Windows Server on Azure
Discover the trusted cloud for your Windows Server workloads.
Migrate and modernize your Windows Server workloads on your terms
Run your Windows Server workloads on Azure for a simplified, managed experience for Windows Server virtual machines (VMs) and cloud-native support for SQL Server, .NET apps, and Remote Desktop Services. Modernize your entire Windows Server estate with more than 200 Azure services and capabilities including Azure Automanage, Hotpatch, Azure App Service, Azure Kubernetes Service (AKS), and Azure SQL. Use these services in Azure or extend them to your hybrid environment with Azure Arc.
Using an older version of Windows Server? Windows Server 2012 and 2012 R2 reach end of support on October 10, 2023. Explore your options for migrating and modernizing.
Two pie charts showing how you can save up to 40% with Azure Hybrid Benefit and up to 80% with Azure Hybrid Benefit + Azure Reservations
- Save up to 85 percent compared to standard pay-as-you-go rates when you apply Azure Hybrid Benefit to your existing Windows Server and SQL Server licenses.
- Save even more with 3 years of free Extended Security Updates, only on Azure.
- Get industry-leading price-performance with SQL Server on Azure Virtual Machines (Windows).1
windows server virtual machines
- Automatically configure and manage your virtual machines with Azure Automanage.
- Patch without rebooting your Windows Server VMs with hotpatch, only on Azure.
- Get leading database performance from fully managed, secure Azure SQL.
- Gain flexibility and consistency with cloud-native .NET support in Azure App Service and Azure Kubernetes Service.
- Easily deploy a secure, remote desktop experience with Azure Virtual Desktop.
A person working at their desk
- Get unified security management and advanced threat protection with Microsoft Defender for Cloud.
- Proactively secure your server workloads with Microsoft Sentinel, a cloud-native SIEM.
- Encrypt data while in use with industry-leading Azure confidential computing.
- Enable secure and reliable connectivity between edge file servers and Windows Server on Azure with SMB over QUIC.
End-to-end hybrid infrastructure
- Bring Azure security, management, and governance to any infrastructure with Azure Arc.
- Seamlessly extend your on-premises systems to Azure with hybrid capabilities such as Windows Admin Center in Azure, Azure File Sync, Azure Active Directory, and extended network for Azure.
- Get help at every step of your migration journey with the Azure Migration and Modernization Program, Microsoft Cloud Adoption Framework for Azure, and Azure Migrate.
Migrate your Windows Server apps and workloads to Azure
Determine how prepared you are to migrate with the Strategic Migration Assessment and Readiness Tool.
Learn how to analyze your IT resources and plan for a smooth migration with the Azure Migration Guide for Windows Server.
Accelerate your migration to Azure with proven guidance, documentation, best practices, and tools from the Microsoft Cloud Adoption Framework for Azure and expert support from the Azure Migration and Modernization Program.
Find the right Windows Server migration tool—and tools for all your workloads—using Azure Migrate, a hub for migration tools and services.
Learn how to implement a quick, low-impact migration to Azure by reading The Ultimate Guide to Windows Server on Azure.
Discover how to deploy and manage Windows Server on Azure for improved scalability, security, and privacy with learning paths from Microsoft.
Learn how to optimize the efficiency and costs of your cloud-based architecture with a free online course.
Optimize the reliability, security, performance, and cost of your Azure deployments with Azure Advisor.
Windows Server on Azure solution architectures
Explore various scenarios for running and managing Windows Server virtual machines and workloads in Azure.
Run a Windows VM on Azure
Get best practices for running a Windows VM on Azure.
Manage configurations for Azure Arc–enabled servers
Manage servers across hybrid and multicloud environments with Azure Arc.
Manage hybrid Azure workloads using Windows Admin Center
Design a hybrid Windows Admin Center solution to manage workloads on premises and in Azure.
Windows N-tier application on Azure
Deploy virtual machines (VMs) and a virtual network configured for an N-tier application, using SQL Server on Windows for the data tier.
Hybrid file services
Use Azure File Sync and Azure Files to extend file services hosting capabilities across cloud and on-premises file share resources.
