We are using this solution for some database applications.
Software Engineer at Es'hailSat
Easy to deploy, simple to set up and stable
Pros and Cons
- "The scalability is okay."
- "The solution should be less expensive."
What is our primary use case?
What is most valuable?
The solution is mostly stable.
The scalability is okay. We just need to get the correct edition of the Server.
The initial setup is easy and the deployment is fast.
What needs improvement?
There are some limitations around scalability.
The solution should be less expensive. Linux options are far less costly.
For how long have I used the solution?
I've been using the solution for five years, at least, in this company.
Buyer's Guide
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.
831,265 professionals have used our research since 2012.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
The product, for the most part, is stable. I would say the hardware will cause some issues before the operating system.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
In terms of hardware, it is scalable, if we can increase the hardware resources. We are not using the data center version of the OS. We're just using the standard version.
We have around 30 people using the solution.
How are customer service and support?
I haven't dealt with technical support. So far we haven't escalated anything as our installation is very simple.
How was the initial setup?
The initial setup is not overly complex. It is basically like any other Windows operating system. It's fairly straightforward.
The implementation only takes about 30 minutes.
We have a team of three in the IT department that can handle deployment and maintenance.
What about the implementation team?
We did not need any integrator or consultant. it's very easy for a company to handle by itself.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
The pricing could be more competitive.
We only pay a one-time fee and do not have to continuously pay monthly or yearly.
What other advice do I have?
I'm a customer and an end-user.
We are still using 2012, and we're planning to upgrade to 2019.
I'd rate the solution a nine out of ten.
I would recommend the solution to other organizations.
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.
Systems Engineer at a educational organization with 11-50 employees
Quick and easy to deploy and offers very good integration of Microsoft products
Pros and Cons
- "Within 10 or 15 minutes, you can build a single Windows Server and put it on production."
- "The solution needs to be more stable and secure."
What is our primary use case?
The solution is mainly used if you have a lot of solutions that integrate with Microsoft products. The usage varies. It depends on what you want to do with it. If you want to use it for integrating for web services or integrating for OS with some of your net applications, or your C-Sharp type of environments, then Windows is your go-to.
What is most valuable?
The product is very good for those that are integrating a lot of Microsoft products. It's great at integrating them.
The initial setup is pretty easy. The deployment is very fast.
What needs improvement?
The solution needs to be more stable and secure. Linux servers are much better in terms of stability and security and are better at thwarting any form of cyber attack. You stand a better chance if you're on a Linux box if you get hit. Not that they don't get attacked. However, Windows is a high-maintenance operating system. You have to keep it up to date almost all the time, and you also need to have a lab to test your updates as some of the updates could actually break the environment. There is a fine line between keeping it updated and breaking it.
For how long have I used the solution?
I've been using the solution for what feels like forever. It's easily been seven or eight years.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
The stability needs to be improved. You really need to have some sort of sandbox in order to test the updates. While it needs to be kept updated, you also run the risk of breaking your environment. It's a tricky balance.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
There are not so many users on the solution. Users are only using the applications, not so much the servers themselves, however, I would say, from our systems, we've got about five people that have to look after these servers.
How was the initial setup?
The initial setup process has improved over the years. Now it's actually better than it was. I would say that at this point it's straightforward. Within 10 or 15 minutes, you can build a single Windows Server and put it on production.
What about the implementation team?
You can likely handle the implementation yourself. It's easy. I did it myself. I didn't need the assistance of any outside integrator or consultant.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
You do need to pay for a license. It's reasonably priced. Of course, if you are strapped for cash, you can set up a Linux type of server basically for free. It depends on what you need.
Which other solutions did I evaluate?
I am aware of Linux servers. You can set up an Unbuntu server for free if you want. With Microsoft, you do have to pay. I also find Linux to be more secure. You are less likely to suffer attacks.
What other advice do I have?
We use various versions of the product. Right now, for example, it's a mix between the 2015 and 2019 versions.
Users need to be aware that they need to manage the solution properly. It could be pretty unsafe if you don't manage it properly.
