Windows Server · Canada
Service group: Managed ITWindows Server support for Active Directory, file shares and Hyper-V
The domain controller that signs everyone in, the file server that holds twenty years of documents, and the Hyper-V host underneath them, maintained by people who work in these Microsoft roles every week.
At a glance
- Service
- Recurring support and administration of Microsoft Windows Server roles, delivered remotely by Podium Catchers
- Best suited to
- Canadian organizations of roughly 5 to 200 employees with on-premises or hosted Windows Server, Active Directory or file and print services
- Core roles covered
- Active Directory Domain Services, DNS, DHCP, Group Policy, file and print services, Hyper-V and Windows Server Update cycles (as scoped)
- Not included by default
- Server hardware, Windows Server and CAL licences, in-place upgrades, migrations to Microsoft 365 and after-hours work unless written into the proposal
- Pricing basis
- Per managed server per month, with upgrades and migrations quoted as projects; published figures are proposals pending approval
- End-of-support planning
- Every server’s version is tracked against Microsoft’s published lifecycle dates, with replacement or migration options presented well ahead of the deadline
- How to start
- Book a consultation so we can review your domain, server versions and roles before preparing a written scope
What Windows Server support covers
Many Canadian small and mid-sized businesses still run a Windows Server at the centre of the office. It may be the domain controller that authenticates every computer, the file server holding departmental shares, the print server for the plotter and label printers, or the Hyper-V host running a line-of-business application. Even organizations that have moved email and documents to Microsoft 365 often keep Active Directory on premises and synchronize it to Entra ID.
Windows Server support means looking after those Microsoft roles specifically: keeping domain controllers replicating and healthy, maintaining DNS and DHCP, managing Group Policy so settings apply as intended, controlling NTFS and share permissions, keeping print queues and drivers working, maintaining Hyper-V hosts and their virtual machines, and patching all of it on a predictable cycle.
It also means planning. Microsoft publishes end-of-support dates for each Windows Server release. Windows Server 2012 and 2012 R2 are already out of support, and Windows Server 2016 reaches the end of extended support in January 2027. We track those dates for every server you own and help you decide whether to upgrade, replace or retire each role.
Common Windows Server problems we resolve
Sign-in delays and replication errors
Slow logons, inconsistent password changes or Group Policy failures that trace back to unhealthy domain controllers, broken DNS or a long-dead second DC still listed in the domain.
Permission sprawl on file shares
Years of one-off folder permissions granted to individuals, leaving nobody sure who can see payroll, HR or client folders.
Servers approaching end of support
A Windows Server 2016 or older machine running a critical role with no replacement plan, budget or migration path agreed.
Fragile Hyper-V hosts
Old checkpoints consuming disk, virtual machines that don’t restart after updates, and host firmware that has never been patched.
Key capabilities
Active Directory Domain Services
Domain controller health, FSMO role placement, replication checks, account and group lifecycle, stale computer clean-up and privileged group reviews.
Group Policy management
Documented policies for drive mappings, printers, security baselines and update settings, with changes tested before they apply to everyone.
File and print services
Share and NTFS permission design based on groups, quota and storage reviews, print server queues, driver updates and PrintNightmare-era hardening.
Hyper-V hosts and guests
Host patching, virtual switch and storage configuration, checkpoint hygiene, integration services and automatic start order for dependent virtual machines.
Patching and Windows Update control
Monthly cumulative updates tested and applied in agreed windows, with domain controllers updated in sequence so authentication is never fully down.
End-of-support and upgrade planning
A version register for every server, Microsoft lifecycle dates, and options such as in-place upgrade, rebuild, move to Azure or retirement to Microsoft 365.
Scope at a glance
Your proposal names each Windows Server and its roles. This is the usual baseline.
