Microsoft Server 2025; Important information about Windows Server 2025
Good news for all Microsoft Windows Server users: Windows Server 2025 is on its way! At the moment, Microsoft has already made the preview, build 26040 available to IT administrators. They will be the first to have the opportunity to test the improvements and new features.
Windows Server 2025 focuses more on today’s digital world and is designed to support the adaptive and hybrid cloud. In addition, it provides IT administrators with several new features to help modernize server infrastructures. Microsoft has broadly hinted at what we can expect from Windows Server 2025, but not too much information is available yet. In this article, we’ll tell you everything we know so far about Windows Server 2025 – from release date to new features, and from end-of-life to updating to Windows Server 2025.
Microsoft Windows Server 2025: when is the release date?
We believe that Windows Server 2025 can be expected this fall, but this is just speculation as Microsoft has not yet announced an official release date for Windows Server 2025. Where does this speculation come from? Microsoft launched Windows Server 2022 in September of 2021. That is why we expect Windows Server 2025 to be launched this fall, but of course we don’t know for sure. Time will tell.
Windows Server 2025: What do we already know?
As with any new release from Microsoft, there’s already a lot of speculation going on about what exactly is new and what we can expect from Windows Server 2025. Although not a lot of information is known yet, Microsoft has shared a number of features on their forum that they are currently working on. Here’s everything you need to know about these features:
Microsoft Hot patching for everyone
With the release of Windows Server 2025, Microsoft is making Hot patching available to everyone. But what is Hot patching and does everyone really need it? Microsoft Hot patching is, to put it simply, a way to install security updates on Windows Server Datacenters for the operating system. Windows Server Hot patching allows IT administrators to install critical security updates without the need to restart the server. So, this is definitely a very useful feature.
Artificial intelligence (AI) management
Artificial intelligence, or AI for short, is influencing more and more aspects of the day-to-day operations of organizations. For example, more and more companies are using Chat GPT and chatbots have become an integral part of web shops. So, it’s not surprising that Microsoft has also started looking at how they can use AI to help organizations. Previously, Microsoft came up with the AI tool Microsoft Copilot, and now with an AI-based management function for Windows Server 2025. This new feature helps IT administrators in server infrastructures. By using AI, the process of managing and securing the server infrastructure can be simplified.
What’s new in Microsoft Active Directory (AD)
A key component in many companies’ IT infrastructure is Microsoft Active Directory (AD). This database allows you to easily manage and/or organize objects. For example, workstations, printers, shared resources, user accounts or servers. When an Active Directory is established, three key elements appear: the functional level of the Active Directory domain, the functional level of the Active Directory Forest, and the schema version of your Active Directory.
Microsoft plans to release a revamped version of Microsoft Active Directory in Windows Server 2025, and this will bring new functionalities that will promote the latest version of domain Active Directory and Forest Active Directory.
Configuration of SMB
One of the most important things if you are using a server, is SMB. SMB is short for Server Message Block, and it provides users with a controlled and secure method of reading, accessing, creating, editing, and moving files on remote servers. In addition, SMB allows you to connect to other sources, such as printers, in a secure way. SMB has been around for a few years now, but Microsoft is coming up with something new in Windows Server 2025: users can now configure SMB over Quick UDP Internet Connections (QUIC). This means you can switch through a different port instead of the standard 443 port. This makes SMB over QUIC a good alternative to TCP network transport. In addition, SMB over QUIC provides a reliable and secure connection to Edge file servers over unreliable networks.
Improved safety
You may have seen this one coming. Every time Microsoft releases a new version of a product, it comes up with new security improvements. At this point, not much is known about the overall security improvements that Microsoft will implement in Windows Server 2025. What is already known are the security improvements that will be implemented in the Microsoft Active Directory. For example, the preferred method has now become the RC4 algorithm, and LDAP communication now supports TLS 1.3 for LDP over TLS.
Also, in Windows Server 2025, Microsoft now uses a special encryption method for changing passwords: the AES encryption method. This method blocks older SAM RPCs.
Together, we’ll make sure your organization is ready for the future with Windows Server 2025!
Update to Windows Server 2025
Of course, if you want to opt for Windows Server 2025 in your organization, you can do so in two ways: you can purchase it with a new license, or you can update if you are already using an earlier version of Windows Server. For example, let’s say you’re currently using Windows Server 2022 in your organization, you can easily update to Windows Server 2025 via the Windows Update menu. All you have to do is click on the update button, then automatically update the system to Windows Server 2025. But of course, this is not free!
Microsoft plans to offer Windows Server 2025 in two ways. First of all, as with previous versions, Windows Server 2025 will be a one-time purchase. In addition, Microsoft will also offer the option to pay via a subscription model. This is also known as the ‘pay-as-you-go’ principle. This option will be enabled via Azure Arc, and payments will be made via Azure Commerce. Paying via this subscription model is especially a good alternative for organizations that do seasonal work, for example. This way, these organizations only have to pay for the months in which they actually use the Windows Server. Don’t have a company that does seasonal work? Then it’s probably more cost-effective in the long run to purchase Windows Server 2025 as a one-time purchase. The benefits you will experience in your business operations of Windows Server 2025 will make it worth the investment.
When is the end of life?
If you are going to purchase a new product, or a new version of a product, you naturally want to know how long the support period is for this product. Microsoft calls this the ‘end of life’ of a product. If we look back into the past, to the standard support periods of other Microsoft products, it is easy to estimate the end of life of Windows Server 2025.
For example, if we take a quick look at Windows Server 2022, it was released on August 18, 2021. Regular support for this version will expire on October 13, 2026. We can therefore assume that regular support for this new version of Windows Server will also last about five years. When regular support ends, there is also such a thing as extended support. This extended support usually lasts for five years after the regular support ends.
Purchasing Windows Server 2025 for your organization?
Are you considering purchasing Windows Server 2025? Then we understand that you may have a lot of questions. Especially since the information available about the latest version of Microsoft Windows Server can be complex.
At Q-Advise we have years of experience with Microsoft products and services, including Microsoft Windows Server. We have already been able to help several organizations with different versions and can therefore also help you well through this experience. We always act in your best interest, not in Microsoft’s interest. We are an independent organization.
Do you want to have the latest updates regarding Windows Server 2025, or do you want advice on whether it is wise to implement this new Windows Server version in your company? Please contact us. Then together we will look at your situation and whether Windows Server 2025 is a good idea for your organization.
Get in contact
Praesent lacus orci, gravida vitae rhoncus eu, pharetra eget libero. Nam rhoncus dignissim est, sit amet fringilla metus rutrum ut.