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it_user1215906 - PeerSpot reviewer
Sr. System and Storage Administrator at a government with 51-200 employees
Real User
Easy to use, simple to set up, and offers good stability
Pros and Cons
  • "The solution is easy to learn. It doesn't take much training."
  • "The system needs to offer better integration capabilities."

What is our primary use case?

We primarily use the solution for our different applications.

What is most valuable?

We appreciate how many different applications can be on the server at any given time.

The solution is easy to learn. It doesn't take much training.

The implementation is simple.

The graphic interface is very nice.

What needs improvement?

The technical updates need to be improved upon. How they are delivered isn't ideal.

Technical support in and of itself needs to be better. The experience we have isn't very good. It's hard to get timely answers to our questions.

The system needs to offer better integration capabilities.

The solution's availability could be better in future releases.

For how long have I used the solution?

We've subscribed to Windows for many years now. It's been at least over two, but probably longer.

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What do I think about the stability of the solution?

The solution is stable. We don't have problems with reliability. It doesn't crash or freeze at all. We don't experience bugs either.

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

The solution can scale. If a company needs to expand, they can do so.

Currently, our organization has 3,000 users.

We may not continue with Windows. We're moving towards graduating to Linux instead.

How are customer service and support?

I've dealt with technical support in the past and I can say that we are not satisfied with their level of service. They are slow to respond. They need to act faster to get us the help we need.

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

We have always used some form of Windows products before we began implementing Windows Server. We originally decided to implement the server as we felt it was simple and easy to use. It also had a good graphic interface.

How was the initial setup?

The initial setup was pretty straightforward. I wouldn't describe it as complex. It was rather simple. In terms of people getting trained on the system, it shouldn't take up too much time so a company can get up and running quickly. That said, the time it takes to deploy is directly linked to the training. However long it takes to get your team comfortable with it, that's how long it will take to deploy.

We had an IT staff of around ten people that assisted with the implementation. We also has a team that handles any maintenance as necessary.

What about the implementation team?

As the implementation process was pretty straightforward, we handled it internally ourselves. We didn't need an external consultant or integrator to help us.

Which other solutions did I evaluate?

We've looked into Linux. We may move over to that in the future.

What other advice do I have?

We're just a Windows customer. We don't have a business relationship with the company.

We're using the latest version of the solution.

I'd recommend the solution to other companies.

Overall, from one to ten, I'd rate this product at a nine.

Which deployment model are you using for this solution?

On-premises
Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
PeerSpot user
GurpreetSingh4 - PeerSpot reviewer
Manager at Accenture company
Real User
Top 5Leaderboard
Offers great virtualization capabilities to users
Pros and Cons
  • "The product's initial setup phase is pretty straightforward and simple without any challenges."
  • "If Windows could make the OS part lighter, especially starting and restarting the Windows Server, which needs to be quick, then it would be great since this is an area where the tool lacks a bit."

What is our primary use case?

Windows Server has been idle for a while, but it is quite stable for running your application, specifically web-based applications, databases, or any front-end applications. And it's in the industry you are used to, along with Flex. Newer and enhanced versions are being introduced because Windows has recently started to design as per the cloud environment so that it can integrate well with Azure Cloud. If you are running the Windows Server and SQL on Azure, you will get the benefits of saving costs and licenses. Also, it can be tightly integrated with cloud services so that it can manage the patching, backup, and everything end to end if you talk about the life cycle of an operating system.

What needs improvement?

If Windows could make the OS part lighter, especially starting and restarting the Windows Server, which needs to be quick, then it would be great since this is an area where the tool lacks a bit. The tool should also offer more security.

For how long have I used the solution?

I have experience with Windows Server for more than ten years.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

Stability-wise, I rate the solution a ten out of ten.

Windows has had a long journey since it started off in 1998 and now it has been almost 22 years. From the last decade, the tool has improved a lot, and offers good stability. There are no errors, and problems coming up in the tool like how it used to come up in the initial days.

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

Scalability-wise, I rate the solution a ten out of ten.

How was the initial setup?

The product's initial setup phase is pretty straightforward and simple without any challenges.

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

For the on-prem version, you need to go for a perpetual license. An organization can buy licenses in a bundle. If I am planning to run ten operating systems, I will buy a pack of ten licenses, which will be cost-effective for me. If one goes bad, I can get another one by just putting it to use the same license, meaning I can reuse the license if something goes bad on any of the PCs. When it goes to the cloud, I can purchase the monthly licenses from Windows.

What other advice do I have?

In terms of the product's abilities associated with virtualization, I would say that it is actually the biggest leap in technologies when, earlier, whatever applications you needed to run, you had to spin up a physical server. When the virtualization started happening, you could run multiple servers on one physical server. Multiple VMs can have different applications and tiers. Virtualization is the best thing that happened, and a lot of people and organizations use it.

