Windows VPS: choose it, license it and set it up without surprises

By Mouhamed BANKOLE, CEO at ITNET Technologies · Updated 20 October 2026 · Reading time: 10 min

Your management software only runs on Windows, your team wants to reach its business applications from anywhere, or your .NET application needs to move off the office PC that has been acting as a server. A Windows VPS solves these problems, provided you understand what the licence changes and how to secure remote desktop access. This guide explains when to choose a Windows VPS over Linux, what you need to know about Windows Server and RDS licensing, how to size the server and how to set it up properly.

In short

• A Windows VPS is a virtual private server running Windows Server, managed remotely over RDP (Remote Desktop Protocol).
• It makes sense for applications that require Windows: .NET Framework, SQL Server, accounting or management software, remote desktop access for a small team.
• The Windows Server licence comes on top of the VPS cost; beyond two simultaneous administrative connections, RDS access licences are required.
• RDP security is the critical point: Network Level Authentication, IP filtering and regular updates.
• For a website or an open source application, a Linux VPS remains simpler and lighter.

Contents

1. What is a Windows VPS?
2. Windows or Linux VPS: which one should you choose?
3. When is a Windows VPS the right choice?
4. How does Windows Server licensing work on a VPS?
5. Do you need RDS licences to connect over remote desktop?
6. How should you size a Windows Server VPS?
7. How do you set up a Windows VPS step by step?
8. How do you secure RDP access to a Windows VPS?
9. Windows VPS or dedicated server: when should you switch?

What is a Windows VPS?

A Windows VPS is a virtual private server whose operating system is Windows Server rather than a Linux distribution. It has its own resources (processor, memory, storage) and you are its administrator.

In practice, a Windows VPS gives you:

• a complete Windows Server environment, with its roles (IIS, file services, Remote Desktop Services);
• remote desktop access (RDP), with the Windows graphical interface just like on a workstation;
• reserved resources, unlike shared hosting;
• a public IP address to publish a website, an API or a business service.

Wayhost VPS run on KVM virtualisation, which gives each instance its own kernel, and a choice between several Linux distributions or Windows is offered (observed on 20 October 2026 on the Wayhost VPS page).

Windows or Linux VPS: which one should you choose?

Choose a Windows VPS if your application requires it, and a Linux VPS in every other case. The operating system should be chosen for the software you need to run, not out of habit.

Key points from this comparison:

• Linux is the default choice for the web: most open source sites, CMSs and APIs are built for it first.
• Windows becomes necessary as soon as software only exists on that platform, which is common for management and accounting tools.
• Your team's skills matter: a server that nobody knows how to administer is a poorly secured server.

When is a Windows VPS the right choice?

A Windows VPS is the right choice when an application or a use case depends on Windows and must be reachable from outside at all times. The most common cases:

• .NET Framework applications (recent versions of .NET also run on Linux, but the older Framework does not);
• SQL Server databases used by an ERP, a point-of-sale system or an internal application;
• business software for accounting, payroll or sales management designed for Windows;
• a remote workstation for a few colleagues who use the same tools from the office, from home or on site;
• game or tool servers that are only distributed as Windows versions;
• test environments to validate Windows software before deploying it for a client.

Pro tip: before ordering, check the vendor documentation to make sure your software is supported on Windows Server, not only on Windows 10 or 11. Some vendors also require a specific SQL Server version.

How does Windows Server licensing work on a VPS?

On a VPS, the Windows Server licence is a cost separate from the server: the host provides and bills it, or tells you how to license it. Unlike Linux, the operating system is not free to use.

What to check before ordering:

• is the licence included, billed as an option or your responsibility? The amount should be clearly shown during configuration;
• which version is offered: Windows Server 2025, generally available since 1 November 2024, receives Microsoft extended support until November 2034;
• which edition (Standard or Datacenter) and which installation option (Server Core or with Desktop Experience);
• whether you can bring your own licence: this right depends on Microsoft licensing terms and your agreement, not only on the host.

On the Wayhost VPS page, the Windows option is listed, but the licence cost is not detailed there (observed on 20 October 2026): check it at the configuration step or with support.

Pro tip: prefer a recent version of Windows Server. It receives security fixes for longer, which spares you an operating system migration in two or three years.

Do you need RDS licences to connect over remote desktop?

No for administration, yes for use by several people. Microsoft documentation on Remote Desktop states that administration mode allows two concurrent connections without Remote Desktop Services client access licences (RDS CALs).

Beyond that, for your colleagues to work on the server:

• install the Remote Desktop Services role and a licence server;
• choose between per-user and per-device CALs: according to Microsoft, a per-user licence is assigned to an Active Directory user, a per-device licence to a device;
• plan for the end of the grace period: Microsoft allows 120 days during which no licence server is required, after which sign-ins are refused without a valid licence.

For a small team, the calculation is simple: count the people who will connect, add the RDS licences to the VPS cost, then compare with other options (a web application or SaaS software).

How should you size a Windows Server VPS?

Plan for more memory and storage than for an equivalent Linux VPS, because Windows Server with Desktop Experience uses more resources. Sizing depends mainly on the number of connected users and the software installed.

The hardware requirements published by Microsoft for Windows Server include a 64-bit processor of at least 1.4 GHz; Microsoft points out that these are minimums and that real needs depend on the roles installed.

