--- title: Windows Server Reviews meta_title: 'Windows Server Reviews 2026: Details, Pricing, & Features | G2' meta_description: Filter 387 reviews by the users' company size, role or industry to find out how Windows Server works for a business like yours. aggregate_rating: rating_value: 4.5 review_count: 387 scale: '5' date_modified: '2026-10-01' parent_category: name: IT Infrastructure url: https://www.g2.com/categories/it-infrastructure --- # Windows Server Reviews **Vendor:** Tidal Media Inc **Category:** [Operating Systems](https://www.g2.com/categories/operating-system) **Average Rating:** 4.5/5.0 **Total Reviews:** 387 **AI Verified:** At least 10 G2 reviewers have confirmed using this product's AI features and functionality. ## About Windows Server Windows Server is a comprehensive operating system designed to meet the needs of businesses by providing a robust platform for managing applications, networks, and web services. It seamlessly integrates on-premises environments with Azure, enhancing security and facilitating the modernization of applications and infrastructure. Key Features and Functionality: - Multilayered Security: Windows Server offers advanced identity protection through Active Directory, virtualization-based security with Hyper-V, and secure networking features like TLS 1.3 encryption and SMB over QUIC. - Hybrid Cloud Integration: With Azure Arc, Windows Server enables seamless management across on-premises and cloud environments, providing deployment flexibility and unified management. - Scalability and Performance: The system supports large-scale virtualization with Hyper-V, accommodating up to 240 TB of RAM and 2,048 virtual processors per virtual machine, making it suitable for demanding workloads. - Container Support: Windows Server facilitates the development, deployment, and management of containers, allowing for efficient application modernization using containers and microservices. Primary Value and Solutions: Windows Server addresses critical business needs by offering a secure, scalable, and flexible infrastructure. It enhances productivity through hybrid operations, allowing applications running on-premises to leverage cloud innovations such as Artificial Intelligence and IoT. The system's advanced security features protect data and applications from evolving threats, while its scalability supports the growth and performance demands of modern businesses. By integrating with Azure, Windows Server enables organizations to bridge their on-premises environments with cloud services, facilitating a smooth transition to hybrid cloud solutions. ## Windows Server Pros & Cons Pros and Cons are compiled from review feedback and grouped into themes to provide an easy-to-understand summary of user reviews. **What users like:** - Users value the **reliability** of Windows Server, appreciating its dependable performance and effective security measures. (16 reviews) - Users value the **seamless integration** of Windows Server with the Microsoft ecosystem, enhancing management and user experience. (15 reviews) - Users value the **strong security features** of Windows Server, ensuring a secure environment against threats and vulnerabilities. (12 reviews) - Users value the **user-friendly interface** of Windows Server, simplifying management and enhancing overall functionality. (12 reviews) - Users find Windows Server to be **user-friendly and easy to navigate** , streamlining management tasks and role installations. (11 reviews) - Users commend the **easy installation** of Windows Server, making setup and management simple and efficient. (8 reviews) - Easy Management (8 reviews) - Easy Setup (8 reviews) - Users appreciate the **powerful features** of Windows Server, particularly its ease of use and extensive functionality. (8 reviews) - Stability (8 reviews) **What users dislike:** - Users find the **high cost** of Windows Server licensing and management a significant drawback compared to alternatives. (23 reviews) - Users note that **mandatory updates and restarts** can disrupt uptime and complicate maintenance efforts for Windows Server. (9 reviews) - Users highlight the **requirement for advanced technical expertise** to effectively manage Windows Server, complicating maintenance. (8 reviews) - Users find that **maintenance and updates are time-consuming** , leading to challenges in scheduling and system performance. (8 reviews) - Users find **mandatory updates** disruptive, often requiring server restarts that negatively impact system uptime. (8 reviews) - Users experience **performance issues** with Windows Server, as it demands high resources and affects overall efficiency. (6 reviews) - Update Issues (5 reviews) - Users express concern about **security issues** , noting vulnerabilities to hacks and viruses without proper maintenance and protection. (4 reviews) - Apple Limitations (3 reviews) - Installation Difficulties (3 reviews) ## Windows Server Reviews ### 1. A Practical Server Environment for Learning and Testing **Rating:** 4.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Siddhartha P. | Research Internship, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Current User:** The reviewer uploaded a screenshot or submitted the review in-app verifying them as current user. **Validated Reviewer:** Validated through LinkedIn **Incentivized:** This reviewer was offered a nominal gift card as thank you for completing this review. **Source: G2 invite:** Invitation from G2. This reviewer was offered a nominal gift card as thank you for completing this review. **Reviewed Date:** May 11, 2026 At G2, we prefer fresh reviews and we like to follow up with reviewers. They may not have updated their review text, but have updated their review. **What do you like best about Windows Server?** What grabs attention about Windows Server is how it brings together server roles, file sharing, and user control under a single roof. Virtual labs help test settings safely, away from the primary system. As trials go on, routine admin jobs sort themselves smoothly, plus navigating the layout feels natural bit by bit. A steady rhythm builds just from doing things again and again. Nowhere else does the load spike quite like this, though perks such as directory handling, common storage spots, while network aids keep things useful. Inside that space long enough, checking servers runs easier than it did earlier. **What do you dislike about Windows Server?** Heavy memory spikes sometimes come from updates doing their job behind the scenes, particularly on aging hardware tucked into virtual setups. When several of these background tasks pile up, things tend to drag. Labs may feel sluggish over time, even if basic functions stay online. Longer runs expose those hiccups when demand builds. Patience might be needed when sorting out network or license details early on. Once things settle, though, checking them regularly turns smoother. **What problems is Windows Server solving and how is that benefiting you?** Back when learning server tasks, people hopped from one loose tool to another. Trying new setups often required spare machines just to avoid breaking things. Then something shifted. Running Windows Server within contained virtual labs made experimenting simpler. Mistakes stayed put. Learning moved faster. Inside a single managed environment, things like permission checks, network setups, folder sharing, and role assignments feel tidier. Rolling back errors gets simpler when snapshots are available, especially during quick shifts from one test to another. With repeated use, consistent behavior becomes obvious. ### 2. Reliable, Secure, and Powerful for Enterprise Infrastructure **Rating:** 4.5/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Vikesh S. | System Administrator, Information Technology and Services, Enterprise (> 1000 emp.) **Current User:** The reviewer uploaded a screenshot or submitted the review in-app verifying them as current user. **Validated Reviewer:** Validated through a business email account **Incentivized:** This reviewer was offered a nominal incentive as thanks for completing this review. **Source: G2 invite:** Invitation from G2. This reviewer was offered a nominal incentive as thanks for completing this review. **Reviewed Date:** August 21, 2026 **What do you like best about Windows Server?** Windows Server offers excellent reliability, strong security, seamless Microsoft ecosystem integration, and powerful administration tools, making it ideal for managing enterprise infrastructure and applications. Windows Server works exceptionally well with our technology stack, particularly Microsoft and virtualization tools. The integrations are reliable, easy to manage, and help improve operational efficiency and security. **What do you dislike about Windows Server?** Windows Server is highly capable, but licensing can be complex, and managing upgrades, patches, and advanced configurations may require significant administrative effort. **What problems is Windows Server solving and how is that benefiting you?** Windows Server provides a secure and reliable platform for managing users, applications, and IT infrastructure. It improves system stability, simplifies administration, and helps reduce downtime and operational effort. ### 3. Window server is one of the best servers where we can host our application or company infrastructure **Rating:** 5.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Kush Kumar K. | System Engineer, Enterprise (> 1000 emp.) **Current User:** The reviewer uploaded a screenshot or submitted the review in-app verifying them as current user. **Validated Reviewer:** Validated through LinkedIn **Source: Organic:** Organic review. This review was written entirely without invitation or incentive from G2, a seller, or an affiliate. **Reviewed Date:** September 01, 2025 At G2, we prefer fresh reviews and we like to follow up with reviewers. They may not have updated their review text, but have updated their review. **What do you like best about Windows Server?** window server is providing best infrastructure for application hosting or create hybrid infrastructure for our organization. we can easily deploy our application & Datacenter and configure the on-premises environment without any downtime. window server also provides modern infrastructure, high performance with high security. Windows Server is Microsoft's enterprise server platform that enables organizations to run and secure applications, services, and workloads across on-premises, hybrid, and cloud environments. **What do you dislike about Windows Server?** I didn't think any limitation on window server because it's always updates and provide high security as per modern environment. Window server is one of the best server operation systems for hosting or deploying our organizational datacenter. Windows Server needs rebooting more frequent than UNIX **What problems is Windows Server solving and how is that benefiting you?** Window server solved many problems in my organization including centralized user access of server from multiple regions. we have hosted our "Exchange on-premises exchange server 2019" on window server 2022 which we are using for our hybrid Exchange server. we can easily access our server from multiple user identity without any issue with high security. Microsoft also provides window patching or security update on monthly basis to maintain server performance and security. we have also deployed our multiple Datacenter on window server on different-different region, and we can easily manage the server feature from Azure portal i.e. server RAM, ROM storage and operating system updates. Windows Server solves issues like centralized management, enhanced security, scalability, and virtualization. It helps streamline administrative tasks, protect sensitive data, support business growth, and ensure system reliability. ### 4. Windows Server: A Powerhouse for Infrastructure Management **Rating:** 4.5/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Dhilshan S. | ICT Engineer, Enterprise (> 1000 emp.) **Current User:** The reviewer uploaded a screenshot or submitted the review in-app verifying them as current user. **Validated Reviewer:** Validated through LinkedIn **Incentivized:** This reviewer was offered a nominal gift card as thank you for completing this review. **Source: G2 invite:** Invitation from G2. This reviewer was offered a nominal gift card as thank you for completing this review. **Reviewed Date:** May 05, 2026 At G2, we prefer fresh reviews and we like to follow up with reviewers. They may not have updated their review text, but have updated their review. **What do you like best about Windows Server?