Windows Server 2022 now generally available—delivers innovation in security, hybrid, and containers

Today, we are announcing the general availability of Windows Server 2022. It’s a big step forward for the operating system that is trusted by major corporations and small businesses alike to run their business and mission-critical workloads. 

With Windows Server 2022, customers can continue to securely run their workloads, enable new hybrid cloud scenarios, and modernize their applications to meet evolving business requirements. Let’s dive into the new technical capabilities of Windows Server 2022 and how customers can take advantage of these to modernize their server environment.

Why upgrade to Windows Server 2022

Advanced multi-layered security

Security has always been a cornerstone of Windows Server. With security top of mind for our customers, we are introducing numerous security enhancements in Windows Server 2022. In this release, customers can take advantage of multi-layer security with Secured-core server and secured connectivity. Secured-core server means our hardware partners have provided hardware, firmware, and drivers to help customers harden the security of their critical systems. It allows IT and SecOps teams to apply comprehensive security broadly in their environment with Secured-core server’s advanced protection and preventive defense across hardware, firmware, and virtualization layers.

Secured connectivity in Windows Server 2022 adds another layer to security during transport. The new release adds faster and more secure encrypted hypertext transfer protocol secure (HTTPS) and industry-standard AES-256 encryption with support for server message block (SMB) protocol.

Hybrid capabilities with Azure

Customers are choosing a hybrid and multicloud approach to digitally transform their businesses. They can now take advantage of cloud services with on-premises Windows Server 2022 by connecting with Azure Arc.

Additionally, in Windows Server 2022 customers can take advantage of the File Server enhancements such as SMB Compression. SMB Compression improves application file transfer by compressing data while in transit over a network. Finally, Windows Admin Center, a tool loved by admins, brings modern server management experience such as with a new event viewer and gateway proxy support for Azure connected scenarios.

Flexible application platform

Customers who upgrade to Windows Server 2022 can take advantage of scalability improvements such as support for 48TB of memory and 2,048 logical cores running on 64 physical sockets for those demanding Tier1 applications. In this release, customers can also take advantage of advancements to Windows containers. For example, Windows Server 2022 improves application compatibility of Windows containers, includes HostProcess containers for node configuration, supports IPv6 and dual-stack, and enables consistent network policy implementation with Calico. Furthermore, we are continuing to work with the Kubernetes community to enable Windows Server 2022 container support and bring the new capabilities to Azure Kubernetes Service (AKS) and AKS on Azure Stack HCI.

For deeper details on Windows Server 2022 preview features, please refer to the Windows Server preview blog and our tech documentation.

Get more from Windows Server 

In the last year, we have not only introduced Windows Server 2022 but also introduced Azure services and service enhancements for Windows Server. Let’s look at the two common scenarios and capabilities that customers can take advantage of.

On Azure: Azure Automanage (in preview) enables IT pros to not only automate cloud best practices but also put into practice our enterprise expertise with the Microsoft cloud adoption framework. With Azure Automanage for Windows Server, customers can migrate to Azure easily without any changes to network IP, securely do file transfer to Azure using SMB over QUIC, and implement hotpatch for new Windows Server Azure Virtual Machines.

To modernize existing applications, customers have many options in Azure depending on their application architectural needs. For example, Azure Kubernetes Service (AKS) with native .NET support enables customers to modernize applications with Kubernetes, the container orchestrator of choice for many.

Lastly, when customers move their workloads to Azure, they can take advantage of benefits such as Azure Hybrid Benefit and free Extended Security Updates for Windows Server 2008 and 2012—only on Azure.

Hybrid and on-premises: Many customers need to run applications and services on-premises. Through Azure Arc and Azure Stack HCI, customers can modernize the management and virtualization layers, respectively. Similarly, customers who want to modernize their Windows Server applications on-premises can use AKS on Azure Stack HCI.

While we will continue to introduce new capabilities in Window Server Long Term Servicing Channel (LTSC), we will also enable new scenarios in Azure that make it simple for customers to modernize their Windows Server IT environment.

Starting your journey with Windows Server 2022

Windows Server 2022 includes a broad set of capabilities—here are top ways to get started:

• Windows Server Evaluation Center offers options to try Windows Server in Azure or to download.
• Windows Server on Azure Marketplace for running Virtual Machines on Azure.
• Volume Licensing Service Center, where Volume License customers can download Windows Server 2022.
• Refer to the pricing page for Windows Server 2022 editions and pricing details.

Windows Server Summit is here

We’ll dive into Windows Server 2022 and more during the Windows Server Summit on September 16, 2021. Join us at this complimentary digital event.