Typically included
- Monthly patching and reboots of listed Windows Servers and Hyper-V hosts
- Active Directory health checks and user, group and computer administration
- Group Policy changes and documentation on request
- File share and print queue administration
- Entra Connect or Cloud Sync health monitoring for hybrid identity
- Server version register with end-of-support tracking
- Backup verification for listed servers
Requires separate scope or quotation
- Windows Server licences, client access licences and hardware
- Operating system upgrades, domain migrations and server rebuilds as projects
- Moving file shares to SharePoint or OneDrive, quoted as a migration
- Remote Desktop Services farm design and third-party application support
- After-hours maintenance unless written into the plan
Microsoft technologies in scope
- Windows Server 2016, 2019, 2022 and 2025 (Standard and Datacenter)
- Active Directory Domain Services, DNS and DHCP
- Group Policy Management Console and administrative templates
- Distributed File System (DFS) namespaces and replication
- Print Management and Point and Print controls
- Hyper-V, Failover Clustering for small two-node setups, and Windows Admin Center
- Microsoft Entra Connect Sync and Entra Cloud Sync
- Windows Server Update Services or cloud-based patch tooling
Who benefits most
Domain-joined offices
Businesses where staff sign in to an on-premises domain and rely on mapped drives and shared printers every day.
Hybrid Microsoft 365 tenants
Organizations synchronizing on-premises Active Directory to Entra ID that need both sides kept consistent.
Owners of 2016-era servers
Firms facing Windows Server 2016 end of support who need an honest assessment of upgrade, replace or retire options.
What changes
- Reliable sign-ins and policies that apply the way they are documented
- File permissions based on groups you can audit, not individual exceptions
- Servers patched monthly without taking authentication offline
- Hyper-V hosts that restart cleanly with guests in the right order
- End-of-support deadlines planned and budgeted instead of discovered late
- Hybrid identity that stays in sync with Microsoft 365
How we start
Domain and server review
We run health diagnostics on Active Directory, DNS, replication and Group Policy and record each server’s version and roles.
Findings and proposal
You receive a list of issues by severity and a written scope covering each server, with upgrade projects quoted separately.
Remediation of urgent issues
Replication errors, unpatched domain controllers and over-privileged accounts are addressed first.
Steady-state support
Monthly patching, requests and monitoring continue under the scope, with changes logged.
Lifecycle review
Quarterly reviews revisit end-of-support dates, capacity and the roadmap for each server role.
Ways to engage
All options are confirmed by a written quotation before work or billing begins.
Per-server Windows Server support
Monthly support for each listed server, ideal alongside an existing help desk arrangement.
End-of-support project
A fixed-scope project to upgrade, rebuild or retire a Windows Server 2016 or older system, quoted after review.
Bundled in a Managed IT package
Windows Server support combined with user support and Microsoft 365 administration under the Business or Advanced packages.
Frequently asked questions
Do we still need a Windows Server if we use Microsoft 365?
Not always. Some businesses can retire on-premises servers by moving files to SharePoint and joining devices directly to Entra ID with Intune. Others still need a server for a line-of-business application or legacy authentication. We review your dependencies before recommending either path.
When does Windows Server 2016 reach end of support?
Microsoft’s published end of extended support for Windows Server 2016 is January 2027. After that date it no longer receives security updates without a paid Extended Security Updates arrangement, so planning should start now.
Can you fix our Group Policy without breaking things?
We document existing policies first, then test changes against a pilot group of users or computers before applying them broadly.
Do you support Remote Desktop Services?
We can maintain small existing RDS deployments as part of server patching. Designing or rebuilding an RDS farm, and supporting applications inside it, is scoped separately.
Is this different from server administration?
Yes. Server administration covers every server and appliance, including NAS and Linux systems. Windows Server support focuses on Microsoft roles such as Active Directory, Group Policy, file and print, and Hyper-V.
Related services
Products and packages
Industries we support
Service areas
Further reading
Plan your Windows Server future before the deadline
Book a consultation to review your domain, server versions and roles. You will receive written findings and a scope before any commitment.