** Windows Server has several features that make it a powerhouse for infrastructure management. Active Directory (AD) & Group Policy Hyper-V Integration PowerShell & Server Core Windows Admin Center **What do you dislike about Windows Server?** The Licensing Maze The "Interface Identity Crisis" Update & Reboot Culture Bloat in the GUI Version Resource Overhead **What problems is Windows Server solving and how is that benefiting you?** The Problem: “Who has access to what?” The Solution: Centralized identity management (Active Directory). The Problem: “How do I secure 100+ computers at once?” The Solution: Standardized configuration (Group Policy). The Problem: “We’re running out of physical space/budget for hardware.” The Solution: Resource optimization (Hyper-V virtualization). The Problem: “How do I bridge the gap between my office and the cloud?” The Solution: Hybrid flexibility (Azure Arc & hybrid networking). The Problem: “I can’t be everywhere at once.” The Solution: Modern remote management (Windows Admin Center). ### 5. yes all review is great to me like User and Device Control ,Locking Down Security and Group Policy **Rating:** 4.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Dawit B. | Information Technology Officer, Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.) **Current User:** The reviewer uploaded a screenshot or submitted the review in-app verifying them as current user. **Validated Reviewer:** Validated through LinkedIn **Source: Organic:** Organic review. This review was written entirely without invitation or incentive from G2, a seller, or an affiliate. **Reviewed Date:** August 21, 2026 **What do you like best about Windows Server?** Active Directory Domain Services (AD DS): Centralized identity, access management, and Group Policy Objects (GPOs) remain the gold standard for managing users, computers, and security policies across an enterprise seamlessly. and Hybrid Cloud Flexibility it is good review and experience. **What do you dislike about Windows Server?** Licensing Complexity and High Cost,Update and Reboot Overhead,Resource Footprint,GUI Dependency Culture andRegistry and Legacy Bloat **What problems is Windows Server solving and how is that benefiting you?** Fragmented Identity & Access,Policy Management at Scale,Storage Fragmentation,Hybrid Operations,Reduced Administrative Overhead,Consistent Security Posture,High Availability & Reliability and Unified Management ### 6. Robust Network Management but Pricing Challenges **Rating:** 5.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Sandeep K. | Enterprise (> 1000 emp.) **Validated Reviewer:** This review contains authentic analysis and has been reviewed by our team **Source: Organic:** Organic review. This review was written entirely without invitation or incentive from G2, a seller, or an affiliate. **Reviewed Date:** August 14, 2026 **What do you like best about Windows Server?** I like that Windows Server is a powerful operating system by Microsoft specifically designed for managing networks, applications, and data. I appreciate how the Active Directory (AD) allows me to control all users, passwords, and their access rights from a central place. It's seamless to manage thousands of users, laptops, passwords, and permissions from a single dashboard. **What do you dislike about Windows Server?** I find Microsoft's per-core licensing model for Windows Server to be extremely expensive for high-performance servers with many CPU cores. **What problems is Windows Server solving and how is that benefiting you?** I find Windows Server's Active Directory manages our users, passwords, and access rights centrally, which simplifies management. However, the per-core licensing model gets costly for our high-performance servers. ### 7. Lightweight, High-Performance Server OS with Smooth Multi-User Setup and Responsive Support **Rating:** 4.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Divya P. | Software Developement Engineer, Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.) **Validated Reviewer:** Validated through a business email account added to their profile **Source: Organic:** Organic review. This review was written entirely without invitation or incentive from G2, a seller, or an affiliate. **Reviewed Date:** May 15, 2026 **What do you like best about Windows Server?** The biggest upside compared to a normal Windows machine is the lack of bloatware. It’s lightweight and highly performant, especially in terms of memory usage. The multi-user setup is also very smooth and user-friendly compared to other Unix-based server distributions. Price-wise, it’s on the higher end because of the official enterprise support, but the support system is very responsive and quick if you’re willing to pay for it. As for some shortcomings around granular user management, we integrated AutoElevate, which makes managing permissions at both the application and user level a breeze. **What do you dislike about Windows Server?** The user and application specific permission support is missing and the price is too high, but if you require the enterprise support, it's a no-brainer, but if you're a smaller team, better to explore foss server options. **What problems is Windows Server solving and how is that benefiting you?** Most of our third-party server-side software in the finance domain is Windows-dependent and simply won’t run on Linux. Because of that, we mainly use Windows Server to host and deploy these applications. Also, since the Windows Server UI and UX are very similar to standard Windows systems, it isn’t much of a hassle to train new IT employees. ### 8. Robust Centralized Management with Some Licensing Drawbacks **Rating:** 4.5/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Rauf s. | Desktop Support Engineer, Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.) **Validated Reviewer:** Validated through LinkedIn **Source: G2 invite:** Invitation from G2. This reviewer was not provided any incentive by G2 for completing this review. **Reviewed Date:** May 14, 2026 **What do you like best about Windows Server?** I like the reliability of Windows Server, along with its centralized management capabilities and seamless integration with Microsoft services. Active Directory, Remote Desktop Services, and easy user/device management simplify administration for our IT team. The strong security features, stable performance, and flexibility to manage both small and large business environments efficiently are huge positives. I appreciate the centralized IT management, improved system security, and the efficiency that comes with managing users and systems through Active Directory. The integration with Microsoft makes enterprise management much easier, and the wide-ranging support for business applications is another highlight. Overall, these features help improve productivity and reduce operational complexity. **What do you dislike about Windows Server?** One area that could be improved in Windows Server is the overall licensing model, as it can become expensive and sometimes complex to manage. System updates and patch management could also be smoother, since certain updates may require reboots or occasionally affect compatibility. Additionally, the interface and configuration process for some advanced features can feel complicated for new administrators. Reducing resource usage and simplifying troubleshooting tools would also make the platform more efficient and user-friendly. **What problems is Windows Server solving and how is that benefiting you?** Windows Server centralizes IT management, enhances system security and reliability, solves user access control issues, enables secure file sharing, and streamlines remote connectivity. It simplifies managing users and systems, reducing downtime and improving troubleshooting, ultimately boosting administrative efficiency. ### 9. Reliable Platform for Daily Server Management **Rating:** 5.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Yash C. | Filled operator , Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Validated Reviewer:** Validated through LinkedIn **Incentivized:** This reviewer was offered a nominal gift card as thank you for completing this review. **Source: G2 invite:** Invitation from G2. This reviewer was offered a nominal gift card as thank you for completing this review. **Reviewed Date:** April 30, 2026 **What do you like best about Windows Server?** What I like best about Windows Server is its stability and ease of management. It handles multiple users and services efficiently without major performance issues. The interface is familiar, which makes administration simpler, and features like Active Directory and remote access are very useful for daily operations. It also integrates well with other Microsoft tools, making system management more convenient. **What do you dislike about Windows Server?** One thing I dislike about Windows Server is that some system updates require unexpected restarts, which can interrupt ongoing work if not scheduled properly. The licensing cost can also feel expensive for smaller businesses. In addition, certain advanced settings take time to learn for new users, especially during initial configuration. **What problems is Windows Server solving and how is that benefiting you?** Windows Server helps us manage users, shared files, and system security from one centralized platform. It has improved collaboration by making file access and remote connectivity easier for employees across different departments. The server remains stable even during heavy usage, which reduces downtime and helps daily operations run more efficiently. It also simplified user permission management and backup handling, saving time for our IT team. ### 10. Reliable Windows Server with Seamless Enterprise Integration and Efficient Admin Tools **Rating:** 5.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Nani K. | Tecnical Consultant, Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.) **Validated Reviewer:** Validated through Google using a business email account **Incentivized:** This reviewer was offered a nominal gift card as thank you for completing this review. **Source: G2 invite:** Invitation from G2. This reviewer was offered a nominal gift card as thank you for completing this review. **Reviewed Date:** April 30, 2026 **What do you like best about Windows Server?** What I like best about Windows Server is its reliability and seamless integration with enterprise environments. Features like Active Directory make user and access management very efficient, while built-in tools for security, virtualization (Hyper-V), and remote management simplify administration. I also appreciate how well it integrates with other Microsoft services, making it easier to manage infrastructure in a centralized and scalable way. **What do you dislike about Windows Server?** One drawback of Windows Server is its licensing cost, which can be relatively high compared to some alternatives. Additionally, it can be resource-intensive, requiring more system resources to run efficiently. At times, updates and patches may require restarts, which can impact uptime if not planned properly. There is also a learning curve for managing advanced features, especially for those new to the platform. **What problems is Windows Server solving and how is that benefiting you?** Windows Server helps solve key challenges around centralized management, security, and scalability in IT environments. With tools like Active Directory, it simplifies user authentication and access control, ensuring consistent security across systems. It also provides reliable file sharing, application hosting, and virtualization capabilities, reducing the need for multiple standalone systems. For me, this translates into easier administration, improved security, and better efficiency in managing users and resources. It saves time by centralizing operations and enables smoother integration with other Microsoft services, which improves overall productivity and system reliability. ### 11. Seamless Setup and Integration with Microsoft Ecosystem **Rating:** 4.