Protect administrator credentials
Help guard administrator credentials from Pass-the-Hash attacks by using Credential Guard and Remote Credential Guard. Limit administrator privileges with Just-In-Time Administration and Just Enough Administration.
Windows Server 2016
Windows Server 2016
Bringing the innovation behind the world’s largest cloud datacentre to yours. Whether you're a small to mid-size organisation, a large enterprise, or a cloud service provider, the demand on what IT must deliver is a rapidly changing landscape. Users want to access their applications in a variety of ways and be confident that they can complete their daily tasks in a secure and efficient manner. They simply aren't concerned about how IT infrastructures are made up and the challenges that teams supporting these environments experience on a day-to-day basis.
What’s new with Windows Server 2016
Security built-in at the start
Reduce risk with multiple layers of security for on-premises and cloud protection. Rely on new layers of protection built into the operating system to further safeguard against security breaches. Help block malicious attacks and enhance the security of your virtual machines, applications, and data.
Ready for the cloud
Easily make the move to the cloud with Hyper-V. Migrate more easily to the cloud with the hypervisor that runs Azure, the world’s largest datacentre. Rely on a Windows Server 2016 platform that’s not only recognised by Gartner as a leader in x86 server virtualisation, but has analysts saying it will change the competitive dynamic for virtualisation.
Low storage costs
Build highly available, scalable software-defined storage solutions at a fraction of the cost. Reduce storage costs and scale your datacentre with the software-defined storage capabilities of Windows Server 2016.
Application innovation
Realise the benefits of using containers for applications—with little or no code changes. Transform the way you develop, deploy, and run your applications with a modern DevOps environment. Bring agility, scale, and security benefits to existing applications, while building next-generation applications optimised for the cloud.
Software defined security
Protect your applications
Enhance the protection of your applications on-premises or running in the cloud. Help ensure only trusted software runs on the server with Device Guard. Help protect against memory corruption attacks with Control Flow Guard. Help protect against known malware with Windows Defender optimised for server roles.
Detect security threats quickly
Help detect suspicious behaviour in the kernel or other sensitive processes with advanced auditing capabilities. Plus, use Microsoft Operations Management Suite Insights & Analytics tools to set up alerts and reporting.
Increase application isolation
Help protect container-based applications with Hyper-V containers. Use the distributed firewall, a software-defined networking capability, to control internal and external network traffic to virtual machines.
Software defined storage
Scale your datacentre with affordable, high-performance software defined storage.
Reduce storage cost
Build highly available, scalable, software-defined storage solutions at a fraction of the cost of a storage area network (SAN) or network-attached storage (NAS). Storage Spaces Direct lets you use industry-standard servers with local storage.
Create affordable business continuity
Prepare for the worst using synchronous storage replication for disaster recovery across datacentres.
Ensure storage resources for critical apps
Storage Quality of Service (QoS) in Windows Server 2016 provides a way to centrally monitor and manage storage performance for virtual machines using Hyper-V and the Scale-Out File Server roles.
Software defined networking
Mobilise your workloads with software-defined networking. Improve your agility, strengthen your security stance, and present flexible solutions that can change as requirements evolve. It’s the network innovation your IT team needs to deliver the right infrastructure at the right time.
Rapid network scale
Move your network control layer from hardware to software. Automatically deploy, balance and shift complex workloads in a matter of seconds using a scalable network controller.
Enhance network security
Dynamically segment your network based on workloads by using a distributed firewall and network security groups to apply rich policies within, and across, segments. Plus, layer enforcement by routing traffic to virtualised firewall appliances for even greater security.
Gain workload mobility
Take control of your hybrid workloads, including running them in containers, and move them across servers, racks, and clouds using standards-based overlay networks and multi-tenanted hybrid gateways.
Why choose Windows Server 2016?
Safeguard your business
Microsoft Technologies have security built-in to help safeguard data across devices and apps onsite or in the cloud, and help you recover from business disruptions.
- Just In Time and Just Enough Administration
- Windows Defender for malware protection
- Trusted/Secure boot
- Shielded Virtual Machines
- Host Guardian Services
Improve IT Efficiency and Productivity
To Help deliver increased efficiency and maximise your IT investment, Microsoft’s technology gives you the business tools of a much larger company, at the right price.
- Enhanced Containers
- Stretch clusters
- Rolling cluster OS upgrades
- Storage Spaces Direct
- Storage Quality of Service
Be Ready for the Cloud
Whether you’re moving to the cloud now or in the future, get the best of both worlds. Microsoft technologies are designed for hybrid cloud IT environments.
- Encrypted Virtual Machines and Containers
- Azure Backup, Storage, Site Recovery
- Azure Active Directory
- Azure Remote Server Management Tools
- Operations Manager Suite
Windows Server 2016 Editions Summary
Enterprise class technology to drive any sized business
| Essentials Edition | Standard Edition | Datacentre Edition | Storage Server Edition |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small companies with basic IT needs purchasing a first server; likely small or no dedicated IT department | SME’s that need: advanced features, support for distributed office locations, and require a way to virtualise their environment | Companies of all sizes that have demanding IT workloads, require advanced storage, virtualisation and application deployment | For OEM NAS appliances |
| 25 users / 50 devices | Unlimited based on CALs | Unlimited based on CALs | Workgroup / Standard |
| 1 physical or virtual1 | 2 VMs | Unlimited VMs | Processors 1 / 2 |
| Must be root of domain | 2 Hyper-V containers2 | Unlimited Hyper-V containers | RAM 32GB/12TB |
| Cell | Unlimited Windows Server containers | Storage features including: Storage Replica & Storage Spaces Direct | SME Links 250 / Unlimited |
| New Networking Stack | Max Users 50 / Unlimited | ||
| Shielded VMs and Host Guardian Service | Disk number 6 / Unlimited |
Things you need to know
- One physical or one virtual + Hyper-V
- Windows Server 2016 Standard Edition entitles up to 2 VMs or 2 Hyper-V containers
