Last updated on April 27, 2023
Windows Server 2022 vs. 2019: New Features and Improvements
Windows Server 2022 vs. 2019 has become a hot topic recently, with the release of the latest version of the popular Microsoft Windows Server OS in August 2021. As always, the cost of upgrading to a new server OS is a primary consideration. However, as the trend towards remote work and cloud storage and management continues, organizations may find it worth upgrading to the new OS, given its new features and focus on improved security. Another impetus for upgrading is the end of mainstream support for Windows Server 2019 in January 2024. While extended support remains available until 2029, this may require additional costs for some features.
This article discusses the key differences between Windows Server 2022 and 2019, the Windows 2019 features that are being deprecated in Windows 2022, and how you can use Parallels® Remote Application Server (RAS) to extend either Windows 2022 or Windows 2019.
Is It Worth Upgrading to Windows Server 2022?
Windows Server remains a popular server OS among organizations, despite stiff competition. In response to the rising popularity of cloud computing, Microsoft introduced native Azure support in Windows Server 2019. The cloud computing capabilities in the previous version are further extended and improved in Windows Server 2022, which comes in three editions.
Upgrades from Windows Server 2016 and Windows Server 2019 are supported by Microsoft.
So, should you upgrade your servers running Windows 2019 and older to Windows Server 2022? Let us check out its new features and improvements to help you decide.
What’s New in Windows Server 2022?
The core features introduced in Windows Server 2022 can be divided into security features, azure hybrid capabilities, and the application platform.
Security
Although Microsoft introduced Advanced Threat Protection in Windows Server 2019, new threats posing increased risks for organizations keep emerging. In response, Microsoft further improved security in Windows Server 2022, including new key security features such as hardware root-of-trust, firmware protection, and virtualization-based security.
Central to the concept of security in Windows Server 2022 is Secured-Core Server, which protects the hardware, firmware, and OS against threats using Trusted Platform Module 2.0 and Windows Defender System Guard. The Secure Message Block (SMB) network file sharing protocol is now encrypted by default, enhancing security.
Other improvements include enabling hypervisor-protected code integrity by default and using the Windows Defender Credential Guard virtualization-based isolation technology for protecting credentials, among other sensitive assets, that pass through your networks. Tying these all up is a client capable of performing Domain Name System (DNS) lookups over Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure (HTTPS), preventing potential interference with such lookups.
Azure Hybrid Capabilities
In terms of Azure support, the improved SMB runs the QUIC protocol instead of the traditional Transport Control Protocol (TCP), allowing users to access file servers running on Azure wherever they are located—on-premises or on Azure—without requiring a virtual private network (VPN). Azure Arc is now supported, helping bring on-premises and multi-cloud environments to Azure and hotpatching, which installs updates on Windows Server VMs without requiring a reboot.
Application Platform
Aside from encrypting anything that goes through SMB, the data that passes through it is also compressed, preventing performance slowdowns. You can also use the new browser-based Windows Admin Center to control your server infrastructure instead.
Key Feature Differences in Windows Server 2022 vs. 2019
To help determine the winner in a Windows Server 2022 vs. Windows Server 2019 showdown, you can look at the table below, which summarizes the major differences between the two versions.
| Key Feature | Function | Windows Server 2019 | Windows Server 2022 |
| Improved Security | Hypervisor-based code integrity | Not available | Available |
| Secured-Core Server | Not available | Available | |
| Hardware-enforced Stack Protection | Not available | Available | |
| Transport Layer Security (TLS) | TLS 1.2 supported | TLS 1.3 enabled by default | |
| Better Platform Flexibility | Uncompressed image size | Approximately 3.7 GB in size | Better at approximately 2.7 GB in size |
| Dynamic Source Routing (DSR) | Not available | Available | |
| Virtualized time zone | Mirrors host time zone | Configurable within container | |
| Domain Joining for Group Managed Service Accounts (gMSA) | Not available | Available | |
| New Windows Admin Center | Automatic Windows Admin Center updates | Not available | Available |
| Automated extension lifecycle management | Not available | Available | |
| Event Workspace for tracking data | Not available | Available | |
| Detachable Events Overview Screen | Configurable | Built-in | |
| Configurable destination virtual switch | Not available | Available | |
| Customizable Virtual Machine (VM) information columns | Not available | Available | |
| Upgraded Hyper-V Manager | Action bar | Not available | Available |
| Live Storage Migration | Not available | Available | |
| Affinity and anti-affinity rules | Not available | Available | |
| VM clones | Not available | Available | |
| Running workloads between servers | Not available | Available | |
| New partitioning tool | Not available | Available | |
| Hybrid Cloud Support | Azure Arc | Available | 1.3 enabled by default |
| Storage Migration Service | Available | Improved deployment and management | |
| Enhanced Kubernetes Experience | HostProcess containers | Not available | Available |
| Multiple subnets | Not available | Available |
Deprecated Features in Windows Server 2022
With its release of Windows Server 2022, Microsoft has deprecated, either partially or entirely, the following features found in Windows Server 2019 and earlier Windows Server versions:
- Internet Storage Name Service (iSNS): With its focus on SMB, Microsoft finally decided to remove iSNS altogether. However, you can still connect to existing iSNS servers or add individual iSCSI targets.
- Guarded Fabric and Shielded VMs: With Azure Confidential Computing and Azure Security Center becoming a significant focus, further development of this feature has been halted, although support for the feature will continue.
- Running sconfig.cmd from a CMD window: Sconfig is now launched by default when signing into a server with Server Core installed. If you need to run Sconfig, you must do it from PowerShell, which is now the default shell on Server Core.
- Deploying images with Windows Deployment Services (WDS) boot.wim: Workflows that rely on WDS will still be allowed to run but not after showing a deprecation notice. Moving forward, WDS images will be blocked on Windows 11 and future Windows Server versions. This is being done since there are now better, more capable options for deploying Windows images.
Enhance Windows Server 2022 with Parallels RAS
Parallels RAS helps deliver virtual applications and devices on Windows Server 2022 and Windows Server 2019 securely to any client device. The platform helps secure your assets using highly flexible access control, granular client policies, and multifactor authentication, among other features. It also has a robust monitoring and reporting system for generating custom reports on server management activities that go on within your network at any time.
Parallels RAS is ideal for organizations on Windows as a virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI) solution, as it supports deployment and management of Remote Desktop Services (RDS) seamlessly.
Whether your organization upgrades to Windows Server 2022 or remains on Windows 2019, it does not matter, as Parallels RAS works equally well for both.