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Ivan K. | IT Manager, Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.) **Validated Reviewer:** Validated through a business email account **Incentivized:** This reviewer was offered a nominal gift card as thank you for completing this review. **Source: G2 invite:** Invitation from G2. This reviewer was offered a nominal gift card as thank you for completing this review. **Reviewed Date:** April 28, 2026 **What do you like best about Windows Server?** I like Windows Server for its tight integration with the Microsoft stack, especially the native support for .NET, which makes building and running web apps easy for our developers. The integration of identity and security with Active Directory through SSO is also seamless. Additionally, the mature web hosting stack via IIS makes deployment, SSL management, and app pool isolation straightforward. The predictable patching lifecycle via Windows Update, which we delay by a few weeks, generally works well, and most patches for critical CVEs are applied without interruptions. The initial setup of Windows Server has been seamless for the past few years, with deploying virtual machines from prebuilt AMIs making it very easy. **What do you dislike about Windows Server?** On the odd occasion, there are obscure issues relating to patches which aren't vetted during the few weeks we delay Windows Updates. From time to time we have had to roll back patches to remove breaks in functionality. **What problems is Windows Server solving and how is that benefiting you?** I find Windows Server solves operational and security pain points, and its native .NET support streamlines app development. It integrates seamlessly with Active Directory for SSO, and IIS simplifies web hosting and app management. Patching is predictable, with critical updates applied smoothly without breaking functionality. ### 12. os managed easily **Rating:** 5.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Shreya T. | Engineering , Information Services, Enterprise (> 1000 emp.) **Validated Reviewer:** Validated through a business email account **Source: Organic:** Organic review. This review was written entirely without invitation or incentive from G2, a seller, or an affiliate. **Reviewed Date:** April 28, 2026 **What do you like best about Windows Server?** good thing is stability—once it’s set up, it can run for a long time without issues. Plus, Microsoft regularly provides updates and support, so it feels safe and trusted for business use. It works really well with other Microsoft tools like Active Directory, SQL Server, and Azure, which makes managing a company’s IT environment smoother. **What do you dislike about Windows Server?** One big drawback is that it can be expensive. The license cost, plus extra costs for client access licenses (CALs), adds up quickly, especially for small companies. Another issue is frequent updates and reboots. While updates are good for security, they sometimes force restarts, which can interrupt work if not planned properly. Troubleshooting can be confusing at times. **What problems is Windows Server solving and how is that benefiting you?** It helps manage users and access. Instead of creating accounts separately on every computer, Windows Server lets you control who can log in and what they can use from one place. This saves time and avoids confusion. It also solves the problem of file and data sharing. It supports business applications like databases, internal tools, emails, and websites, Troubleshooting is faster, access issues are easier to fix, ### 13. Consistent Performance and Easy Integration **Rating:** 5.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Leo G. | Senior Sales Engineer, Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.) **Validated Reviewer:** Validated through a business email account **Incentivized:** This reviewer was offered a nominal gift card as thank you for completing this review. **Source: G2 invite:** Invitation from G2. This reviewer was offered a nominal gift card as thank you for completing this review. **G2 Icon:** Our network of Icons are G2 members who are recognized for their outstanding contributions and commitment to helping others through their expertise. **Reviewed Date:** April 16, 2026 **What do you like best about Windows Server?** I really value Windows Server's consistency over the years, which makes it easier to use and allows us to manage HAL protection smoothly when connecting to our hardware devices. It's quite handy that this is similar across versions, so we don't need to redevelop for different versions unless there's a major update. The stable environment it provides is fantastic for testing our products and understanding customer experiences. Additionally, the setup isn't difficult from my perspective, especially once predefined policies are in place. **What do you dislike about Windows Server?** Sometimes some features are introduced and not correctly integrated. It would be great to have an opt-out of these new features. Giving the end admins an easier way to select what they need and what they do not need, in simple terms, as the OS covers a huge variety of users. **What problems is Windows Server solving and how is that benefiting you?** Windows Server provides a stable environment for testing products, ensuring consistent customer experiences and managing HAL protection easily. Its consistency across versions simplifies development, eliminating the need for version-specific adjustments unless there's a major update. ### 14. Easy Integration and Implementation—Windows Server Works with Everything **Rating:** 5.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Stephen T. | IT/IS Manager, Enterprise (> 1000 emp.) **Current User:** The reviewer uploaded a screenshot or submitted the review in-app verifying them as current user. **Validated Reviewer:** Validated through a business email account **Incentivized:** This reviewer was offered a nominal gift card as thank you for completing this review. **Source: G2 invite:** Invitation from G2. This reviewer was offered a nominal gift card as thank you for completing this review. **Reviewed Date:** January 29, 2026 **What do you like best about Windows Server?** The best thing I like about Windows Server is the ease of integration, it works with everything else. I have used other operating systems in the past like IBM's System36, System38 and AS/400, and it was sometimes hard to find other software packages that could run on their O/S platform. I would say it is also easy to implement because everyone has used Windows Server and therefore you really don't need customer support from Windows, if you have any issues someone else has probably experienced the issues you are experiencing and you can find the solution to your issue by Googling it. We use Windows Server for all of our servers and have never been disappointed. **What do you dislike about Windows Server?** My biggest beef with Windows Server is that files on the Windows Server O/S can become corrupt and then have to be restored. I would like to know how this is possible and what causes this so that it can be fixed and files can never become corrupt again. The second biggest beef I have with Windows Server is that if we were ever doing something on the leading edge and need Customer Support for an issue that someone else had never experienced, I believe it would be hard to get. **What problems is Windows Server solving and how is that benefiting you?** Keeping up to date with security updates by keeping current with the operating system updates. ### 15. Easy Setup, Strong Integrations, and Reliable Support for Windows Server **Rating:** 4.5/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Verified User in Manufacturing | Enterprise (> 1000 emp.) This reviewer's identity has been verified by our review moderation team. They have asked not to show their name, job title, or picture. **Current User:** The reviewer uploaded a screenshot or submitted the review in-app verifying them as current user. **Validated Reviewer:** Validated through a business email account **Incentivized:** This reviewer was offered a nominal gift card as thank you for completing this review. **Source: G2 invite:** Invitation from G2. This reviewer was offered a nominal gift card as thank you for completing this review. **Reviewed Date:** April 14, 2026 **What do you like best about Windows Server?** I like how easy it is to set up and use Windows Server. We’ve used Microsoft integrations with Windows Server, such as Azure AD and Hyper-V, to create VMs on host servers, among other things. The ability to apply Microsoft updates, security updates, and even third-party application or driver updates automatically makes it much easier to keep the server secure. It also lets us schedule restarts outside of business hours, so we don’t disrupt production. We've had to reach out to Microsoft support multiple times and always have a great experience with their team and the option to escalate to a manager when needed is a great feature. **What do you dislike about Windows Server?** I would like to have easier/more support when it comes to AI/Intelligence integration available for us to use with Windows server. **What problems is Windows Server solving and how is that benefiting you?** Windows Server provides a stable, secure, and scalable platform for our manufacturing production environment. It supports our operations by centralizing application hosting, streamlining system management, and strengthening security controls. ### 16. Powerful, User-Friendly Windows Server with Seamless Microsoft Integration **Rating:** 4.5/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** SAHIB N. | Travel Consultant Sales and Reservation, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Current User:** The reviewer uploaded a screenshot or submitted the review in-app verifying them as current user. **Validated Reviewer:** Validated through a business email account **Incentivized:** This reviewer was offered a nominal gift card as thank you for completing this review. **Source: G2 invite:** Invitation from G2. This reviewer was offered a nominal gift card as thank you for completing this review. **Reviewed Date:** January 24, 2026 **What do you like best about Windows Server?** User-friendly interface – The GUI makes everyday tasks like managing users, files, and roles clear and straightforward. Active Directory – It’s a powerful tool for managing users, computers, and network security. Strong integration – It works smoothly with other Microsoft products, including Windows, Azure, and Office, which helps keep everything connected. **What do you dislike about Windows Server?** High cost – Licensing and CALs can be expensive, especially compared to Linux servers. Frequent updates and restarts – Some updates require reboots, which can interrupt services and create downtime. Resource-heavy – It tends to use more RAM and storage than many alternatives. Complex licensing rules – The licensing model can be confusing to understand, track, and manage. Less flexibility – It’s not as customizable as open-source server systems. Overall, Windows Server is powerful, but it can be costly and demanding to run and maintain, particularly for small organizations. **What problems is Windows Server solving and how is that benefiting you?** Centralized user and computer management It solves the problem of managing many users and devices separately. With Active Directory, everything is controlled from one place, saving time and reducing errors. Security and access control It helps protect data by managing permissions, authentication, and policies, which reduces security risks. Reliable file and application hosting It provides a stable platform to store files, run websites, databases, and business applications, keeping services available. Network management It handles services like DNS, DHCP, and domain control, making networks run smoothly. Scalability for businesses As needs grow, Windows Server can handle more users, devices, and services without major changes. ### 17. Effortless Setup, Robust Server Solution **Rating:** 5.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Brian R. | Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.) **Validated Reviewer:** Validated through a business email account **Incentivized:** This reviewer was offered a nominal gift card as thank you for completing this review. **Source: G2 invite:** Invitation from G2. This reviewer was offered a nominal gift card as thank you for completing this review. **Reviewed Date:** April 28, 2026 **What do you like best about Windows Server?