Microsoft Windows Server 2025 is set to revolutionise the world of servers with a range of ground-breaking features and improvements. This upcoming release promises greater flexibility, improved performance and enhanced security. Here is a detailed overview of what to expect from the Windows...

Hotpatching feature: security without rebooting

One of the outstanding features of the Windows Server 2025 is the extension of hotpatching. Previously only available for Datacenter: Azure Edition, it will now be available for all editions. This feature allows security updates to be applied without rebooting the system, ensuring continuous uptime and enhanced security.

Subscription to hotpatching: is it worth the extra cost?

Although hotpatching offers great convenience, it comes at an additional cost. Companies will need an additional subscription, Azure Arc and Software Assurance to access the feature. However, the ability to apply updates without interruption is worth the extra cost for many organisations.

NVMe storage performance growth

The Windows Server 2025 significantly improves the performance of servers using non-volatile memory express (NVMe) storage. With a 70% increase in IOPS, this upgrade will result in faster data throughput and overall performance improvements, which are key for data-intensive applications.

NVMe over Fabrics support

In addition to NVMe performance improvements, the Windows Server 2025 will support NVMe over Fabrics technology. This feature improves data transfer speeds across storage networks, contributing to more efficient and faster data processing.

Storage protocol improvements

The new operating system introduces a number of storage protocol enhancements, including native deduplication to Resilient File System (ReFS) storage and support for Server Message Block (SMB) over QUIC in all releases. These enhancements improve storage efficiency and network file sharing performance.

Hyper-V updates

The Windows Server 2025 makes Generation 2 virtual machines (VMs) the default, replacing Generation 1 VMs, which are primarily for older, unsupported operating systems. This transition ensures that VMs are optimized for modern workloads and capabilities.

Dynamic processor compatibility and seamless VM migrations

Hyper-V's dynamic compatibility feature enables live migration of VMs between hosts with different CPUs using supported CPU functionalities. This enhancement simplifies workload balancing and disaster recovery processes.

GPU partitioning

The introduction of GPU partitioning (GPU-P) support in Windows Server 2025 enables GPU power sharing between multiple virtual machines. This feature supports live migrations and GPU pooling, optimizing resource utilization and improving the performance of graphics-intensive applications.

Support for Microsoft 365 applications

Microsoft 365 applications will be supported on Windows Server 2025 until the end of their five-year mainstream support period, extending the previously announced 2026 deadline. This extension will ensure that organisations can continue to use Microsoft 365 applications without interruption.

Security improvements

The rapid and flexible security update capabilities of hotpatching have the potential to improve the security posture of organisations. By allowing updates to be applied without waiting for off-peak times, this feature ensures that systems are always protected against the latest threats.

Rethinking upgrade strategies

With hotpatching, organisations need to rethink their upgrade strategies. The ability to apply updates without interruption means that updates can be applied more frequently and without interrupting operations, leading to a more proactive approach to security.