Windows Server

Windows Server is the operating system that bridges on-premises environments with Azure services, enabling hybrid scenarios that maximize existing investments. Increase security and reduce business risk with multiple layers of protection built into the operating system. Evolve your datacenter infrastructure to achieve greater efficiency and scale with Hyper-converged Infrastructure. Enable developers and IT pros to create cloud native applications and modernize their traditional apps using containers and micro-services.

Choose from three primary editions of Windows Server, based on the size of your organization as well as virtualization and datacenter requirements:

• Datacenter edition is ideal for highly virtualized and software-defined datacenter environments. Datacenter edition is licensed under the Per Core/CAL* license model and requires a Windows Server CAL for access to the server.
• Standard edition is ideal for customers with low density or non-virtualized environments. Standard edition is licensed under the Per Core/CAL* license model and requires a Windows Server CAL for access to the server.
• Essentials edition is a cloud-connected first server, ideal for small businesses with up to 25 users and 50 devices. Essentials is a good option for customers currently using the Foundation edition, which has been discontinued. Essentials edition is licensed under the Specialty Servers license model and does not require Windows Server CALs to access the server.

*_{For more details about the Per Core/CAL license model, please see the licensing brief, Introduction to Microsoft Core licensing.}