To find your way through the Wayhost VPS plans (observed on 20 October 2026 on the Wayhost VPS page):

• KVM1 (1 vCPU, 4 GB RAM, 50 GB storage): administration, a small application, a test environment;
• KVM2 (2 vCPU, 8 GB RAM, 100 GB): business software with SQL Server, a few remote desktop users;
• KVM3 (4 vCPU, 16 GB RAM, 200 GB): a larger team or a heavier database;
• KVM4 and KVM5 (8 to 16 vCPU, 32 to 64 GB RAM): heavy workloads, several applications on the same server.

Keep these sizing rules in mind:

• memory is the first resource to run out on a multi-user Windows server;
• Windows updates take up disk space, so leave some storage headroom;
• resources can be changed later: Wayhost states on its VPS page that resources can be scaled "in a few clicks".

How do you set up a Windows VPS step by step?

Once the VPS is delivered, allow about an hour for a clean setup: connection, updates, hardening, then software installation. Here is the order to follow:

1. Choose Windows Server as the operating system when ordering and note the IP address and administrator password provided.
2. Connect with the Remote Desktop client (mstsc on Windows, the Windows App on a Mac).
3. Change the administrator password to a long, unique passphrase.
4. Install all Windows updates before adding any software, then restart.
5. Create a named account for each administrator instead of sharing the Administrator account.
6. Configure the firewall: only open the ports you need (RDP, plus 80 or 443 for a website).
7. Install your roles and software: IIS, SQL Server, business software.
8. Take a snapshot once the server is ready, so you can return to a clean state.

If your server publishes a site or an application, point a subdomain to its IP address from the DNS zone of your domain name, rather than giving users a raw IP address.

Pro tip: document each step in a file as you go. The day you need to rebuild the server or hand it over to a contractor, you will save hours.

How do you secure RDP access to a Windows VPS?

Never leave remote desktop open to the whole Internet without filtering: restrict it to known IP addresses, enable Network Level Authentication and keep the server up to date. RDP is one of the most targeted entry points on a Windows server.

In its study on RDP security, ANSSI, the French national cybersecurity agency, recommends treating the protocol as an administration tool, filtering access to it and requiring Network Level Authentication (NLA). In practice:

• filter the RDP port so that it can only be reached from your office IP addresses or through a VPN;
• use your host's security groups in addition to the Windows firewall: at Wayhost, they control inbound and outbound traffic to the VPS (Wayhost VPS page, observed on 20 October 2026);
• enable NLA so that users authenticate before the session opens;
• apply an account lockout policy after several failed password attempts;
• install security patches as soon as they are released;
• back up regularly and keep at least one copy off the server.

Windows VPS or dedicated server: when should you switch?

Move to a dedicated server when your Windows VPS keeps hitting its resource limits, or when you need to host several Windows virtual machines yourself. A VPS remains the right option as long as a single instance is enough.

Warning signs to watch for:

• memory is saturated at peak times even after upgrading to a larger plan;
• the number of RDP users is growing and sessions are slowing down;
• a large SQL Server database needs consistent disk performance;
• you want to run your own virtualisation of several Windows servers with Hyper-V.

A Wayhost dedicated server then gives you the whole physical machine. Our guide to the dedicated server explains how to size one, and our web hosting guide helps you decide whether a simpler hosting plan would be enough for a website.

Frequently asked questions

What is a Windows VPS?

A Windows VPS is a virtual private server running Windows Server instead of Linux. It has reserved resources and is managed remotely over remote desktop (RDP). It is used to run applications that require Windows, such as business software or SQL Server.

What is the difference between a Windows VPS and a Linux VPS?

A Windows VPS runs Windows Server, which is paid software, and is managed through a graphical interface over remote desktop. A Linux VPS uses a free distribution and is managed from the command line over SSH. The choice depends on the software you need to run: Windows for Windows applications, Linux for most websites and web applications.

Is the Windows licence included with a Windows VPS?

It depends on the host: the Windows Server licence may be included, billed as an option or left to you. It is a cost that a Linux VPS does not have. Check this at the configuration step before ordering.

How many users can connect to a Windows VPS over RDP?

Without additional licences, Windows Server accepts two simultaneous connections in administration mode, according to Microsoft documentation. For more colleagues to work on the server, you need to install Remote Desktop Services and buy RDS access licences. These licences are available per user or per device.

How much RAM does a Windows Server VPS need?

The memory you need depends on the number of connected users and the software installed, as Windows Server with a desktop uses more than Linux. A small plan is enough for administration or testing, while business software with SQL Server and several users needs more. Choose a VPS whose resources can be increased later.

Can you install accounting software on a Windows VPS?

Yes, it is one of the most common uses of a Windows VPS. First check that the vendor supports Windows Server and the required SQL Server version. Also plan for RDS licences if several people use the software at the same time.

How do you connect to a Windows VPS from a Mac?

Use Microsoft's Windows App, which replaces the former Remote Desktop client on macOS. Enter the IP address or host name of the VPS, then your Windows credentials. The connection works just as it does from a PC.

Is a Windows VPS suitable for hosting a website?

Yes for an ASP.NET site or application that requires IIS and Windows. For a WordPress site or a standard PHP application, a Linux VPS or web hosting is simpler and lighter. The operating system should follow the technology of the site.

Key takeaways

• A Windows VPS is chosen for a specific reason: an application, a SQL Server database or business software that requires Windows.
• The Windows Server licence is a separate cost, to be checked before ordering.
• Two administrative connections are possible without RDS licences; beyond that, each user needs an access licence.
• RDP security comes first: IP filtering, NLA, updates and backups.
• Size memory according to the number of users and move to a dedicated server when one instance is no longer enough.

To deploy your Windows server, compare our Wayhost VPS plans, with a choice between Linux and Windows when you order.

Article written by Mouhamed BANKOLE, CEO at ITNET Technologies.