Windows Server 2025: A First Look at New Features

Ready for a Windows Server shake-up? Microsoft has released Windows Server 2025 and is planning a major overhaul of some of its core functionality. This upcoming release is packed with exciting new features that aim to boost security, streamline hybrid cloud integration, and make your server management a whole lot easier. Let's dive into what you can expect.

New Active Directory Features

It’s been a while since we’ve seen a major update to Active Directory. The last time Microsoft introduced a new functional level was back in Windows Server 2016. Windows Server 2025 is set to change that, bringing with it a new functional level and a host of exciting features. The new functional level, which maps to DomainLevel 10 and ForestLevel 10 for unattended installs, is essential for unlocking the new features in Windows Server 2025. One of the key benefits of this new level is the support for a 32K database page size.

Since its inception in Windows 2000, Active Directory has used an 8K database page size. This limitation has led to certain constraints, such as the maximum size of a single AD object. With the introduction of the 32K database page size, Microsoft is addressing these limitations and opening up new possibilities.

Key Benefits of a 32K Database Page Size

Increased Attribute Value Capacity
Multi-valued attributes can now hold up to ~3,200 values, a significant increase from the previous limit.

Improved Performance
The larger page size can lead to improved performance, especially in environments with large datasets.

Flexibility
New DCs can be installed with a 32K page database, while existing DCs can continue to use their current database format.

Boosted Performance and Efficiency

This is likely one of the most exciting software updates for businesses that run GPU-intensive workloads. So if your business has AI and machine learning models, processes large datasets, or performs computationally intensive simulations, pay attention.

One of the standout features of Windows Server 2025 is GPU Partitioning. It allows for more flexible and efficient use of GPUs, with technology like more efficient GPU resource allocation, GPU acceleration, and accelerated rendering times. In other words, you can get more out of your hardware.

Another big improvement is the enhanced performance of SQL Server. If you're running SQL Server on Windows Server, you'll notice a significant speedup thanks to better flash storage support.

Finally, Live Hotpatching is a lifesaver. It lets you apply security updates without rebooting your server, so you can keep your business running smoothly.

SMB Enhancements For Improved Authentication

SMB, the backbone of file sharing in Windows, continues to evolve in Windows Server 2025. This latest version introduces several significant improvements that enhance security, performance, and flexibility. These include:

Default SMB Signing
SMB signing is now enabled by default to prevent man-in-the-middle attacks.

Customizable SMB Dialects
Administrators can now control which SMB dialects are allowed, providing more granular control over compatibility.

SMB Port Customization
The ability to change the port number used for SMB offers greater flexibility and security.

Improved Firewall Rules
Legacy firewall rules that were no longer relevant to SMB have been removed, simplifying configuration.

Brute Force Protection
A two-second delay is introduced for incorrect password attempts, making it harder for automated brute force attacks to succeed.

NTLM Blocking
NTLM is an older authentication protocol that's less secure than newer ones. Microsoft made it easier to block NTLM connections, helping to protect your network from attacks.

Improved DC Discovery and NUMA Awareness

The DC discovery algorithm has been enhanced to improve mapping between short NetBIOS-style domain names and DNS-style domain names. This provides better reliability and performance for DC discovery.

Moreover, Windows Server 2025 is now NUMA-aware, which can significantly improve performance in large environments with multiple NUMA nodes. This is particularly beneficial for organizations with thousands of DCs and large databases.

Hybrid and Cloud Integration; The Best of Both Worlds

Windows Server 2025 simplifies the management of both on-premises and cloud-based servers. Azure Arc provides a centralized platform for controlling your servers, regardless of their location. For example, if you have a hybrid cloud setup with servers both on-premises and in Azure, Azure Arc allows you to manage them all from a single console.

And for efficient file sharing across different environments, SMB over QUIC is the solution. It offers fast and secure file transfers over the internet, eliminating the need for VPN workarounds.

Will These Features Change?

Maybe. Windows Server 2025 is currently in public preview, which means (according to Microsoft), that it "may be substantially modified before it's released." That said, Microsoft is highly unlikely to remove any of the features that are currently in the public preview. After all, the whole point of a public preview is to get feedback from users and make improvements before the final release. So, while it's possible that some features could be changed or removed, it's highly unlikely that any of the core features that are currently being previewed will be dropped.

Final Thoughts

Windows Server 2025 addresses many of the challenges faced by modern businesses. Its enhanced security features help protect against cyber threats, while its performance improvements and hybrid cloud integration capabilities enable businesses to optimize their operations and reduce costs. And with features like GPU Partitioning, Active Directory advancements, and SMB enhancements, Windows Server 2025 is a valuable solution for businesses looking to stay competitive.