I'm new to managing IT in a small business, and I've been tasked with putting together a migration plan for our two HP servers that currently run outdated Windows Server 2016. The IT head believes that we can continue using Windows 10 Pro for our operational VMs since the existing setup seems stable. However, I think we need to transition to Windows Server Datacenter 2025 to avoid issues with update cycles, security patches, and centralized management. I'm looking for reasons why sticking with Windows 10 Pro could be risky and what important aspects we're possibly overlooking that should convince my superior to consider using Windows Server instead.
5 Answers
The applications running on your operational VMs really dictate your needs. You should have at least two domain controllers for redundancy. Windows Server is specifically designed to handle higher workloads across networks smoothly. The move to Windows 10/11 seems more like a cost-saving measure, but it might lead to problems in the long run.
One major issue with using Windows 10 for multiple users is that it doesn't support concurrent RDP sessions. If you’re sharing one user account, that can lead to hiccups when someone else tries to log in. Plus, troubleshooting becomes a nightmare because you won’t be able to trace actions back to specific users.
It’s crucial to conduct a risk assessment here. You need clarity on who's responsible for signing off on those risks, particularly since you’re running on outdated software that doesn’t receive security updates. Just think about the potential costs to your business if you were to suffer a breach. Does your company have cyber insurance? Have they consulted with their provider on this situation? Also, consider customer expectations and any regulatory requirements you might be overlooking.
You really have to be cautious about licensing. Windows clients aren't supposed to function as service providers primarily. Using Windows 10 in this way might lead to issues down the line, especially regarding performance and security. Windows Server is built for this kind of workload, offering better management and resource allocation.
Make sure to read the licensing terms for non-server versions of Windows very carefully. If the 'operational' VMs are providing services to clients, you could be running into license violations.
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