license. You don't have to pay a monthly or yearly subscription.
What other advice do I have?
We are Windows Server consultants.
I'd rate the solution at a nine out of ten. We've been quite satisfied with its capabilities.
I would recommend the product to other users and companies, especially those that don't want to use an open-source option.
Which deployment model are you using for this solution?
On-premises
Disclosure: My company has a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer. Partner
Sales Manager at INFOSEC
Stable, integrates well with different solutions, and offers a very good operating system to customers
Pros and Cons
- "The product integrates well with Sophos."
- "The product is a good operating system and the features fit our needs very well, allowing us to use one Windows Server for printing, accessing the internet, and running various applications instead of needing several servers."
- "A typical user will find implementing it on their own difficult."
- "It's incompatible sometimes and doesn't communicate with all applications."
What is our primary use case?
We primarily use the solution in order to manage clients, the CRM, or ERP (such as SAP), or such applications as Microsoft Dynamics. We use it for a variety of things.
What is most valuable?
The product is a good operating system. The features fit our needs very well. For example, with Windows Server, you can use a machine for printing, accessing the internet, or using some applications. You can do it all with one server. You don't need several servers. One is enough.
For those with a bit of technical know-how and have a level of comfort with Microsoft, it's not too difficult to implement.
The solution can scale if you need it to.
I've found the product to be stable.
The product integrates well with Sophos.
What needs improvement?
It's incompatible sometimes and doesn't communicate with all applications. When you need to share some data, communication is difficult between the server and the app.
A typical user will find implementing it on their own difficult.
For how long have I used the solution?
We've used the solution for about ten years or so. It's likely been a decade. We've used it for a long time at this point.
I personally have 20 years of experience working with a variety of Microsoft products.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
The stability is very good. There are no bugs or glitches. It doesn't crash or freeze. It's reliable.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
The solution can scale if you need it to.
Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?
I also use Windows 10.
How was the initial setup?
The initial setup is neither overly difficult nor very simple. It's somewhere in the middle. There's a moderate level of difficulty, however, it's not too hard. For a common user, it may come across as complex, however, with my level of knowledge, I don't find it too bad.
What about the implementation team?
I have enough experience with the solution that I can handle it myself.
What other advice do I have?
We are just a customer and an end-user. We don't have a business relationship with Microsoft.
We tend to use Windows Server 2012 or 2016, depending on the enterprise applications.
I'd rate the product at a nine out of ten. I've been please with its capabilities so far.
Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.
Regional Head Customer Experience at a financial services firm with 10,001+ employees
User-friendly, highly secure, and good performance
Pros and Cons
- "We have many applications which require Windows Server, such as SQL Server and an application server that acts as a middle layer."
- "The solution is highly secure and stable with many policies."
- "Windows Server could improve by having a faster browser, IE is too slow. There are better alternatives, such as Chrome."
- "Windows Server could improve by having a faster browser, IE is too slow."
What is our primary use case?
We have many applications which require Windows Server, such as SQL Server and an application server that acts as a middle layer.
What is most valuable?
The solution is user-friendly, you do not need a command line technical team to operate it.
What needs improvement?
Windows Server could improve by having a faster browser, IE is too slow. There are better alternatives, such as Chrome.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have been using this solution for approximately four years.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
The solution is highly secure and stable with many policies. We did not have any issues with the performance.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
We have approximately 2,000 users using the solutions.
How was the initial setup?
The installation was straightforward.
What about the implementation team?
We have a team that does the maintenance and policies for the solution.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
There is not a license required for this solution.
What other advice do I have?
I 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.
System and DBA at a energy/utilities company with 1,001-5,000 employees
Good performance, reasonable support, scales well, and is stable
Pros and Cons
- "The performance is good."
- "With my experience, I would definitely recommend this solution."
- "Windows Server could be more user-friendly."
- "Windows Server could be more user-friendly."
What is our primary use case?
We use this solution to run several personal applications and enterprise applications.
What is most valuable?
The performance is good.
What needs improvement?
Windows Server could be more user-friendly.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have been using Windows Server for more than 10 years.
We have used several different versions starting from 2008 to 2020.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
It is a stable solution.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
Window Server is a scalable solution.
All of the users in our organization are using Windows Server.
How are customer service and technical support?
We have no issues with the technical support.
There is no improvement needed with the Microsoft technical support.
Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?
I have not used any other solutions.
How was the initial setup?
I was not involved in the installation of the Windows Server.
We need one or two team members to deploy and maintain this solution.
What other advice do I have?
With my experience, I would definitely recommend this solution.
From a performance perspective, I would rate Windows Server a nine out of ten.
Because I have only used Windows Server, I can't give you a comparison with other solutions such as Linus or Unix.
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.
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