The best part of the security feature in the tool is the firewall because it is the first line of defense for the operating system since you can lock down your OS to a certain level and only allow one or two ports for whatever communication you want, and the rest can all be blocked for safety purposes. You keep getting security updates every month or every second Tuesday so that you can keep your environment up to date and safe from outside malicious activities. Microsoft is always on top of security updates, and the tool is very careful to keep the environment safe.

Speaking about the benefits of AD in Windows Server, I would say that AD is actually the backbone of any organization. AD was, in fact, my first love. When I started working with technologies, I was baffled to see how strong and amazing the technology AD had, how it would let me spin up users, groups, and objects, and how you manage those objects because those are very important areas. In any organization, the most important thing is the security of your identity. For any user who is trying to access any of the computers in the organization, it is very important for the company to authenticate and authorize the user to ensure the identity of the person. He or she has to move with the proper way of writing a username and the right password. There are a lot of security features in the tool. If a person is trying to enter a system with some fake passwords, then there are lockouts. After three incorrect passwords, the account gets logged out, and in such a manner, you can secure that entity.

The tool's integration feature with the existing IT ecosystem has been easy. The integrations are absolutely fine because Windows is designed to allow for easy integrations, even though Linux is also getting integrated easily these days. Mostly, Windows carries a GUI. For users, it is easier to maintain Windows Server than some other tools.

I would just suggest others always try to use the latest OS or operating system for servers and laptops because the latest servers come with new features and security enhancements, which can keep one's environment safe. If one weak PC or one weak OS is there in your environment and if it is outdated and not getting security updates, then it can be hacked, or there could be some virus that can try to harm your network and infect other operating systems. It is very important that each and every operating system is up to date.

I rate the overall tool a ten out of ten.

Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
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Windows Server
December 2024
Learn what your peers think about Windows Server. Get advice and tips from experienced pros sharing their opinions. Updated: December 2024.
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Virimai Mare - PeerSpot reviewer
L3 Engineer at Momentum Metropolitan Holdings Limited
Real User
Top 5
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: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
PeerSpot user
Gungor Bingul - PeerSpot reviewer
Head of IT at Korozo
Real User
Top 10
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: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
PeerSpot user
Du Hoac Kim - PeerSpot reviewer
Deputy Manager at sacombank
Real User
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.

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: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
PeerSpot user
Abey Varghese - PeerSpot reviewer
Project and Service Delivery Manager Cloud at MANAPPURAM COMPTECH AND CONSULTANTS LIMITED
Real User
Good for tasks that are closely related to Windows environments
Pros and Cons
  • "When we deploy this operating system, we're primarily focused on managing virtual environments. There are different parts like the directory, data storage, and CPU usage which are really useful. We also compare it to other parts like group policy, all of which are related to users. Currently, I find that users are very involved when it comes to these applications or servers on the two other links."
  • "I believe that Windows Server can be somewhat vulnerable compared to other options, but its security can be improved. I also think that the setup process can be somewhat complex, depending on the applications involved. Regarding the security features of Windows Server, while it offers some built-in security measures, it's not sufficient to solely rely on them. Additional external devices such as firewalls may be needed for comprehensive protection. Deploying antivirus and firewall software on the server is advisable, but having an external firewall adds an extra layer of security. When migrating to Windows Server from previous versions or other platforms, noticeable improvements were observed, particularly in the utilization of graphical interfaces. Windows offers robust graphical guidance, especially compared to Linux or other systems like Acronis, making it easier to navigate and manage various functionalities."

What is our primary use case?

We mainly worked with Windows Server 2003, 2008, 2012, and 2016 as they were the go-to operating systems for applications like Excel Server and various other software. We occasionally used Linux servers, especially for databases and specific applications, but most of our work was on Windows servers.

What is most valuable?

When we deploy this operating system, we're primarily focused on managing virtual environments. There are different parts like the directory, data storage, and CPU usage which are really useful. We also compare it to other parts like group policy, all of which are related to users. Currently, I find that users are very involved when it comes to these applications or servers on the two other links.

What needs improvement?

I believe that Windows Server can be somewhat vulnerable compared to other options, but its security can be improved. I also think that the setup process can be somewhat complex, depending on the applications involved.

Regarding the security features of Windows Server, while it offers some built-in security measures, it's not sufficient to solely rely on them. Additional external devices such as firewalls may be needed for comprehensive protection. Deploying antivirus and firewall software on the server is advisable, but having an external firewall adds an extra layer of security.

When migrating to Windows Server from previous versions or other platforms, noticeable improvements were observed, particularly in the utilization of graphical interfaces. Windows offers robust graphical guidance, especially compared to Linux or other systems like Acronis, making it easier to navigate and manage various functionalities.

For how long have I used the solution?

