What are the key new features in Windows Server 2025?

Windows Server 2025 introduces several advanced features to enhance performance, security, and manageability. Here are some of the key new features:

• Advanced Multilayer Security: Windows Server 2025 includes enhanced security features such as Windows Defender Application Control (WDAC) for Business, which helps reduce the server's attack surface by enforcing a list of allowed software. It also includes SMB over QUIC for secure access to file shares over the internet2.
• Hotpatching: Enabled by Azure Arc, hotpatching allows for security updates with fewer reboots and minimal disruption to operations. This feature is available for Azure Arc-enabled Windows Server 2025 Standard or Datacenter running on physical machines, VMs, on-premises, or multicloud servers.
• GPU Partitioning (GPU-P): Windows Server 2025 introduces GPU partitioning, allowing administrators to partition GPUs and assign them to virtual machines (VMs). This feature supports high availability and live migration, making it ideal for scenarios requiring GPU resources.
• Enhanced Storage Options: The new release offers faster storage options and improved integration with hybrid cloud environments, making it easier to manage infrastructure and ensure high performance.
• Software-Defined Networking (SDN): Windows Server 2025 includes SDN multisite features that provide native L2 and L3 connectivity for workloads in multiple locations. This simplifies unified network policy management and enhances connectivity across hybrid environments.
• Improved Active Directory (AD): Windows Server 2025 introduces a new functional level for domains and forests, allowing organizations to take advantage of the latest features and improvements. The database page size has been increased from 8K to 32K, significantly improving the efficiency and scalability of the AD database.
• Windows Admin Center (WAC): Windows Admin Center is now more easily installed on Windows Server preview builds, providing a web-based management interface for Windows Server. It includes performance monitoring, troubleshooting tools, and integration with Azure services.
• DTrace: Windows Server 2025 comes equipped with DTrace as a native tool. DTrace is a command-line utility that enables users to monitor and troubleshoot their system's performance in real-time