Windows Server 2022 Support & Management
Windows Server 2022 raised Windows security with Secured-core server, TLS 1.3 by default and stronger SMB encryption. We make sure you actually benefit from those features, keep the servers patched, and connect them to Azure Arc if you manage a hybrid estate.
Get Windows Server 2022 help
Reply < 4 hYour Windows Server 2022 servers, handled.
We manage 2022 Standard, Datacenter and Datacenter: Azure Edition, including hotpatching on Azure Edition.
Windows Server versions: why each came, and what changed.
Each release, the one it replaced, the one that followed, and the features that mattered for servers.
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Windows Server 2012 R2
2013Why it came: Refined 2012 with better Hyper-V, storage tiering and the modern Server Manager.
Followed by Windows Server 2016 ⟶
- Storage Spaces tiering
- Hyper-V Generation 2 VMs
- Work Folders
- PowerShell DSC
End of support October 2023 (paid ESU only)
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Windows Server 2016
2016Why it came: Microsoft’s answer to the cloud era: containers, software-defined storage and much stronger protection of admin credentials.
⟵ Replaced Windows Server 2012 R2 Followed by Windows Server 2019 ⟶
- Windows and Hyper-V containers, Docker support
- Storage Spaces Direct and Storage Replica
- Shielded VMs
- Credential Guard and Just Enough Administration
- Nano Server
Mainstream ended January 2022; extended support until January 2027
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Windows Server 2019
2018Why it came: Focused on hybrid cloud, security and hyper-converged infrastructure, with management through Windows Admin Center.
⟵ Replaced Windows Server 2016 Followed by Windows Server 2022 ⟶
- Windows Admin Center
- Storage Migration Service
- System Insights (predictive analytics)
- Microsoft Defender ATP integration
- Built-in OpenSSH and Linux containers
Mainstream ended January 2024; extended support until January 2029
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Windows Server 2022
2021This pageWhy it came: Raised the security baseline: Secured-core server, TLS 1.3 by default and stronger SMB encryption, plus Azure Arc for hybrid management.
⟵ Replaced Windows Server 2019 Followed by Windows Server 2025 ⟶
- Secured-core server
- TLS 1.3 on by default, DNS over HTTPS
- SMB AES-256 encryption and SMB over QUIC
- Azure Arc hybrid management
- Hotpatching (Azure Edition)
Mainstream until October 2026; extended support until October 2031
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Windows Server 2025
2024Why it came: The current release: hotpatching beyond Azure, a modernised Active Directory and faster storage.
⟵ Replaced Windows Server 2022
- Hotpatching via Azure Arc (fewer reboots)
- Active Directory improvements and new functional level
- SMB over QUIC in all editions
- Faster NVMe storage performance
- GPU partitioning in Hyper-V
Mainstream until November 2029; extended support until November 2034
Release years and support windows as published by the vendor; check their lifecycle page for exact dates. We track them for you on every server we manage.
What goes wrong on Windows Server 2022, and how we fix it.
How it works
Windows Server 2022 questions.
Security updates continue until October 2031 (extended support). Mainstream end mainly stops new features and non-security fixes, so there’s no rush to upgrade.
Hardware, firmware and OS protections working together (TPM 2.0, Secure Boot, virtualisation-based security) to defend against firmware and kernel attacks.
Yes, on Azure and on Azure Stack HCI where it’s available.
Usually 2025, for the longer support window, unless a vendor certifies only 2022.