** I use Windows Server to provide various services to my users and customers, including SQL server databases, IIS websites, security software, and warehouse management software. It's a well-known, easily supported, and cost-effective server operating system. I really like the ease of installation and management, especially in a domain environment where it's very easy to configure the servers to communicate with each other and share data. The initial setup of Windows Server is very easy using the GUI prompts. **What do you dislike about Windows Server?** There are often security vulnerabilities that pop up and we need to update/patch the server operating system often to keep our users and their data secure. **What problems is Windows Server solving and how is that benefiting you?** I use Windows Server because it's well-known, cost-effective, and easy to support. It simplifies installation and management, especially in a domain environment, making it easy to configure servers for communication and data sharing. ### 18. Windows Server 2025: Seamless Azure Arc Hybrid Integration and Hotpatching Security **Rating:** 5.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** deepeshkumar G. | Technical Specialist functional , Information Technology and Services, Enterprise (> 1000 emp.) **Validated Reviewer:** Validated through LinkedIn **Source: Organic Review from User Profile:** Invitation from G2. This reviewer was not provided any incentive by G2 for completing this review. **Reviewed Date:** May 03, 2026 **What do you like best about Windows Server?** Windows server 2025 is introduced with cloud integration for hybrid with Azure Arc and have the advanced security feature of hotpatching with out an outage which is very important for our production servers hosted for financial client.AD hardening and high performance storage and network also improved our business to after using windows server 2025. **What do you dislike about Windows Server?** There no dislikes as of now since we are getting good response from the server performance and the inbuilt features. AD and LDAP integration took some time though to impliment but that cannot be considered as a dislike. **What problems is Windows Server solving and how is that benefiting you?** We required random reads for our financial client and it required advanced random read in IO, Windows server 2025 with NVMe random read feature significantly increase our productivity and the advanced encrypted security with AD and LDAP also improved our customer satisfaction. ### 19. Powerful Yet User-Friendly Platform for Enterprise IT **Rating:** 4.5/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Prashant D. | Principal Cybersecurity Specialist, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Current User:** The reviewer uploaded a screenshot or submitted the review in-app verifying them as current user. **Validated Reviewer:** Validated through LinkedIn **Incentivized:** This reviewer was offered a nominal gift card as thank you for completing this review. **Source: G2 invite:** Invitation from G2. This reviewer was offered a nominal gift card as thank you for completing this review. **G2 Icon:** Our network of Icons are G2 members who are recognized for their outstanding contributions and commitment to helping others through their expertise. **Reviewed Date:** December 28, 2025 At G2, we prefer fresh reviews and we like to follow up with reviewers. They may not have updated their review text, but have updated their review. **What do you like best about Windows Server?** Windows Server achieves a strong balance between powerful capabilities and manageable complexity, making it a highly adaptable platform for enterprise environments. Its user-friendly nature is enhanced by familiar graphical interfaces such as Server Manager and straightforward wizards that simplify routine tasks, making them accessible to IT generalists. However, unlocking the platform’s full potential does require specialized knowledge. Setting up standard roles like Active Directory or file services is typically uncomplicated, thanks to clear installation processes. In contrast, implementing more advanced features like failover clustering or Storage Spaces Direct calls for thorough planning and a higher level of expertise. For most system administrators, Windows Server is an essential part of daily operations, serving as the backbone for critical workloads, identity management, and virtualization hosting. **What do you dislike about Windows Server?** Windows Server 2025, though more integrated with Azure, still comes with complex licensing and a noticeable push toward cloud dependencies. Its mandatory updates and steep automation requirements place a persistent burden on IT teams, demanding significant expertise and time to manage securely and efficiently. **What problems is Windows Server solving and how is that benefiting you?** Windows Server 2025 has been instrumental in assisting me with identity management, as well as managing both computers and users. It enables me to standardize the computers and streamline administrative tasks across the organization. In addition to these benefits, other features such as the file server, DNS, and Hyper-V are also supporting me in achieving my organization's goals. ### 20. Reliable Performance and Robust Security for Enterprise Management **Rating:** 4.5/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Gabriel M. | Office Automation Assistant, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Current User:** The reviewer uploaded a screenshot or submitted the review in-app verifying them as current user. **Validated Reviewer:** Validated through a business email account **Incentivized:** This reviewer was offered a nominal gift card as thank you for completing this review. **Source: G2 invite:** Invitation from G2. This reviewer was offered a nominal gift card as thank you for completing this review. **Reviewed Date:** April 09, 2026 At G2, we prefer fresh reviews and we like to follow up with reviewers. They may not have updated their review text, but have updated their review. **What do you like best about Windows Server?** I like Windows Server because it offers reliable performance, flexible virtualization with Hyper-V, and robust security features, as well as the ability to integrate with Azure and a centralized console that helps the management of enterprise infrastructures. **What do you dislike about Windows Server?** Planning for license acquisition can sometimes be confusing and costly, and frequent upgrades may require detailed planning to avoid service interruptions. **What problems is Windows Server solving and how is that benefiting you?** It has helped us resolve issues related to user access management and system security, along with the use of Active Directory. This has given us greater control over our IT environment and resulted in a more secure and manageable infrastructure ### 21. A solid and reliable foundation for IT infrastructure **Rating:** 5.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Paola Z. | Gerente de Ingeniería de Procesos, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Validated Reviewer:** Validated through a business email account **Incentivized:** This reviewer was offered a nominal gift card as thank you for completing this review. **Source: G2 invite:** Invitation from G2. This reviewer was offered a nominal gift card as thank you for completing this review. **AI Translated:** This review has been translated from Spanish; Castilian using AI. **Reviewed Date:** April 14, 2026 **What do you like best about Windows Server?** I like that it is a very stable and reliable platform for managing servers and business services. It allows you to centralize users, permissions, and network resources in an organized manner. Additionally, the integration with other Microsoft products greatly facilitates the administration of the environment, especially if you are already working with Windows in the company. **What do you dislike about Windows Server?** The initial setup can be complex if you don't have prior experience, especially when it comes to advanced roles. Also, the cost of licenses can be high, particularly for small businesses, and some tasks require deeper technical knowledge. **What problems is Windows Server solving and how is that benefiting you?** Before, it was complicated to control access, security, and services on the network. With Windows Server, I can manage users, policies, and resources in a centralized way, which improves the security and stability of the system. This allows me to have greater control, fewer failures, and a more organized and reliable infrastructure. ### 22. Intuitive Multi-Layer Security with Seamless DUO Integration **Rating:** 4.5/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Naruka T. | Head of I.T and Operations, Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.) **Current User:** The reviewer uploaded a screenshot or submitted the review in-app verifying them as current user. **Validated Reviewer:** Validated through a business email account **Incentivized:** This reviewer was offered a nominal gift card as thank you for completing this review. **Source: G2 invite:** Invitation from G2. This reviewer was offered a nominal gift card as thank you for completing this review. **Reviewed Date:** April 28, 2026 **What do you like best about Windows Server?** multi-layer security; I like the integration offered via two-factor authentication with DUO, Network, and Storage. It is also intuitive to use **What do you dislike about Windows Server?** Licensing costs and the cost of ownership through CALs can be prohibitive for small- to medium-sized companies. Driver incompatibility **What problems is Windows Server solving and how is that benefiting you?** Centralized management of user and computer accounts through Active Directory and Group Policy makes it much easier to set up and maintain consistent configurations across the organization. Windows Defender and BitLocker also help us secure our data and keep it protected. this helds to reduce the time spent in manual setup. ### 23. Easy Deployment and Flexible Desktop or CLI Experience **Rating:** 5.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Michael F. | Network Administrator, Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.) **Current User:** The reviewer uploaded a screenshot or submitted the review in-app verifying them as current user. **Validated Reviewer:** Validated through a business email account **Source: Organic:** Organic review. This review was written entirely without invitation or incentive from G2, a seller, or an affiliate. **Reviewed Date:** April 21, 2026 **What do you like best about Windows Server?** It’s very easy to deploy and set up, no matter your situation. It can give you either a full desktop experience or a CLI version, which is great for anyone who’s more CLI-brained than GUI-brained. **What do you dislike about Windows Server?** So far, there’s nothing to dislike—I’ve had nothing but good experiences with it. The 2025 version is great, especially because it lets you upgrade directly from an older version. **What problems is Windows Server solving and how is that benefiting you?** They resolved the upgrade issue in one step, moving me from an older version to the new one without having to go through multiple versions just to get caught up. ### 24. Reliable, Easy-to-Manage Windows Server with Strong Active Directory Integration **Rating:** 4.5/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Mohamed Razeeth M. | Data engineer, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Validated Reviewer:** Validated through LinkedIn **Incentivized:** This reviewer was offered a nominal gift card as thank you for completing this review. **Source: G2 invite:** Invitation from G2. This reviewer was offered a nominal gift card as thank you for completing this review. **Reviewed Date:** March 29, 2026 **What do you like best about Windows Server?