I have used Windows Server for a couple of months.

How are customer service and support?

I found it somewhat lacking in responsiveness at times.

How was the initial setup?


Maintenance also requires a team to handle day-to-day activities.When it comes to deploying Windows Server for managing virtual environments, we use VMware. Deployment can require involvement from managers, administrators, and technicians, and it may involve consulting external experts.
When it comes to deploying Windows Server, there's a policy in place for CR (change request) management. Typically, consulting with experts is necessary to design the system, taking into account factors like the number of users, required robustness, and specific functionalities such as messaging or email systems.

What other advice do I have?

On a scale of 1 to 10, I rate Windows Server around a 5 or 6.

When it comes to recommending Windows Server to others, it depends on the critical applications being used. If you're installing an Oracle database, for example, I wouldn't recommend Windows Server. In such cases, Linux or similar platforms might be more suitable. However, for tasks closely related to Windows environments, like utilizing Microsoft products extensively, Windows Server could be a faster and more compatible option, especially when it comes to firewall capabilities.

Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
PeerSpot user
SCADA/EMS System Programmer at GCCIA
Real User
User friendly and it's compatible with the scalar product applications
Pros and Cons
  • "User friendly and compatible with the scalar product applications."
  • "Could use more features and more functionality."

What is our primary use case?

Our primary use case is for the SCADA system, for the ITS system, and for the station system. I'm a system programmer and we are customers of Microsoft.

What is most valuable?

The advantage of the product is that it's user friendly, it's compatible with the scalar product applications, it's well known to our own users as well as to our end-user clients. 

What needs improvement?

I'd like to see more features and more functionality to the Microsoft operating system. The solution should be able to connect remotely and create a safer channel between the user and cloud assets, or through the internet. It's one of the biggest challenges we've had this past year. There are a lot of companies competing with each other to apply these features due to the pandemic. 

For additional features, I'd like to see something like third-party applications that would create a hub to receive a connection from outside. It would handle all types of servers to enable remote access for the user from home, so they can safely connect to the system and check in if there is an emergency. You know that the SCADA system is a critical system and you can be considered on-call and notified at any time. It would enable a remote connection rather than the need for long procedures to connect to my network. It could have a third-party authentication so we could connect to the server safely.

For how long have I used the solution?

We've used this product since 2008. 

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

The product is stable with the current application we are using for SCADA but I'm not sure of the impact if you were to use another application or another technology. For the appliances using the firewall, using switches, it's very stable, especially, the critical system which you configure once, and forget about until you need to make another vulnerability scan. For the critical asset, or for the entire system, you'll configure it once, and it's stable. 

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

Sometimes you need a huge number of firewalls to manage all the assets, so scalability depends on the assets you have in your network. In our case we sometimes only connect seven substations, that's three or four firewalls to manage everything. That includes interconnection with the member states, meaning six countries in the Gulf area that will receive information or data from them. The total number of data is very manageable requiring only three or four firewalls. In general, it is scalable and manageable. We have just under 100 users. We have around 10 technical teams in our control center and 10 engineers monitoring the system who deal with admin, modifications and monitoring the system.

How are customer service and technical support?

Any patching is tested in Dubai before applying it to the production system. We have minimal contact with the IT technical team. Given that the system is very stable, we rarely talk to the Microsoft technical team. 

How was the initial setup?

There is usually a factory acceptance test, but because of the pandemic we have an agreement with our vendor for the latest project that we will carry out the merger in Saudi Arabia.

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

We're engaged with a reseller who deals with licensing for us. 

What other advice do I have?

I rate this solution a nine out of 10. 

Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
PeerSpot user
Kepa-Ayerbe - PeerSpot reviewer
Connectivity Platform Cyber Security Specialist at BASF Business Services GmbH
Real User
Top 5
IP directory is the most valuable feature
Pros and Cons
  • "The capabilities and beta securities are important features. The IP directory is the most valuable feature."
  • "The user interface needs improvement."

What is our primary use case?

We use it for infrastructure. 

What is most valuable?

The capabilities and beta securities are important features. The IP directory is the most valuable feature. 

What needs improvement?

The user interface needs improvement. 

For how long have I used the solution?

I have been using Windows Server for 20 years. 

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

The stability of the solution is improving. I rate the stability a 9 out of 10. 

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

Three thousand users are using the solution at present. 

How was the initial setup?

The setup installation takes time and the first time to create the image. It might take you a day or so. But once you have the image, hard end, it's easy to deploy because now it's built to own. 

What other advice do I have?

I rate the overall product a 9 out of 10. 

Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
PeerSpot user
Buyer's Guide
Download our free Windows Server Report and get advice and tips from experienced pros sharing their opinions.
Updated: December 2024
Buyer's Guide
Download our free Windows Server Report and get advice and tips from experienced pros sharing their opinions.