I wouldn't outright recommend the solution per se. It depends on what you want to achieve or if you have the knowledge of what you want to do. I would only recommend it if you have to integrate it with other Microsoft products. There are other server platform products that are much more secure and better than Windows. That said, if you are integrating into a Microsoft environment, yes, Windows is your best option.
In general, I would rate the solution at a seven out of ten. It's great for Microsoft-heavy environments, however, it could be more secure.
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.
Buyer's Guide
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.
831,265 professionals have used our research since 2012.
Cloud Service Director at a insurance company with 10,001+ employees
Reliable and quite stable with a familiar operating system
Pros and Cons
- "We haven't had any issues with the server whatsoever. It's been very reliable."
- "The scalability could be improved a bit."
What is our primary use case?
We primarily use the solution for the Arctic directory, SharePoint, or the Information System's company.
What is most valuable?
The operating system is the solution's most valuable aspect. Many people on the team are extremely familiar with it.
We haven't had any issues with the server whatsoever. It's been very reliable.
What needs improvement?
The patching could be better within the solution. There are many updates, however, if you compare it with other parts of Windows, the patching has a different management structure.
The scalability could be improved a bit.
For how long have I used the solution?
I've worked with a company that has had the solution on and off over the course of maybe ten years or so. I've worked with them over the last two months.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
The solution is quite stable. I consider it reliable. I don't have issues with bugs or glitches. It doesn't crash or freeze. It's been good overall.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
We have at least 2000 uses on the solution currently in my organization. About 60 of those are software engineers and data scientists and other related positions.
I find the scalability to be pretty good. We don't have any issues in that sense. However, it could be a bit better.
We do plan to increase usage in the future.
How are customer service and technical support?
Technical support is good however, you do need to sign a contract with premier support in order to get excellent service.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
I don't deal with the pricing aspect of the solution and therefore can't really comment on how much it costs or if we are charged on a monthly or yearly basis.
What other advice do I have?
We're just customers. We don't have a business relationship with Microsoft.
We're using both the 2012 and 2016 versions of the solution right now.
Overall, I would rate the solution eight out of ten.
Which deployment model are you using for this solution?
Public Cloud
Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
NMS Service Automation & RPA Technical Lead at Vodafone
Scalable platform with an easy setup process
Pros and Cons
- "The product helps us manage user credentials and daily passwords for various applications."
- "We encounter issues related to the product's UI when multiple users access the same machine."
What is our primary use case?
We use Windows Server as a mandatory tool to host applications, specifically for robotics process automation (RPA). It provides an efficient output and allows multiple users to access the same machine simultaneously.
How has it helped my organization?
The product helps us manage user credentials and daily passwords for various applications.
What needs improvement?
We encounter issues related to the product's UI when multiple users access the same machine. Additionally, sometimes it doesn't work while upgrading patches from Microsoft. This particular area needs improvement.
For how long have I used the solution?
We have been using Windows Server for five years.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
It is a stable platform. I rate the stability an eight out of ten.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
It is a scalable platform. We have around 1000 Windows Server machines in our organization.
How are customer service and support?
We communicated with the technical support services for problems related to corrupted computing resources.
How was the initial setup?
The initial setup is easy. I refer to the documentation available on the internet to understand the implementation. It takes 20 minutes to complete the process.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
Windows Server has medium pricing.
What other advice do I have?
I recommend Windows Server to others and rate it an eight out of ten. I advise using Windows Server or Linux, depending on the specific needs and compatibility of the applications.
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.
IT head at Ficobank
A stable and scalable solution that can be used to run various systems
Pros and Cons
- "Windows Server is a stable and scalable solution."
- "The solution's licensing cost is expensive and could be improved."
What is our primary use case?
We use Windows Server to run our banking system.
What is most valuable?
Windows Server is a stable and scalable solution.
What needs improvement?
The solution's licensing cost is expensive and could be improved.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have been using Windows Server for five years.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
I rate Windows Server ten out of ten for stability.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
Around 42 users in our organization use the solution on a daily basis.
I rate Windows Server ten out of ten for scalability.
How was the initial setup?