** Windows Server is very reliable and easy to manage, especially for enterprise environments. It provides strong integration with Active Directory, making user and access management simple. The graphical interface is user-friendly compared to other server systems, and it supports a wide range of applications and services. Security features and regular updates also make it a trustworthy platform. **What do you dislike about Windows Server?** The licensing cost of Windows Server is quite high, especially for small businesses. It also requires powerful hardware to run efficiently. Sometimes updates can cause unexpected restarts or compatibility issues. Compared to Linux-based servers, it is less flexible and can consume more system resources. **What problems is Windows Server solving and how is that benefiting you?** Windows Server helps in managing users, permissions, and network resources efficiently through Active Directory. It allows centralized control of systems, improves security, and simplifies IT administration. This reduces manual work, saves time, and ensures smooth operation of business services and applications. ### 25. Easy to Manage, with Plenty of Helpful Online Documentation **Rating:** 5.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** sarpreet s. | Technical Services Manager, Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.) **Current User:** The reviewer uploaded a screenshot or submitted the review in-app verifying them as current user. **Validated Reviewer:** Validated through LinkedIn **Source: Organic:** Organic review. This review was written entirely without invitation or incentive from G2, a seller, or an affiliate. **Reviewed Date:** July 25, 2026 **What do you like best about Windows Server?** easy to mange lot of documentation on internet i case you are clear about a technical issue **What do you dislike about Windows Server?** usually on DHCP server it provides duplicate ip address even it is already assigned **What problems is Windows Server solving and how is that benefiting you?** compatiblity with every software or third party tools especiallty some medical software allworx etc. ### 26. Seamless Integration and Reliable Performance for Enterprise Needs **Rating:** 4.5/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Tiwari S. | Systems Integration Assistant, Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.) **Current User:** The reviewer uploaded a screenshot or submitted the review in-app verifying them as current user. **Validated Reviewer:** Validated through LinkedIn **Incentivized:** This reviewer was offered a nominal gift card as thank you for completing this review. **Source: G2 invite:** Invitation from G2. This reviewer was offered a nominal gift card as thank you for completing this review. **G2 Icon:** Our network of Icons are G2 members who are recognized for their outstanding contributions and commitment to helping others through their expertise. **Reviewed Date:** December 19, 2025 **What do you like best about Windows Server?** Windows Server provides seamless integration with Azure AD and other Microsoft services. Its performance remains consistently reliable, and it is strengthened by regular, robust security updates. The management tools, including MMC and PowerShell, greatly simplify daily administrative tasks and make operations more manageable. **What do you dislike about Windows Server?** The licensing and CAL costs are quite high, which can be a significant drawback. Updates often require mandatory reboots, disrupting operations more frequently than I'd like. Patch management can also interrupt workflows, making maintenance less smooth. The graphical user interface tends to use more system resources, which can impact performance. Learning PowerShell presents a steeper curve, especially for those new to scripting. I've encountered compatibility issues between different versions, which complicates upgrades and migrations. For certain workloads, I find it less flexible compared to Linux. Some administrative tasks remain challenging to automate fully. Performance tends to lag on older hardware, and Hyper-V still lacks some features found in VMware. Additionally, managing Active Directory becomes increasingly complex in larger environments. **What problems is Windows Server solving and how is that benefiting you?** Centralized user and device management has made it much easier to handle identities across numerous devices and users. This approach has led to improved security and simplified administration, especially when using Active Directory. Secure file and data sharing addresses the issue of uncontrolled file storage and data sprawl. By centralizing resources and implementing permission-based access, it becomes much easier to manage shared data securely. Application hosting and scalability have also been enhanced, allowing business applications to run reliably. This results in stable performance and the flexibility to scale workloads as business needs change. Virtualization through Hyper-V has helped consolidate multiple on-premises servers, reducing the need for additional hardware. This consolidation lowers costs and streamlines management. Automated system management, using tools like PowerShell and Group Policy, has significantly reduced repetitive manual tasks. This automation not only saves administrative time but also helps minimize errors. Security compliance is easier to achieve thanks to built-in security features, regular patching, and robust access controls. These measures help organizations meet regulatory requirements and protect sensitive data. Finally, seamless integration with the Microsoft ecosystem solves the problem of fragmented tools and services. It ensures smooth operation with Azure AD, Microsoft 365, Exchange, and SQL Server, making the overall IT environment more cohesive and efficient. ### 27. Powerful, User-Friendly Server with Seamless Microsoft Integration **Rating:** 5.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** ankit k. | Product Engineer, Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.) **Current User:** The reviewer uploaded a screenshot or submitted the review in-app verifying them as current user. **Validated Reviewer:** Validated through LinkedIn **Incentivized:** This reviewer was offered a nominal gift card as thank you for completing this review. **Source: G2 invite:** Invitation from G2. This reviewer was offered a nominal gift card as thank you for completing this review. **Reviewed Date:** December 17, 2025 **What do you like best about Windows Server?** What I appreciate most about Windows Server is its impressive balance between robust power and user-friendly design. Active Directory and Group Policy stand out as key features, offering centralized identity, access control, and policy management that are highly developed and difficult to surpass in enterprise settings. The server’s deep integration with the Microsoft ecosystem is another major advantage, allowing it to work effortlessly with .NET, IIS, SQL Server, Azure, Entra ID (Azure AD), and other familiar tools. The administrative experience is also very approachable—if you’re already comfortable with Windows, managing servers through Server Manager, PowerShell, or graphical tools feels both intuitive and efficient. PowerShell itself is a standout, providing extensive capabilities for automation and scripting, making it possible to manage nearly every aspect of the system at scale. Windows Server is also well-prepared for hybrid cloud environments, with features like Azure Arc, Azure Backup, and hybrid Active Directory simplifying the process of extending on-premises infrastructure to the cloud. Security is another strong point, with built-in options such as BitLocker, Defender, Credential Guard, and role-based access controls that are ready for enterprise use. Finally, Windows Server offers excellent support for enterprise applications, particularly for line-of-business solutions, legacy systems, and .NET workloads. **What do you dislike about Windows Server?** Here are the main reasons I find Windows Server frustrating (just being honest 😄): The licensing is both costly and complicated—core-based licensing, CALs, and multiple editions make it much more expensive and confusing than Linux. It also tends to use more system resources, requiring more RAM, disk space, and CPU power to handle workloads that Linux can manage with less. Finally, the forced updates and reboots are a hassle; even with careful planning, updates can be disruptive and often lead to unexpected restarts. **What problems is Windows Server solving and how is that benefiting you?** I am developing enterprise solutions that are heavily focused on identity management and built on the Microsoft stack. In this context, Windows Server helps me save both time and reduce risk. ### 28. Intuitive Interface and Seamless Management Make Windows Server a Standout Choice **Rating:** 4.5/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Ljupcho T. | Microsoft Certified Trainer, Information Technology and Services, Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.) **Current User:** The reviewer uploaded a screenshot or submitted the review in-app verifying them as current user. **Validated Reviewer:** Validated through a business email account **Incentivized:** This reviewer was offered a nominal gift card as thank you for completing this review. **Source: G2 invite:** Invitation from G2. This reviewer was offered a nominal gift card as thank you for completing this review. **Reviewed Date:** December 09, 2025 At G2, we prefer fresh reviews and we like to follow up with reviewers. They may not have updated their review text, but have updated their review. **What do you like best about Windows Server?** One of the most impressive features of Windows Server is its sleek and intuitive interface. Every task, no matter how complex, feels straightforward thanks to the thoughtful design. The integration with Active Directory is particularly powerful, allowing for seamless management of users, devices, and permissions without any unnecessary hassle. As an administrator, I find that Windows Server eliminates the need for additional services, offering robust administrative tools that help save valuable time. By letting Windows Server handle system issues, I can focus on more important work, knowing that problems will be kept to a minimum. The platform’s design inspires confidence and reliability, making IT system management both easier and more intuitive. **What do you dislike about Windows Server?** One aspect I find frustrating about Windows Server is that some features can become quite expensive, particularly as licensing costs accumulate. Additionally, there are still tasks that require navigating through multiple menus or using PowerShell commands, which can be daunting for administrators who are new to the platform. **What problems is Windows Server solving and how is that benefiting you?** Most of our infrastructure relies on Microsoft products. For all our hosts, we use Windows Server 2022 as the operating system, and we install additional software such as SQL Server 2022, PowerBI, SharePoint, and other related applications. Windows Server makes it much easier for us to manage all our hosts and infrastructure. Some servers are configured as domain controllers, while others serve as WSUS servers, allowing us to manage updates for all installed components across our servers. Depending on the project, we also use features like DNS and tools for managing users and computers. For projects with varying complexity, file sharing is sometimes set up—especially if SharePoint is unavailable or the project is too small to require it. Setting up sharing and user quotas is straightforward. Another very useful feature is Hyper-V, which we use to virtualize certain environments instead of relying on physical machines, depending on the project's needs. For streamlined management, we use Windows Admin Center as a central hub to monitor logs and events, making it easy to keep track of what’s happening across our 20+ running servers. To ensure redundancy, we implement Windows Failover Clustering on most servers, so if one node fails, another can take over seamlessly. ### 29. Familiar Interface and Reliable User Management **Rating:** 5.