Microsoft Windows Server 2025 Standard (24 Core)

Microsoft Windows Server 2025 Standard 24 Core

Microsoft Windows Server 2025 Standard 24 Core is the mid-tier configuration of the 2025 Standard edition, designed for servers with processors totaling up to 24 physical cores. It offers the full set of features of the latest generation Windows Server — Zero Trust, native SMB over QUIC, Hotpatching via Azure Arc — in a format suited for medium-sized infrastructures.

24 Core vs 32 Core — which to choose?

The 24 Core version covers servers with processors totaling up to 24 physical cores. For servers with higher core density, Windows Server 2025 Standard 32 Core is available as a digital license on Licence24.ch. Both versions offer exactly the same features — the difference lies only in core coverage. For organizations with virtualization needs exceeding 2 VMs, the Datacenter edition is the suitable solution.

ℹ️ Windows Server 2025 Standard includes licenses for 2 Windows Server virtual machines per license. Windows Server 2025 CALs are required for each user or device connecting to the server. For Remote Desktop access, check out Windows Server 2025 RDS 50 Device CAL, available on Licence24.ch.

Who is it for?

Windows Server 2025 Standard 24 Core is aimed at IT teams, SMEs, and organizations managing servers with 24 physical cores who want to modernize their infrastructure with the latest security advancements and Azure integration, in a moderate virtualization environment. It is also the recommended solution for migrations from Windows Server 2022 or earlier on mid-sized machines.

Main features

• Built-in Zero Trust architecture with multi-factor authentication and default conditional access policies
• Credential Guard enabled by default for credential protection
• Native SMB over QUIC in the Standard edition — access shared files over the Internet without VPN
• Hotpatching via Azure Arc — security updates without server reboot
• Next-generation Active Directory with 32 KB database and mandatory encrypted LDAP for sensitive attributes
• Enhanced Hyper-V with vGPU support for virtual machines
• Native Azure Arc integration with default installation and simplified assistant interface
• Centralized management of Windows and Linux from a single dashboard
• Redesigned Windows Admin Center with automation tools and role-based management
• Support for up to 256 logical cores and 64 TB of RAM

Compatibility and requirements

• License model: per core — covers up to 24 physical cores on 1 server
• Included virtual machines: 2 Windows Server VMs per Standard license
• Processor: x64, minimum 1.4 GHz, with NX, DEP, CMPXCHG16b, SSE4.2, and EPT/NPT virtualization support
• RAM: minimum 512 MB (16 GB recommended for server use)
• Disk space: minimum 32 GB
• Network: recommended PCIe Gigabit Ethernet adapter
• ⚠️ Windows Server 2025 CALs are required for each user or device connecting to the server
• Direct upgrade possible from Windows Server 2012 R2 and later versions
• Activation via Microsoft servers
• Microsoft support guaranteed until 2034