Windows Server 2022 available in preview

Microsoft has announced the preview of the Long-Term Servicing Channel (LTSC) version of Windows Server 2022. The operating system, currently available only to Insiders (global distribution is expected by the end of the year), includes three main innovations related to security, cloud and applications. The preview can be installed locally (on-premises) or tested on Azure.

Windows Server 2022: main news

Given the growing spread of cyber attacks and the economic consequences for companies , Microsoft has added two security features in Windows Server 2022: Secured-core server and Secured connectivity.

Secured-core server includes a set of protections for hardware, firmware and operating system. First of all, the secure boot of the operating system is guaranteed through Trusted Platform Module 2.0 and System Guard. This prevents, among other things, access to the system by exploiting any firmware vulnerabilities and modifying the firmware itself.

Secured-core server also supports VBS (Virtualization-Based Security) HVCI (HyperVisor-based Code) features Integrity) that prevent system modification and protect domain credentials. Secured connectivity instead offers an additional layer of security with TLS 1.3 and AES 256-bit encryption for connectivity.

Microsoft has also introduced new hybrid features. Azure Arc enables management of on-premises Windows Server installations through Windows Admin Center. In Windows Server 2022, improvements have been made to Windows Containers, reducing their size and thus increasing performance. Windows Server 2022 finally supports large-scale applications, such as SQL Server which requires 48 TB of RAM and 2,048 logical cores running on 64 physical sockets.

Source: Microsoft