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Manu Y. | Full stack developer, Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.) **Current User:** The reviewer uploaded a screenshot or submitted the review in-app verifying them as current user. **Validated Reviewer:** Validated through a business email account **Incentivized:** This reviewer was offered a nominal gift card as thank you for completing this review. **Source: G2 invite:** Invitation from G2. This reviewer was offered a nominal gift card as thank you for completing this review. **Reviewed Date:** December 10, 2025 **What do you like best about Windows Server?** The ease of use is definitely the highlight for me. Since the interface is so similar to standard Windows, there's almost no learning curve. I also love the ease of integration with our other Microsoft tools like Office 365 and Azure everything just talks to each other without me having to fight with configurations, i use it almost daily through remote connect to connect and manage my running servers. **What do you dislike about Windows Server?** Ease of implementation can be a bit tricky regarding the initial setup and licensing—it’s more complicated than it needs to be. Also, I haven't been impressed with the customer support; it often feels like you have to jump through hoops just to get a straight answer when something breaks. **What problems is Windows Server solving and how is that benefiting you?** We use it mainly for centralizing our user logins and file sharing. It makes it way easier to control who has access to which folders without needing to be a command-line genius. ### 30. Seamless Integration and Powerful Features for Enterprise Environments **Rating:** 4.5/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Ajay S. | Senior System Engineer, Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.) **Current User:** The reviewer uploaded a screenshot or submitted the review in-app verifying them as current user. **Validated Reviewer:** Validated through a business email account **Incentivized:** This reviewer was offered a nominal gift card as thank you for completing this review. **Source: G2 invite:** Invitation from G2. This reviewer was offered a nominal gift card as thank you for completing this review. **Reviewed Date:** December 10, 2025 **What do you like best about Windows Server?** I like best about Windows Server us how well it balances power, reliability and ease of management, especially in enterprise environments. Windows server is something I use very frequently, mainly because it integrates seamlessly with existing Microsoft ecosystems such as Active Directory, Exchange, Azure and M365. This tight integration reduces operational complexity and improves overall efficiency. In terms of features, windows server offers a rich and mature set- domain services, group policy, failover clustering, Hyper-V, security hardening and automation via PowerShell- all built into a single platform. **What do you dislike about Windows Server?** What I dislike about Windows Server mainly comes form areas where it can be complex, costly or resource-heavy especially at scale. One major concern is licensing and cost. The pricing model (core based licensing, Cals, and add-ons) can be confusing and expensive, particularly for smaller organizations or rapidly scaling environments. **What problems is Windows Server solving and how is that benefiting you?** One of the biggest problems it solves is centralized identity and access management. With AD I can control authentication, permission and security policies from a single place. This greatly reduces administrative effort, improves security compliance and makes onboarding and offboarding users fast and consistent. ### 31. Solid Infrastructure Platform With Some Rough Edges **Rating:** 5.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Kyle W. | Systems Engineer, Education Management, Enterprise (> 1000 emp.) **Current User:** The reviewer uploaded a screenshot or submitted the review in-app verifying them as current user. **Validated Reviewer:** Validated through a business email account added to their profile **Incentivized:** This reviewer was offered a nominal gift card as thank you for completing this review. **Source: G2 invite:** Invitation from G2. This reviewer was offered a nominal gift card as thank you for completing this review. **Reviewed Date:** December 09, 2025 **What do you like best about Windows Server?** Honestly, what I appreciate most is that Windows Server simply works as expected. Features like AD, GPOs, DNS, and DHCP are consistently reliable, and nearly every software out there is compatible with it. It truly serves as the backbone for most networks, and it fulfills that responsibility exceptionally well. **What do you dislike about Windows Server?** The licensing situation is quite disorganized, with too many management tools scattered across outdated GUIs, newer interfaces, and PowerShell. Updates occasionally cause issues, and some roles still seem outdated. While the product functions, it certainly has its share of rough edges. There is no Customer Support unless you pay for it, but there are forums. **What problems is Windows Server solving and how is that benefiting you?** This system forms the backbone of our network, handling AD, GPOs, DNS, DHCP, file shares, printing, and several applications that still require on-premises servers. Its primary advantage is reliability. Having everything centralized makes management straightforward, and it enjoys broad support from nearly all vendors. It saves a significant amount of time because it operates smoothly and doesn’t require constant attention. ### 32. Stability and User-Friendly Interface, A Continuously Evolving System **Rating:** 5.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Beryl G. | Secrétaire Général, Primary/Secondary Education, Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.) **Current User:** The reviewer uploaded a screenshot or submitted the review in-app verifying them as current user. **Validated Reviewer:** Validated through LinkedIn **Incentivized:** This reviewer was offered a nominal gift card as thank you for completing this review. **Source: G2 invite:** Invitation from G2. This reviewer was offered a nominal gift card as thank you for completing this review. **AI Translated:** This review has been translated from French using AI. **Reviewed Date:** December 09, 2025 **What do you like best about Windows Server?** Exceptional Stability and Reliability: The system is remarkably stable, which minimizes interruptions and ensures smooth operation for the entire establishment. Intuitive User Interface (User-Friendliness): The interface is user-friendly and highly accessible, making it easy for administrators and technical staff to get started and manage daily operations. System Evolution and Longevity: The regular evolution of the operating system (updates, new features) ensures the longevity of our infrastructure and allows us to easily integrate the latest technologies. Richness of the Software Ecosystem: The vast library of compatible software is a major asset, offering great flexibility and easy integration with our educational and administrative tools. **What do you dislike about Windows Server?** Although the overall experience is positive, certain aspects could be optimized, especially for organizations in the education sector: 1. Cost of Licenses (Despite Education Pricing) The cost of licenses, even with preferential education pricing, represents a significant budget. For a service-oriented institution subject to strict budget constraints, greater financial accessibility of licenses would greatly contribute to allocating resources towards improving educational tools and student support. 2. Duration of Update Cycles The duration of update and support cycles is often perceived as too short, particularly in the education sector. In our context, deploying new versions and training technical staff require rigorous planning and significant resources. Extending support cycles would allow for better management of product life cycles and increased stability for the entire school ecosystem. **What problems is Windows Server solving and how is that benefiting you?** Windows Server has proven to be a fundamental pillar for improving our operational efficiency and centralizing our services. 1. Centralized and Robust Directory (User Management) Resolution: The integration of the local directory (Active Directory) has allowed us to establish a centralized, robust, and powerful identity management. This ensures uniform authentication and authorization, essential for maintaining security and order of access in an environment hosting many users (students and staff). 2. Integrated and Efficient Virtualization (Hyper-V) Resolution: Thanks to Hyper-V, we have a native and efficient virtualization platform. This allows us to consolidate our servers, optimize the use of our hardware resources, and manage our virtual machines with ease, thus contributing to the resilience and flexibility of our infrastructure. 3. Simplification of Administration (OS Standardization) Resolution: Windows Server offers us the advantage of standardizing almost our entire server environment on a single operating system. This homogeneity eliminates the need to master several different server OS, greatly simplifying administration tasks, maintenance, and training of our technical teams. ### 33. Windows Server: Familiar UI with Enterprise-Grade Power and Reliability **Rating:** 5.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Mingma S. | Information Technology Analyst, Enterprise (> 1000 emp.) **Validated Reviewer:** Validated through LinkedIn **Incentivized:** This reviewer was offered a nominal incentive as thanks for completing this review. **Source: Organic Review from User Profile:** Invitation from G2. This reviewer was offered a nominal incentive as thanks for completing this review. **G2 Icon:** Our network of Icons are G2 members who are recognized for their outstanding contributions and commitment to helping others through their expertise. **Reviewed Date:** February 17, 2026 **What do you like best about Windows Server?** I’m a fan of how Windows Server combines a familiar Windows UI with serious server power, which makes managing everything a lot easier. Features like Active Directory, Hyper-V, and failover clustering are especially clutch for enterprise setups. Overall, it feels like a solid, reliable backbone that just works, and I also appreciate having decent GUI options when I don’t want to go fully command-line. **What do you dislike about Windows Server?** Windows Server can be a pain because of its heavy resource demands and the sometimes clunky updates that end up forcing reboots at the worst times. On top of that, the licensing costs aren’t cheap, and the GUI can feel like overkill when you’re trying to handle more hardcore server tasks. Even with those drawbacks, it still gets the job done. **What problems is Windows Server solving and how is that benefiting you?** Windows Server helps businesses by providing a stable, reliable platform for managing networks, users, and applications. It addresses common needs such as centralizing identity and security through Active Directory, supporting virtualization with Hyper-V, and improving uptime with failover clustering for high availability. As a result, companies gain stronger control and security, along with more consistent availability, which helps keep day-to-day operations running smoothly and users satisfied. ### 34. Great UI and Features, But PowerShell Dependency Frustrates **Rating:** 5.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Nikunj K. | Consultant, Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.) **Validated Reviewer:** Validated through a business email account added to their profile **Source: G2 invite:** Invitation from G2. This reviewer was not provided any incentive by G2 for completing this review. **G2 Icon:** Our network of Icons are G2 members who are recognized for their outstanding contributions and commitment to helping others through their expertise. **Reviewed Date:** October 31, 2025 At G2, we prefer fresh reviews and we like to follow up with reviewers. They may not have updated their review text, but have updated their review. **What do you like best about Windows Server?** The graphical user interface and the range of features are what stand out to me. Windows OS is well known for its user interface, and over time, it has seen significant improvements. Now, the operating system has also reached a point of stability. **What do you dislike about Windows Server?