The latest version of Microsoft’s server operating system, Windows Server 2025, officially launched in November last year.
And while every new release comes with enhancements, this one packs a punch, especially for CIOs managing complex hybrid environments.
Windows Server 2025
Let’s break down three standout features that make this a compelling upgrade.
Hotpatching arrives for everyone
Hotpatching isn’t exactly new. Users of Windows Server Datacenter: Azure Edition have had access to it for a while.
But now, it’s rolling out to more environments, including Standard and Datacenter editions, whether you’re running them on-prem or across multi-cloud setups.
To use hotpatching, you’ll need the Azure Arc agent.
So what does this do?
In short, it lets you apply security patches without rebooting your servers. No downtime or interruptions.
Vulnerabilities get patched quicker, and systems stay available. This is a big win if your business relies on 24/7 uptime.
Previously, servers needed to be restarted every month to install Microsoft’s security updates. With hotpatching, that drops to just four times a year.
Fewer restarts = less risk.
READ: Cyberattacks are getting smarter… Is your PC ready?
Better GPU usage, better ROI
Generative AI has moved beyond the hype phase. It is now hitting production. And with it, companies are investing in servers equipped with GPU accelerators.
But GPUs are expensive. So, how do you maximise their value?
Windows Server 2025 introduces GPU partitioning.
This lets you carve up a single physical GPU and allocate those segments across multiple virtual machines (VMs).
Instead of dedicating an entire GPU to one VM, you can now run more workloads on the same hardware.
Think about virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI), or any scenario where you need graphical performance for multiple users.
Partitioning spreads the GPU power more efficiently while keeping performance high. It also supports live migration and failover clustering, so mission-critical apps stay up even if something goes sideways.
Active Directory gets a long-awaited revamp
Windows Server 2025 gives Active Directory (AD) one of its biggest updates in years. For starters, the database architecture now uses 32k pages (up from 8k).
That change alone boosts scalability, allowing each AD object to store more attributes; a huge advantage for large organisations managing growing user and device inventories.
There’s also support for NUMA (Non-Uniform Memory Access).
In plain terms? Active Directory can now make use of all CPU groups in a system, not just the default one, improving performance across multi-core environments.
Security gets a boost, too, with a new type of service account called DMSA (Delegated Managed Service Account).
These accounts support randomised credentials stored securely in AD (not on local systems), with built-in password management. It’s a meaningful step forward for access security.
Windows Server 2025, now what?
There’s more to unpack in Windows Server 2025, and Microsoft has a full breakdown available on its site.
If you’re already using compatible hardware, you can upgrade directly. If not, Dell PowerEdge servers are built to run Windows Server 2025 out of the box.
Dell works closely with Microsoft to bring these innovations to our customers. Expect more updates soon as we help you build the modern data centre.
