Top 10 Reasons to Install the Windows Server® 2008
Operating System

1. Enhanced Security Features and Compliance
Windows Server 2008 has been developed from the ground up with strict security in mind. "Shields up," Windows Server 2008 installs only the needed services for the roles the server is performing. Enhanced auditing, Drive Encryption, event forwarding, and Rights Management Services are just some of the technologies that help organizations adhere to today's strict IT compliance standards.

2. Server Management Made Easier
Simplifying the day-to-day complexities of server administration is a key theme in many of the enhancements included in Windows Server 2008. New management tools like the Server Manager Console provide a single, unified console for managing a server's configuration and system information, displaying server status, identifying problems with server role configuration, and managing all roles installed on the server.

3. Improved Networking Performance
Windows Server 2008 introduces the biggest change in the networking stack since Windows NT 4.0. Technologies like Receive Window Auto-tuning, Receive Side Scaling, and Quality of Service (QOS) help organizations to take full advantage of today's multi-Gigabit networks. Integrated IPsec and the new Windows Firewall with Advanced Security allow organizations to better secure and control the flow of network traffic.

4. Better Together with Windows Vista®
Because Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008 are built as part of a single development project, they share a number of new technologies across networking, storage, security features and management. Organizations will immediately see the benefits of running Windows Server 2008 and Windows Vista as their client and server solution.

5. Protect Unhealthy Computers from Entering the Network
Network Access Protection (NAP) addresses the industry-wide problem of unhealthy computers accessing and compromising an organization's network. NAP helps ensure that computers connecting to the network meet corporate policy for "healthy" requirements, to limit network access for computers not meeting the predefined policy, providing remediation services to help get those computers back to a healthy state, and to provide ongoing compliance-checking.

6. Enhanced Scripting and Task Automation
New technologies like Windows PowerShell™, a command-line shell and scripting language, helps IT Professionals automate common tasks. With a new admin-focused scripting language, more than 120 standard command-line tools, and consistent syntax and utilities, Windows PowerShell allows IT professionals to more easily control system administration and to help accelerate automation.

7. Take Back Control Over Your Branch Offices
Managing servers, services, and security features at remote locations is an on-going challenge for IT Professionals. Windows Server 2008 simplifies administration of the servers in branch offices with enhancements to Active Directory, including Read-Only Domain Controllers and administrative role separation. Technologies like BitLocker, and the Server Core installation option are specific features that help enhance security features and address the unique needs of branch offices.

8. Centralized Application Access
With Windows Sever 2008, users will have highly secure access to internal applications through firewall-friendly ports. With Windows Server Terminal Services RemoteApp, only the application window, not the entire remote desktop, launches and runs in its own resizable, interactive window on the client computer's desktop.

9. Windows Server Virtualization
The Windows Server 2008 wave will include Windows Server Virtualization (WSv), a powerful, performant, virtualization technology with strong management and security features. Windows Server virtualization will help businesses reduce costs, increase agility and system availability for production server consolidation, disaster recovery, test and development, and, when coupled with System Center Virtual Machine Manager, the end-to-end management of dynamic datacenters.

10. A World-Class Web and Applications Platform
Windows Server 2008 provides a highly secure, easy-to-manage platform for developing and reliably hosting applications and services that are delivered from the server or over the Web. New features include simplified management, increased security features, and both performance and extensibility improvements which delivers a unified platform for Web publishing that integrates Internet Information Services 7.0 (IIS7), ASP.NET, and Windows Communication Foundation.