** What I find frustrating is the recent shift requiring the use of PowerShell commands to operate Windows. I dislike that core functions now have to be performed through PowerShell, as this change does not appeal to me. **What problems is Windows Server solving and how is that benefiting you?** Hosting my IT infrastructure. My entire Infrastructure is Windows OS. I use Hyper-V to save on licensing cost. ### 35. the safest and most common Review of Windows Server **Rating:** 4.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Syam K. | Program Analyst, Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.) **Current User:** The reviewer uploaded a screenshot or submitted the review in-app verifying them as current user. **Validated Reviewer:** Validated through a business email account added to their profile **Incentivized:** This reviewer was offered a nominal gift card as thank you for completing this review. **Source: G2 invite:** Invitation from G2. This reviewer was offered a nominal gift card as thank you for completing this review. **Reviewed Date:** April 30, 2026 **What do you like best about Windows Server?** Windows Server is its reliability and ease of management. It provides a centralized way to manage users, security, and resources, and it integrates well with other systems. **What do you dislike about Windows Server?** One thing I dislike about Windows Server is that it can be resource-heavy and sometimes requires frequent updates and maintenance. Licensing costs can also be high compared to some alternatives. **What problems is Windows Server solving and how is that benefiting you?** Windows Server solves the problem of managing users, security, and resources across an organization in a centralized way. ### 36. Best Software **Rating:** 5.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Sandip S. | Teaching, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Current User:** The reviewer uploaded a screenshot or submitted the review in-app verifying them as current user. **Validated Reviewer:** Validated through LinkedIn **Incentivized:** This reviewer was offered a nominal gift card as thank you for completing this review. **Source: G2 invite:** Invitation from G2. This reviewer was offered a nominal gift card as thank you for completing this review. **Reviewed Date:** February 25, 2024 At G2, we prefer fresh reviews and we like to follow up with reviewers. They may not have updated their review text, but have updated their review. **What do you like best about Windows Server?** I like the compatibility of the software and there are many functions I can use for my work done. It's very simple and easy to use. **What do you dislike about Windows Server?** The paid versions of the softwares it contains are very costly.Which can be not easily accessible through a middle class person. **What problems is Windows Server solving and how is that benefiting you?** It should give updates on daily basis regarding its softwares... ### 37. Robust User and Network Management with Windows Server **Rating:** 4.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Muralidhar K. | IT Manager, Information Technology and Services, Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.) **Validated Reviewer:** Validated through Google One Tap using a business email account **Incentivized:** This reviewer was offered a nominal gift card as thank you for completing this review. **Source: G2 invite:** Invitation from G2. This reviewer was offered a nominal gift card as thank you for completing this review. **Reviewed Date:** April 27, 2026 **What do you like best about Windows Server?** I like the robust user management features of Windows Server, especially the centralized authentication and access control through Active Directory. It offers efficient network management capabilities, including DNS, DHCP, and policy enforcement for secure connectivity. These features make it a reliable platform for managing enterprise users and network infrastructure effectively. The initial setup was very easy for me because I was familiar with the process. **What do you dislike about Windows Server?** Nothing as of now **What problems is Windows Server solving and how is that benefiting you?** Windows Server helps solve user authentication for network access. It offers robust user management through centralized authentication, efficient network management with DNS, DHCP, and policy enforcement, making it a reliable platform for managing enterprise users and network infrastructure effectively. ### 38. User-Friendly with Stability Challenges **Rating:** 3.5/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** viraj p. | Assistant Manger, Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.) **Validated Reviewer:** Validated through a business email account **Incentivized:** This reviewer was offered a nominal gift card as thank you for completing this review. **Source: G2 invite:** Invitation from G2. This reviewer was offered a nominal gift card as thank you for completing this review. **Reviewed Date:** April 14, 2026 **What do you like best about Windows Server?** I find Windows Server to be user-friendly due to its GUI, which makes it easier for our staff compared to Linux. I also appreciate the availability of numerous tutorials for Windows Server. Additionally, the subscription-based licensing and timely security patches are great features. Setting it up was very easy, and I'd rate that aspect 7 out of 10. **What do you dislike about Windows Server?** The new version has a lot of bugs which is problematic for our on-premises hosted application compatibility. **What problems is Windows Server solving and how is that benefiting you?** I find Windows Server user-friendly with a GUI, making it easier for our team lacking Linux expertise. It provides licensed subscription and timely security patches, which were issues with Linux. Windows Server is also easy to set up. ### 39. Flexible, Powerful Security with Centralized Network & Device Management **Rating:** 5.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Ashraf S. | System administrators, Information Technology and Services, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Current User:** The reviewer uploaded a screenshot or submitted the review in-app verifying them as current user. **Validated Reviewer:** Validated through a business email account added to their profile **Source: Organic Review from User Profile:** Invitation from G2. This reviewer was not provided any incentive by G2 for completing this review. **Reviewed Date:** January 23, 2026 At G2, we prefer fresh reviews and we like to follow up with reviewers. They may not have updated their review text, but have updated their review. **What do you like best about Windows Server?** This product combines flexibility and strength, with advanced security and centralized management of networks and devices. **What do you dislike about Windows Server?** The main drawbacks of Windows Server, in my view, are its high cost, the need for advanced technical expertise to manage and maintain it effectively, and its strong reliance on Microsoft products. This dependence can limit flexibility and make it less adaptable than open-source systems. **What problems is Windows Server solving and how is that benefiting you?** I use it to manage users and computers in Active Directory, and to handle file sharing on the server. ### 40. Rock-Solid Stability and Seamless Integration for Business **Rating:** 5.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Jose M. | CyberSecurity Administrator, Enterprise (> 1000 emp.) **Current User:** The reviewer uploaded a screenshot or submitted the review in-app verifying them as current user. **Validated Reviewer:** Validated through a business email account **Incentivized:** This reviewer was offered a nominal gift card as thank you for completing this review. **Source: G2 invite:** Invitation from G2. This reviewer was offered a nominal gift card as thank you for completing this review. **Reviewed Date:** December 23, 2025 **What do you like best about Windows Server?** Windows Server has consistently been one of the most stable platforms over the years. Its ease of implementation and robust infrastructure make it well-suited to developing and supporting business strategies. It is also highly interoperable with major vendors worldwide. We have found its support to be reliable, and it enjoys a strong reputation among tech advisors. **What do you dislike about Windows Server?** Each year, numerous vulnerabilities are identified in Windows Server, making it essential to implement a Patch Management Control and Platform. This ensures that your systems remain fully aligned with leading compliance standards and maintain a strong IT security posture. **What problems is Windows Server solving and how is that benefiting you?** One of the most notable aspects is its integration with other platforms such as IBM and Linux, showcasing interoperability at its best. Additionally, it is easy to understand how it operates. ### 41. Windows: A Widely Supported Standard OS **Rating:** 4.5/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Laurence S. | Directeur des opérations TI, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Current User:** The reviewer uploaded a screenshot or submitted the review in-app verifying them as current user. **Validated Reviewer:** Validated through LinkedIn **Incentivized:** This reviewer was offered a nominal gift card as thank you for completing this review. **Source: G2 invite:** Invitation from G2. This reviewer was offered a nominal gift card as thank you for completing this review. **Reviewed Date:** April 28, 2026 **What do you like best about Windows Server?** Windows is a standard operating system and it's easy to find support and tech to work on it and support it. **What do you dislike about Windows Server?** Windows is a big target for cyber attack, we need to secure it properly in order to keep it up and running. **What problems is Windows Server solving and how is that benefiting you?** File sharing, Active Directory (user management), it's also cheap and well support so alligns with our RPO and RTO. ### 42. Rock-Solid for Core Infrastructure **Rating:** 5.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** dave p. | 2nd line infrastructure engineer, Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.) **Validated Reviewer:** Validated through a business email account **Incentivized:** This reviewer was offered a nominal gift card as thank you for completing this review. **Source: G2 invite:** Invitation from G2. This reviewer was offered a nominal gift card as thank you for completing this review. **Reviewed Date:** January 29, 2026 **What do you like best about Windows Server?** I really like how Active Directory and Group Policy in Windows Server allow a lot of control over all services. It integrates well with DNS and DHCP, which is great for managing my infrastructure. Hosting and managing services from Windows Server is quite efficient, and the ability to add restrictions through Group Policy enhances security. I find the installation and setup easy enough, which is a big plus. **What do you dislike about Windows Server?** I think Windows Server needs better troubleshooting for user accounts. I also feel that the monitoring and alerting for services that have stopped could be improved, and I would like to see better event viewer logs. Setting up NIC teaming can be a challenge if you haven't done it before. **What problems is Windows Server solving and how is that benefiting you?** Windows Server solves core infrastructure challenges for me. It's a reliable OS for managing users and services, and integrates well with DNS and DHCP. ### 43. Intuitive Interface, Centralized Management **Rating:** 4.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** enrico d. | Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.) **Validated Reviewer:** Validated through a business email account **Incentivized:** This reviewer was offered a nominal gift card as thank you for completing this review. **Source: G2 invite:** Invitation from G2. This reviewer was offered a nominal gift card as thank you for completing this review. **AI Translated:** This review has been translated from Italian using AI. **Reviewed Date:** April 14, 2026 At G2, we prefer fresh reviews and we like to follow up with reviewers. They may not have updated their review text, but have updated their review. **What do you like best about Windows Server?