Technologies

Windows Server 2025 — New Features and Migration

This training provides a comprehensive overview of Windows Server 2025, covering its new features, architectural improvements, and the practical steps required to migrate from Windows Server 2019 and 2022. Participants will explore advances in security — including Secured-Core Server enhancements and SMB protocol improvements — as well as hybrid cloud capabilities with Azure Arc, storage innovations, and performance optimizations. The course combines product knowledge with hands-on migration planning and lab exercises.

Why choose this training?

Windows Server 2025 introduces the most significant security and hybrid cloud capabilities of any Windows Server release in recent years, and organizations running on older versions face both an upgrade opportunity and a compliance imperative as support timelines evolve. This training gives administrators the knowledge to evaluate what has changed, plan migration confidently, and take full advantage of new capabilities — from hotpatching to Azure Arc — without disrupting existing environments.

The 3-day format allows for thorough coverage of both the new platform capabilities and the practical migration mechanics, so participants leave prepared to act rather than just informed.

What makes our approach unique?

EITT combines deep Microsoft infrastructure expertise with over 2,500 trainings delivered across Windows Server, Active Directory, and Azure environments. With more than 500 specialists in our network, our trainers bring real-world migration project experience that ensures participants understand not just the features in the documentation but the practical realities of deploying Windows Server 2025 in production — including the edge cases and gotchas that only come from hands-on implementation work.

Benefits

Identify and explain the key new features introduced in Windows Server 2025
Understand the security improvements including Secured-Core, SMB over QUIC, and hotpatching
Administer Active Directory changes including new functional levels and dMSA
Configure storage and networking enhancements including NVMe-oF and S2D improvements
Manage Hyper-V virtual machines and leverage new virtualization capabilities
Integrate Windows Server 2025 with Azure Arc for hybrid cloud management
Plan and execute migrations from Windows Server 2019/2022 using appropriate migration strategies
Validate migrated environments and ensure application compatibility post-migration

Who is this training for?

Windows Server administrators and system engineers

Infrastructure architects designing on-premises and hybrid environments

IT managers planning server infrastructure upgrades

Active Directory administrators and identity specialists

Storage and virtualization engineers

IT professionals preparing for the Windows Server 2025 transition

Prerequisites

Working experience as a Windows Server administrator (2016, 2019, or 2022)
Familiarity with Active Directory concepts and administration
Basic understanding of virtualization (Hyper-V or VMware)
Experience with PowerShell for server management is beneficial

Training program

Windows Server 2025 release timeline and edition breakdown
Key architectural changes compared to Server 2019 and 2022
Installation options — Server Core, Desktop Experience, and Azure Edition
Licensing model — what has changed for 2025
Windows Admin Center enhancements for Server 2025 management
Overview of new capabilities — security, storage, networking, and hybrid

Secured-Core Server 2025 — hardware-based security enhancements
Credential Guard and VBS (Virtualization-Based Security) updates
SMB over QUIC — secure file sharing without VPN
SMB signing enforcement by default and what it means for environments
Delegated Managed Service Accounts (dMSA) — new AD security feature
TLS 1.3 enforcement and deprecated cipher suites
Hotpatching for Windows Server 2025 — patch without rebooting

Active Directory Domain Services (AD DS) updates in 2025
New forest and domain functional levels
Kerberos and NTLM changes — deprecations and migration paths
Windows Hello for Business improvements for server environments
Fine-grained password policies and Group Policy enhancements
AD CS (Certificate Services) changes and PKI best practices

Storage Spaces Direct (S2D) improvements in 2025
NVMe-oF (NVMe over Fabrics) native support
Resilient File System (ReFS) updates and new features
SMB compression improvements and bandwidth optimization
Software-defined networking (SDN) updates
DHCP and DNS improvements in Windows Server 2025

Hyper-V updates in Windows Server 2025 — new VM capabilities
Live migration improvements and VM hardware compatibility
Azure Arc-enabled servers — onboarding and management
Azure Arc for on-premises governance and policy enforcement
Azure Automanage integration with Server 2025
Hybrid scenarios — Azure Monitor, Update Manager, and Defender for servers

Migration paths — in-place upgrade, server migration, and clean install
Compatibility checks and pre-migration assessment tools
Storage Migration Service — migrating file servers to Server 2025
Migrating Active Directory roles and FSMO role transfer
Application compatibility considerations and testing strategies
Post-migration validation, rollback planning, and documentation

Delivery Methods

Online

Convenience of participating from anywhere
Interactive live sessions with trainer
Materials available for 30 days
No travel costs

On-site

Direct contact with trainer and group
Intensive hands-on workshops
Networking with other participants
Full focus on learning

Training Topics

Frequently asked questions

Is prior experience with Windows Server 2022 required?

Experience with Windows Server 2019 or 2022 is recommended, as the training builds on existing administrator knowledge rather than teaching Windows Server fundamentals from scratch. Administrators familiar with Server 2016 will also follow the course well, as the training highlights changes from recent versions across all modules.

How is the 3-day training organized?

Day 1 covers the Windows Server 2025 architecture overview, security improvements, and Active Directory changes. Day 2 focuses on storage, networking, Hyper-V, and Azure Arc integration. Day 3 is dedicated to migration planning, hands-on migration labs, and post-migration validation. Both online and onsite delivery formats are available.

Does the training cover migration from Windows Server 2019 specifically?

Yes, the migration module covers upgrade paths from both Windows Server 2019 and 2022. Participants will work through in-place upgrade scenarios, Storage Migration Service labs, and Active Directory role migration procedures. Compatibility considerations specific to Server 2019 environments are addressed explicitly.

Is Azure knowledge required for the hybrid cloud module?

Basic familiarity with Azure concepts is helpful for the Azure Arc module but is not a prerequisite. The training covers Azure Arc onboarding and management from a Windows Server administrator's perspective, focusing on practical hybrid management tasks rather than deep Azure architecture knowledge.

Why choose EITT for this training?

EITT is a training provider with over 500 experts and experience from over 2,500 trainings delivered in Microsoft infrastructure, cloud, and server technologies. Our Microsoft-certified trainers maintain active hands-on experience with Windows Server environments, ensuring participants receive current, practical knowledge directly applicable to their infrastructure work. EITT holds a 4.8/5 average participant rating.