Windows Server 2008 R2

Hyper-V and other powerful virtualization technologies built into Windows Server 2008 R2 can simplify configuration, administration, and management tasks, while helping you increase the reliability and efficiency of your infrastructure. Virtualization can save your agency money through server consolidation and lower energy consumption, while yielding more from your existing investments. Hyper-V integrates easily with your IT infrastructure and management tools, leveraging the expertise you already have, so your people don’t need new training and separate skills.

And, compared to competitors, the straightforward Microsoft licensing model can offer more flexibility and value for less money. For data center virtualization infrastructure and management tools, for example, VMware is three times or more expensive than Microsoft,* yet the feature set and extensibility Microsoft offers are more comprehensive and scalable. The Microsoft license allows for an unlimited number of virtual machines; whereas with VMware, the more you use the more you pay. (*See more cost-comparison information.)

Virtualization increases capacity and savings, and that’s just the beginning. A private cloud delivers powerful additional benefits, transforming your data center while maximizing the value of your current hardware and software. A Microsoft private cloud implementation lets you pool your computing, storage, and networking capacity, enabling you to dynamically provision and scale applications and resources. Cloud resources can quickly be expanded or contracted through automation or workflow to accommodate your needs and, because cloud resources can be metered, your agency pays only for the service and capacity actually consumed.

Cloud-based services can improve transparency, enhance collaboration among departments and organizations, and allow your agency to deliver interactive citizen services—even as they help reduce IT costs and prepare you for disaster recovery and continuity of operations, because cloud applications don’t depend on agency servers or on-site staff.

Windows Server 2008 R2 with Hyper-V and Microsoft System Center make up an enterprise-ready solution that can help reduce IT complexity while keeping your systems active and available. Enhanced networking and clustering technologies give you the versatility and reliability you need to handle a broad array of workload and application requirements. Improved administration and diagnostics, along with development and application tools, can streamline management and further lower infrastructure costs.

Hyper-V dramatically improves the performance of mission-critical Microsoft server applications, including Microsoft SharePoint Server, Microsoft Exchange Server, and Microsoft SQL Server. Moreover, using Windows Server 2008 R2 with Microsoft System Center and Hyper-V lets you manage physical, virtual, and cross-platform environments using common deployment, provisioning, monitoring, and backup methodologies, all through a single, unified dashboard.

The most secure version to date, Windows Server 2008 R2 helps shield your agency against external threats and can speed recovery in the event of a system failure. With a hardened operating system and advanced security innovations, such as Network Access Protection, Server Core, Federated Rights Management, and Read-Only Domain Controller, you get unprecedented levels of protection for your network, servers, data, personal computers, and remote workers.

In fact, Windows Server 2008 R2 has achieved Common Criteria Evaluation Assurance Level 4 with augmentation (EAL4+). Common Criteria certification is an international standard for helping to ensure that IT products conform to stringent security requirements and is a mandatory procurement requirement for U.S. defense and national security customers.