The solution’s initial setup is too complex.
What about the implementation team?
We deploy the solution manually because we only have five servers. Around eight technical staff are needed for the solution’s deployment and maintenance.
What was our ROI?
We have seen value from using the solution, and that's why we deploy our systems using Windows Server.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
We use a perpetual license for Windows Server, which is expensive.
What other advice do I have?
I would recommend Windows Server to other users. Users should be trained or familiar with operating the solution before using it.
Overall, I rate Windows Server ten out of ten.
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.
Lead DevOps Engineer at Etisalat
Satisfied with performance and stability
Pros and Cons
- "A valuable feature of Windows Server has been the performance. We have done all the redundancy and fault tolerance things to protect our servers and, so far, so good."
- "As for additional features, we are very interested in the new feature released by Windows: Azure Virtual Desktop. We are currently exploring it so that instead of people depending on their own desktop, we could work on Azure Virtual Desktop. Integration with Azure Virtual Desktop would be cool."
What is our primary use case?
Our primary use case of Windows Server is application support. We have applications such as SAP-based or web-based solutions that we use through Citrix-based solutions. We deploy it on Azure.
What is most valuable?
A valuable feature of Windows Server has been the performance. We have done all the redundancy and fault tolerance things to protect our servers and, so far, so good.
What needs improvement?
As for additional features, we are very interested in the new feature released by Windows: Azure Virtual Desktop. We are currently exploring it so that instead of people depending on their own desktop, we could work on Azure Virtual Desktop. Integration with Azure Virtual Desktop would be cool.
For how long have I used the solution?
We recently began using Windows Server.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
This solution is stable and we're satisfied with the performance.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
We enabled scalability, but haven't scaled it much. We have a limited set of users, so the scalability feature is not really in use.
There are many end users, but there are less than 10 people managing this solution. We don't currently have plans to increase our usage because we are happy with the current capacity. We may decide to increase our usage later, but it depends on the solution and new requirements.
How are customer service and support?
We have contacted Microsoft's technical support. We used to have weekly and monthly meetings with them, so we got up-to-date directly from Microsoft support, which were were happy with.
Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?
We didn't use a different solution previously. We went directly for Microsoft because the solution is only supported by Microsoft, so we've never tried any other operating system.
How was the initial setup?
The installation was easy. We didn't do it directly because we have an Infrastructure as Code setup, with Terraform, so we were able to do it very easily. As for the time frame, if you go for a manual process, it will take five or ten minutes, but using code, you can deploy the solutions in less than a minute. We managed it ourselves, without any support.
What about the implementation team?
We implemented this solution through an in-house team.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
I'm not involved much in the payment part, but I believe that we pay a yearly subscription for licensing.
What other advice do I have?
I rate Windows Server an eight out of ten. I would recommend it to others who are considering implementation.
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
Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
Project Manager at a comms service provider with 51-200 employees
Good technical support, stable, and easy to set up
Pros and Cons
- "The initial setup is quite straightforward."
- "The price could be a little less. It's a bit expensive."
What is our primary use case?
We primarily use the solution as a base layer for our software. Our developers decided they should create our products based on the Microsoft platform. We have to use the Windows Server as the applied model.
We have some solutions based on Linux, however, Microsoft Windows Server is the primary operating system.
How has it helped my organization?
The solution has improved our organization as we are able to sell our products with Microsoft. Without it, we can't make our business work.
What is most valuable?
The solution is absolutely integral to our business processes.
It's a widely used system.
The product is very stable.
The initial setup is quite straightforward.
Technical support is very helpful.
What needs improvement?
I haven't had any experience with active data storage or high-level configuration. From my perspective, Windows Server can stay on this level without any development as it works for me how it is.
The price could be a little less. It's a bit expensive.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
Maybe 10 or 15 years ago, there were some problems with stability, however, right now, we haven't needed to install any patches and we have not faced any problems. I'd describe it as quite stable at this point.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
The solution is used widely across the company. However, I cannot speak to how many servers we have at this time.
We do plan to increase usage as we continue to grow.
How are customer service and technical support?
