Microsoft Windows Server 2022 Essentials

Windows Server 2022 Essentials: server operating system for smaller organisations

Windows Server 2022 Essentials is the edition of Windows Server 2022 aimed at smaller organisations. It brings the security and networking features of version 2022 to a single server, for example for user accounts with Active Directory, file shares or a line-of-business application in the office.

Security and connections

Windows Server 2022 enables TLS 1.3 by default for HTTPS, provided applications and services support the protocol. The DNS client supports DNS over HTTPS and thus encrypts name queries. AES-256-GCM and AES-256-CCM are available for SMB encryption of file shares. With SMB compression, files can be compressed during transfer over the network, for example when copying large files to the server or back from it.

On certified hardware, Windows Server 2022 supports the features of a Secured-core server: virtualisation-based security, hypervisor-protected code integrity, which prevents unsigned kernel-mode drivers from loading, and Kernel Data Protection. Windows Admin Center displays the status of these features and can enable them where possible.

Management

Via Azure Arc, an on-premises server running Windows Server 2022 can be managed as a resource in Azure, for example when a service provider looks after several customer servers from one interface. Storage Migration Service takes over files and shares from older servers, now also from Linux servers with Samba and from NetApp CIFS servers. This makes it easier to move from an existing file server to the new system.

Buy Windows Server 2022 Essentials: licence and scope of delivery

You receive a product key to activate Windows Server 2022 Essentials on one server. The usage rights of the edition, in particular the limits for users, devices and processors, are governed by the Microsoft licence terms for Windows Server 2022 Essentials. The scope of delivery includes:

• the product key for Microsoft Windows Server 2022 Essentials
• the download link for the server software (all downloads are also available under Software Download)
• instructions for installation and activation (see also Guides and FAQ)
• the invoice by email

Once your payment has been received, your product key is displayed directly on the order confirmation page and also sent to you by email. After that, you can retrieve it again at any time: with a customer account under My Product Codes, without a customer account via the Guest Portal.

If you have any questions about installation or activation, our Support team is available around the clock by email. You will find offers for businesses, schools and public authorities in the B2B Area. You will find further server products in the category Windows Server and under Operating Systems.

System requirements

Minimum requirements according to Microsoft.