Windows Server Summit | Windows Admin Center
Krähe mit HutI thought I needed System Center to manage my Windows servers!
Not necessarily anymore – I can, of course, continue using my existing products. However, with the Windows Admin Center (WAC), Microsoft provides a mature and constantly evolving solution that allows me to manage my servers regardless of their location – and it's completely free!
Deployment
WAC can be downloaded for free and installed on a server within your own environment. It is recommended to use a server without a desktop environment, as WAC is operated entirely through a browser.
Alternatively, WAC can also be used from the Azure cloud, and the servers can be connected via Azure Arc (if necessary, through a central on-premises gateway).
Innovations in 2025
Redesign of VM-related functions
According to Microsoft, the most frequently used features – Import VM and Move VM – have been redesigned and are available via a public preview.
Virtual machine inventory
The VM inventory has also been redesigned to speed up searches. You can switch back to the old view if needed.
Security tools
WAC supports the new security baseline policies introduced with Windows Server 2025, which can be configured using OSConfig. It also includes an integrated deviation control feature, allowing unwanted changes to be quickly reverted to the intended state.
Silicon-assisted security
WAC includes new features to manage the Secured-core mode introduced with Windows Server 2025.
Outlook
- WAC will soon receive an extension for Windows LAPS, enabling the display and reset of passwords through the interface.
- Improvements will be made to importing connection lists using CSV.
- Improvements to virtual memory management for VMs are planned.
- WAC will receive support for high availability.
- WAC now uses .NET Core 8 as its runtime environment, resulting in improved performance. (Custom extensions must be thoroughly tested and fully signed.)
Additional information
Official video: What's new in 2025 with Windows Admin Center - Windows Server Summit
Overview of all articles: Windows Server Summit in a nutshell
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