Microsoft technical support has been great. They are helpful and responsive. We are very happy with the level of support on offer.
How was the initial setup?
The initial setup is very straightforward and not overly difficult.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
The pricing isn't the cheapest. For example, Linux would be a free option. People don't have to pay for it. With Microsoft, you need to pay to license it.
What other advice do I have?
We are a customer and end-user. We are also a Microsoft reseller.
SQL Server 10 can't work without an operating system. It needs to be installed on the machine with an operating system, so it is dependent on it. A Windows Server needs to be installed as a first step before SQL will be installed.
We primarily use on-premies or private cloud deployment models.
I'd rate the solution at an eight out of ten.
I'd recommend the solution. It's a very good platform.
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: reseller
Head of Technical Support at a real estate/law firm with 51-200 employees
Reliable with good online documentation and a pretty easy setup
Pros and Cons
- "The initial setup is not overly difficult."
- "The security needs to be improved."
What is our primary use case?
Mostly we use the product for file sharing, and then for database applications. That's about it. We're not running cloud services and other things.
What is most valuable?
We're required to support it, however, for the most part, it works well and is reliable.
Technical support is helpful. There's a lot of documentation and helpful information online as well.
The initial setup is not overly difficult.
What needs improvement?
The security needs to be improved. That's its weakest area. It's my understanding that they cannot do anything about it at this stage. We have to wait when they are able to, more or less, integrate with Ubuntu, or with Canonical. Then, we will have a server that is quite stable in terms of security. Maybe in five years or six years, then you could see a Window Server which is going to be very impressive.
For how long have I used the solution?
I've been using the solution likely for 20 years. It's been two decades. I've used it for a while at this point.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
The solution is reliable and the performance is good.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
We have lots of users, especially those running Oracle. We have close to about 200 users for Oracle that are connected to Windows Server.
How are customer service and technical support?
We don't have any issues when it comes to Microsoft and technical support. Most of the time it is straightforward. Right now, you can go to the internet, and there are many people who post helpful information for Microsoft products. In the same way for a Linux operating system, we have a lot of users that are posting tutorials for you to be able to learn. It's not something which is very, very hard. It's quite easy already.
Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?
I also use Unbuntu and find them comparable. It's like to be able to integrate them together.
How was the initial setup?
The initial installation is pretty straightforward. I wouldn't describe it as complex.
We have about 30 staff members that are able to handle deployment and maintenance.
Per installation, the deployment time, including the updates, is maybe about three or four hours.
What about the implementation team?
We do have assistance when I'm using an HP serve. They have a way of making the installation much easier.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
We do have to pay a licensing fee in order to use the servers.
We've got open licenses for the Windows Server OS, as well as the SQL Server database, and then we have to pay for the device CALs, client access license.
What other advice do I have?
In terms of versions, right now, we're hooked on OS. We have 2012, and I have 2016. I'm interested in 2019 as well.
I'd rate the solution at an eight out of ten.
I'd recommend the solution to others for business use cases.
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.
Buyer's Guide
Download our free Windows Server Report and get advice and tips from experienced pros
sharing their opinions.
Updated: December 2024
Product Categories
Operating Systems (OS) for BusinessPopular Comparisons
Ubuntu Linux
Oracle Linux
Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL)
Rocky Linux
SUSE Linux Enterprise
CentOS
openSUSE Leap
Windows 10
Oracle Solaris
Windows 11
Google Chrome Enterprise
Buyer's Guide
Download our free Windows Server Report and get advice and tips from experienced pros
sharing their opinions.
Quick Links
Learn More: Questions:
- Which is better, Windows Server or Windows 10?
- Which would you choose, Oracle Linux or Oracle Windows Server?
- What operating system will be a good alternative for SLES?
- Oracle Linux or RHEL; Which Would You Recommend?
- What change management solution do you recommend for users to adapt to Windows 10 updates?
- What operating system do you use in your business?
- When evaluating Enterprise Linux, what aspect do you think is the most important to look for?
- What is the best Windows MSI installer?
- Which operative system would be a good alternative for DevOps?
- What features do you look for in an operating system?