--- title: Microsoft Windows Server 2012 R2 Reviews meta\_title: 'Microsoft Windows Server 2012 R2 Reviews 2026: Details, Pricing, & Features | G2' meta\_description: Filter reviews by the users' company size, role or industry to find out how Microsoft Windows Server 2012 R2 works for a business like yours. aggregate\_rating: rating\_value: 3.9 review\_count: 8 scale: '5' date\_modified: '2026-07-19' parent\_category: name: Marketplace Apps url: https://www.g2.com/categories/marketplace-apps --- # Microsoft Windows Server 2012 R2 Reviews & Product Details Microsoft Windows Server 2012 R2 is a robust server operating system designed to provide a dynamic, available, and cost-effective server platform for data centers and private clouds. Building upon the foundation of Windows Server 2012, this release introduces enhanced features that support scalable, multitenant-aware cloud infrastructures, enabling organizations to connect more securely across premises and respond to business needs with greater agility. Key Features and Functionality: - Automated Tiering: Optimizes storage performance by automatically moving frequently accessed files to faster storage media. - Deduplication for VHD: Reduces storage requirements by eliminating duplicate data within Virtual Hard Disk files. - Windows PowerShell v4 with Desired State Configuration (DSC: Enhances automation capabilities, allowing administrators to manage and maintain system configurations efficiently. - Integrated Office 365 Support (Essentials Edition: Simplifies integration with Office 365 services, facilitating seamless collaboration and communication. - User Interface Enhancements: Incorporates changes reflecting Windows 8.1, including a visible Start button for improved navigation. - UEFI-Based Virtual Machines: Supports virtual machines using Unified Extensible Firmware Interface, enhancing security and boot performance. - Improved Hyper-V Capabilities: Offers faster virtual machine deployment and support for UEFI-based virtual machines, enhancing virtualization performance. - Internet Information Services (IIS 8.5: Introduces support for logging to Event Tracing for Windows and the ability to log any request/response headers, improving web server management. - Server Message Block (SMB Enhancements: Improves performance and event logging, supports Hyper-V Live Migration over SMB, and allows bandwidth prioritization management. - Windows Defender Integration: Provides built-in malware protection, even in Server Core installations, enhancing system security. - IP Address Management (IPAM: Extends support for role-based access control, allowing fine-grained control over IP address configurations and integration with System Center Virtual Machine Manager 2012 R2. - Group Policy Improvements: Introduces a "Policy Cache" setting, enabling domain-joined machines to store a copy of group policy settings locally, reducing startup times. Primary Value and Solutions Provided: Windows Server 2012 R2 delivers a comprehensive server platform that enhances virtualization, storage, networking, and automation capabilities. By supporting scalable and secure cloud infrastructures, it enables organizations to manage workloads more efficiently, improve resource utilization, and ensure high availability of services. The integration of advanced features like automated storage tiering, deduplication, and enhanced Hyper-V support addresses the growing demands for performance and scalability in modern IT environments. Additionally, the inclusion of Windows PowerShell v4 with DSC and improved IPAM facilitates streamlined management and configuration, reducing administrative overhead and enhancing operational efficiency. * * * Seller [Amazon Web Services (AWS)](https://www.g2.com/sellers/amazon-web-services-aws-3e93cc28-2e9b-4961-b258-c6ce0feec7dd) Discussions [Microsoft Windows Server 2012 R2 Community](https://www.g2.com/products/microsoft-windows-server-2012-r2/discuss) Show More ## Top-Rated Alternatives [ ![WordPress.org](/assets/transparent-ad5be28fbcd25b7b08d2cebe1d957125437fb5407d75ee717965ad22c8808791.gif "WordPress.org") WordPress.org 4.4/5(9,544) ](https://www.g2.com/products/wordpress-org/reviews) [ ![TeamViewer](/assets/transparent-ad5be28fbcd25b7b08d2cebe1d957125437fb5407d75ee717965ad22c8808791.gif "TeamViewer") TeamViewer 4.5/5(4,151) ](https://www.g2.com/products/teamviewer/reviews) [ ![Okta](/assets/transparent-ad5be28fbcd25b7b08d2cebe1d957125437fb5407d75ee717965ad22c8808791.gif "Okta") Okta 4.5/5(1,366) ](https://www.g2.com/products/okta/reviews) [ View All Alternatives ](https://www.g2.com/products/microsoft-windows-server-2012-r2/competitors/alternatives) ## User Insights Average based on 8 real user reviews. [Log in to unlock pricing and user insights](/login) ![bhavik m.](/assets/transparent-ad5be28fbcd25b7b08d2cebe1d957125437fb5407d75ee717965ad22c8808791.gif "bhavik m.") BM bhavik m. System Administrator Computer Software Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.) 2/3/2025 "Microsoft Windows Server 2012 R2 User Experience" 3.5/5 What do you like best about Microsoft Windows Server 2012 R2? Old User Interface, Old active directory set up and easy versatile installation and flexible set up and configuration are best part. Few old .executive files which were so useful but can't run in upgraded server editions of Windows server. Dynamic access control is also best thing in windows server 2012 R2. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com. What do you dislike about Microsoft Windows Server 2012 R2? Latency faced from this server to another upgraded version is so frustrating. Automatic remote connection is disturbed for this server. Latest softwares are mostly non-supported due to old os. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com. What problems is Microsoft Windows Server 2012 R2 solving and how is that benefiting you? Basic Active directory 's dynamic control is easy to set up and explain in this version of server. So I used this in my datacenter for other team mates. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com. Show More Validated ReviewerIncentivizedSource: G2 invite ![Salman N.](/assets/transparent-ad5be28fbcd25b7b08d2cebe1d957125437fb5407d75ee717965ad22c8808791.gif "Salman N.") SN Salman N. Product Owner Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.) 1/25/2025 "Go to OS for our enterprise application hosting" 4/5 What do you like best about Microsoft Windows Server 2012 R2? It's quite stable and very easy to operate. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com. What do you dislike about Microsoft Windows Server 2012 R2? With time, new released softwares compatibility with it decreases. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com. What problems is Microsoft Windows Server 2012 R2 solving and how is that benefiting you? We have deployed our Active Directory software on it, it helps us in keeping our records centralling for using the application. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com. Show More Validated ReviewerIncentivizedSource: G2 invite ![Luis C.](/assets/transparent-ad5be28fbcd25b7b08d2cebe1d957125437fb5407d75ee717965ad22c8808791.gif "Luis C.") LC Luis C. Cybersecurity Specialist Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) 3/8/2022 "A Server OS to handle everything" 4/5 What do you like best about Microsoft Windows Server 2012 R2? This Operating system is capable of integration and almost any On-prem administration required. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com. What do you dislike about Microsoft Windows Server 2012 R2? While developing the bussiness, we need to have more storage and this version is not capable of having more than 4TB of memory capacity. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com. Recommendations to others considering Microsoft Windows Server 2012 R2: Make sure you identify your needs. Having an On-Prem structure can be easy to manage but hard to maintain. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com. What problems is Microsoft Windows Server 2012 R2 solving and how is that benefiting you? I have created multiple VM and run them with excellent stability for numerous services. Thanks to this, I can manage multiple services with only one server and making us more efficient. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com. Show More 9/9/2023 Validated ReviewerIncentivizedSource: G2 invite ## Questions about Microsoft Windows Server 2012 R2? Ask real users or explore answers from the community Get practical answers, real workflows, and honest pros and cons from the G2 community or share your insights. [ Ask about Microsoft Windows Server 2012 R2 ](https://www.g2.com/products/microsoft-windows-server-2012-r2/discussions/new) GU Guest User What is Microsoft Windows Server 2012 R2 used for? 0 Upvotes 0 [ Join the conversation ](https://www.g2.com/discussions/what-is-microsoft-windows-server-2012-r2-used-for) [ View all Discussions ](https://www.g2.com/products/microsoft-windows-server-2012-r2/discuss) ##### Pricing Pricing details for this product isn’t currently available. Visit the vendor’s website to learn more. [ View More Pricing Information ](https://www.g2.com/products/microsoft-windows-server-2012-r2/pricing) ## Work at Amazon Web Services (AWS)? Claim this profile to respond to reviews, update product info, and reach in-market buyers. [ Claim this profile ](https://www.g2.com/products/microsoft-windows-server-2012-r2/claim_requests/new?utm_medium=profile-footer-claim-cta&utm_source=g2) ##### Categories on G2 [AWS Marketplace](https://www.g2.com/categories/aws-marketplace) ##### Explore More [Which client side protection software gives the best combination of real-time monitoring and low performance impact for a site that cannot accept any slowdown?](https://www.g2.com/discussions/which-client-side-protection-software-gives-the-best-combination-of-real-time-monitoring-and-low-performance-impact-for-a-site-that-cannot-accept-any-slowdown)[Which jobsite management tools enable creating and assigning tickets directly on project drawings for clear issue documentation?](https://www.g2.com/discussions/which-jobsite-management-tools-enable-creating-and-assigning-tickets-directly-on-project-drawings-for-clear-issue-documentation)[What are the best auditing services solutions with proven track records from reviews at companies with 2–10 employees in financial services?](https://www.g2.com/discussions/what-are-the-best-auditing-services-solutions-with-proven-track-records-from-reviews-at-companies-with-2-10-employees-in-financial-services) [What RASP tools give a mid-size engineering team production-grade runtime protection without requiring a dedicated security engineer to tune and maintain the rules?](https://www.g2.com/discussions/what-rasp-tools-give-a-mid-size-engineering-team-production-grade-runtime-protection-without-requiring-a-dedicated-security-engineer-to-tune-and-maintain-the-rules)[Which field service platforms are actually reducing manual work and helping teams get more done without adding headcount?](https://www.g2.com/discussions/which-field-service-platforms-are-actually-reducing-manual-work-and-helping-teams-get-more-done-without-adding-headcount)[Pros and Cons Details](https://www.g2.com/products/microsoft-windows-server-2012-r2/reviews?qs=pros-and-cons) [Show MoreShow Less](javascript:void(0);)