Identity architecture design
Protect data and resources with identity and access management (IAM) solutions.
Related products
Resources and documentation
Windows Server on Azure resources
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Estimate the cost savings of migrating your Windows workloads to Azure
Use this calculator to compare the total cost of ownership (TCO) of running Windows Server on Azure versus on premises.
Optimizing costs and unlocking value with Azure
"With cloud services, we are able to eliminate all points of failure. We have created process and equipment redundancy so if one server fails, then the other one will continue operating… the user doesn't even notice the change."
Hildebrand Almada, IT Infrastructure Coordinator, Banco Millennium Atlântico
Boosting reliability and security while cutting costs
"Before, it would take our application development teams six months to deliver new features. Now that teams are running Windows containers on Azure Kubernetes Service, they're able to deploy within the same day, which is a huge win."
Shelby Lewin, Senior Product Manager, Relativity
Gaining flexibility and disaster recovery resiliency
Gaining flexibility and disaster recovery resiliency
"The cost savings for VMware licensing alone was a big benefit because that's included with Azure VMware Solution. Gaining that—while eliminating needs for [equipment and deployment services]—amounts to six figures of savings for the university."
Mari Lovo, Director of Cloud Infrastructure Services, University of Miami
Boosting speed and agility with a hybrid cloud strategy
Boosting speed and agility with a hybrid cloud strategy
"Azure gives Sanofi the ability to easily scale workloads up and down as needed in dynamic ways."
Sam Chenaur, Vice President and Global Head of Infrastructure, Sanofi
Enabling flexible and efficient operations
Enabling flexible and efficient operations
"In on-premises [virtual desktop infrastructure], first it takes about three months to purchase the equipment, and then it takes several months to install it, but Azure Virtual Desktop was able to be deployed really quickly."
Toshiya Yoshimura, Design Group 1, Digital Strategy Department, Ricoh
Frequently asked questions
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You can migrate a range of guest operating systems to Azure. This includes all the supported Windows Server versions and VMs from VMware and Microsoft Hyper-V environments with Azure Site Recovery. VMs migrated from these on-premises virtualization platforms run as native Azure infrastructure as a service (IaaS) VMs and are not dependent on the on-premises hypervisor.
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We'll meet you where you are, whether you decide to stay on premises or adopt a hybrid model. In the meantime, check the end-of-support date for your version of Windows Server. Keep it running with Extended Security Updates, and ensure that you’ve upgraded to the latest version to take advantage of all the innovations.
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Explore Azure Virtual Machines pricing and the pricing calculator to choose the VMs that best suit your needs.
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Yes. Azure Hybrid Benefit lets you use your existing Windows Server licenses with Software Assurance or Windows Server subscriptions for significant savings on Azure. Depending on your edition of Windows Server, you can convert or reuse your licenses to run Windows Server VMs on Azure and pay a lower base compute rate. For each license, Azure will cover the cost of the OS for up to two VMs while you pay only the base compute VM costs.
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Yes. There's no upfront cost, and you pay for only what you use. Azure provides flexible purchasing and pricing options, including Azure Hybrid Benefit and Azure Reserved Virtual Machine Instances, for all your cloud scenarios. Azure also offers a comprehensive set of tools to help you manage your cloud spend, including Microsoft Cost Management. Use the pricing calculator to determine your total cost of ownership (TCO), and learn more about Azure pricing.
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It's important to keep your Windows Servers up to date. Your options for Windows Server 2012 and 2012 R2 include:
- Move to Azure and run securely with free Extended Security Updates, saving even more with Azure Hybrid Benefit. Get guidance and support through the Azure Migration and Modernization Program.
- Upgrade to the latest version of Windows Server.
- Stay secure and upgrade later. Learn about Extended Security Updates.
Get started with an Azure free account
Try Windows Server on Azure and get 12 months of popular free services—plus a USD200 credit to explore Azure for 30 days.
Get help from the Azure Migration and Modernization Program
Accelerate your cloud journey with a proven approach, expert help, and cost-effective offers.
Contact Azure sales
Get answers to questions about your specific scenario from an Azure sales specialist.