** I like the user interface of Windows Server and the ability to have monthly updates. I also greatly appreciate the management of group policies, which allows me to have a single point of access and definition of policies to be distributed in the domain for both users and computers. Furthermore, I find it very simple and intuitive to start with the initial installation. **What do you dislike about Windows Server?** the management of the backup **What problems is Windows Server solving and how is that benefiting you?** I use Windows Server for document sharing and centralizing account management. I have a single point of access and policy definition to distribute in the domain for both users and computers. ### 44. Extremely Reliable and Easy to Manage with a Great Ecosystem **Rating:** 5.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Ben S. | Senior Systems Engineer / Infrastructure Architect, Information Technology and Services, Enterprise (> 1000 emp.) **Current User:** The reviewer uploaded a screenshot or submitted the review in-app verifying them as current user. **Validated Reviewer:** Validated through a business email account **Incentivized:** This reviewer was offered a nominal gift card as thank you for completing this review. **Source: G2 invite:** Invitation from G2. This reviewer was offered a nominal gift card as thank you for completing this review. **Reviewed Date:** April 07, 2026 At G2, we prefer fresh reviews and we like to follow up with reviewers. They may not have updated their review text, but have updated their review. **What do you like best about Windows Server?** Windows Server is extremly reliable, easy to manage, excellent user interface, has an extremly large ecosystem for products and support, and very low mainenance. **What do you dislike about Windows Server?** The only downsides of WIndows Server that makes work difficult is licensing and patches. **What problems is Windows Server solving and how is that benefiting you?** By replacing all Unix and Linux and open source, we have cut our costs, increased uptime, provided easier application integrations, and vastly increased customer satification. ### 45. Essential for Enterprise Management **Rating:** 4.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Shiv C. **Validated Reviewer:** This review contains authentic analysis and has been reviewed by our team **Source: Organic:** Organic review. This review was written entirely without invitation or incentive from G2, a seller, or an affiliate. **Reviewed Date:** February 03, 2026 **What do you like best about Windows Server?** I like the seamless integration with the Microsoft ecosystem. The combination of Active Directory for user management and Group Policy for security makes it incredibly easy to control thousands of computers from a single console. I appreciate the Desktop Experience (GUI) as it lowers the learning curve compared to Linux-based servers. I also use Windows Server with PowerShell to script and automate repetitive tasks, and I've integrated it with Microsoft Azure for hybrid cloud backups and SQL Server to host our organization's databases. **What do you dislike about Windows Server?** The biggest downsides are cost and updates. The licensing fees (CALs) are expensive compared to free Linux alternatives, and mandatory updates often required server restarts which can disrupt our uptime. **What problems is Windows Server solving and how is that benefiting you?** I use Windows Server for Active Directory and Hyper-V to manage identities and host virtual machines, solving unexpected downtime issues with Failover Clustering. ### 46. Seamless Deployment with Easy Learning Curve **Rating:** 4.5/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Tayyab N. | Lead Machine Learning Engineer, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Validated Reviewer:** Validated through Google using a business email account **Incentivized:** This reviewer was offered a nominal gift card as thank you for completing this review. **Source: G2 invite:** Invitation from G2. This reviewer was offered a nominal gift card as thank you for completing this review. **G2 Icon:** Our network of Icons are G2 members who are recognized for their outstanding contributions and commitment to helping others through their expertise. **Reviewed Date:** April 02, 2026 **What do you like best about Windows Server?** I like the ease of use of Windows Server and the fast learning curve it provides for new developers on the team. I appreciate that it makes deployments easy with a GUI-based interface for managing server settings. The initial setup is quite easy. IIS is the most commonly used feature, and I also value using MS-SQL Server on this platform. **What do you dislike about Windows Server?** Sometimes the support for certain configurations becomes hectic compared to using a Ubuntu server, as not many good communities for support for Windows Server. **What problems is Windows Server solving and how is that benefiting you?** Windows Server makes deployments easy with a GUI-based interface for managing server settings and has a fast learning curve for newcomer developers. ### 47. Reliable Yet Complex Infrastructure Manager **Rating:** 4.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Atul K. | IT Support / Systems Administrator **Validated Reviewer:** Validated through LinkedIn **Source: Organic:** Organic review. This review was written entirely without invitation or incentive from G2, a seller, or an affiliate. **Reviewed Date:** February 04, 2026 **What do you like best about Windows Server?** I like Windows Server's reliability and stability, which help keep our system and applications running smoothly with minimal downtime. Its tight integration with Active Directory and other Microsoft tools is great for centralized user management, easy policy control, and secure access throughout the organization. Additionally, these features reduce administrative effort, boost security, and make daily IT operations more efficient and dependable. **What do you dislike about Windows Server?** The setup and configuration can be complex and time consuming, especially for new users. Licensing is also expensive and could be more flexible. Simplifying the setup process and improving pricing options would make it better. **What problems is Windows Server solving and how is that benefiting you?** I use Windows Server to manage IT infrastructure, centralizing user management and security. It solves user and system reliability issues, reducing downtime with stable performance, and enhancing data security with access controls and backup options. ### 48. Stable, Beginner-Friendly Performance with Seamless Security Updates **Rating:** 5.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** amit A. | AM -IT Infra., Banking, Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.) **Current User:** The reviewer uploaded a screenshot or submitted the review in-app verifying them as current user. **Validated Reviewer:** Validated through a business email account **Incentivized:** This reviewer was offered a nominal incentive as thanks for completing this review. **Source: Organic Review from User Profile:** Invitation from G2. This reviewer was offered a nominal incentive as thanks for completing this review. **Reviewed Date:** March 19, 2026 **What do you like best about Windows Server?** Windows Server offers ease of use for beginners, valued for stability and performance. Allows critical security updates to be deployed with minimal disruption. Hyper V live migration is most valuable feature for critical applications. **What do you dislike about Windows Server?** Windows Server requires easier upgrade processes & licensing cost for Windows Server is expensive, need improvement **What problems is Windows Server solving and how is that benefiting you?** Windows server flexible, adaptable, and capable of supporting a wide range of applications and services. Its user-friendly interface & simplifies operations. ### 49. Reliable Enterprise Integration with Higher Licensing and Update Effort **Rating:** 3.5/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Chetana M. | IT support Engineer, Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.) **Validated Reviewer:** Validated through LinkedIn **Source: Organic:** Organic review. This review was written entirely without invitation or incentive from G2, a seller, or an affiliate. **Reviewed Date:** January 20, 2026 **What do you like best about Windows Server?** What I like most about Windows Server is its reliability and its seamless integration with the Microsoft ecosystem especially Active Directory, security management, and centralized administration. This combination makes it easier to manage users, servers, and applications efficiently, and it scales well for enterprise environments. **What do you dislike about Windows Server?** What I dislike about Windows Server is the high licensing cost, its relatively resource-heavy performance compared to Linux, and the need for frequent updates and reboots. All of this can add to the overall maintenance effort and, if updates aren’t carefully planned, may also lead to downtime. **What problems is Windows Server solving and how is that benefiting you?** Windows Server addresses the need for centralized user, identity, and infrastructure management by offering capabilities such as Active Directory, file sharing, security policies, and application hosting. These features make administration more straightforward, strengthen security and reliability, and save time when managing enterprise IT environments. ### 50. Centralized Management with Easy Setup **Rating:** 4.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** dennis s. | IT Supervisor, Enterprise (> 1000 emp.) **Validated Reviewer:** Validated through a business email account **Incentivized:** This reviewer was offered a nominal gift card as thank you for completing this review. **Source: G2 invite:** Invitation from G2. This reviewer was offered a nominal gift card as thank you for completing this review. **Reviewed Date:** April 30, 2026 **What do you like best about Windows Server?** I like Windows Server for its good backward compatibility capabilities as it allows me to run older legacy applications on almost any version. I also find it very easy to set up. **What do you dislike about Windows Server?** I don't like that it requires a lot of resources to run the operating system, and it constantly needs to be refreshed or restarted once in a while to keep it running efficiently. **What problems is Windows Server solving and how is that benefiting you?** It hosts internal applications, enhances productivity, and centralizes management by securely and scalably controlling user access, identities, shared storage, and network applications. ## Windows Server Discussions - [How do you balance Windows Server reliability and AD management with licensing and downtime?](https://www.g2.com/discussions/how-do-you-balance-windows-server-reliability-and-ad-management-with-licensing-and-downtime) - 1 upvote - [View Windows Server pricing details and edition comparison](https://www.g2.com/products/tidal-media-inc-windows-server/reviews?section=pricing&secure%5Bexpires_at%5D=2026-10-01+21%3A56%3A49+-0500&secure%5Bsession_id%5D=812a19fc-fbd2-48fa-8ff5-4621f7dbc2ad&secure%5Btoken%5D=9433fc55f5fd03ecb5f3a661da1aab3e4d23bdd914e4eca6f637c202726bf98a&format=llm_user) ## Windows Server Features **Memory Management - Operating System** - RAM management - App Management - File Management **Device Management - Operating System** - I/O management **Backup and Recovery - Operating System** - Data backup **Error Detection - Operating System** - System operations monitoring **Additional Functionality** - Generative AI - Data Security - User Interface - Resource Allocation - System Updates - For Developers - AI Copilot - Desktop Interface ## Top Windows Server Alternatives - [Red Hat Enterprise Linux](https://www.g2.com/products/red-hat-enterprise-linux/reviews) - 4.6/5.0 (932 reviews) - [Ubuntu](https://www.g2.com/products/ubuntu/reviews) - 4.5/5.0 (2,351 reviews) - [Apple iOS](https://www.g2.com/products/apple-ios/reviews) - 4.6/5.0 (1,554 reviews)