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The cloud makes it possible for businesses to innovate quickly and deliver faster time-to-value with cloud-native applications and microservices architecture. But most businesses are grappling with how
to manage and update thousands of existing applications while planning how to move to this new world. What is needed is a solution that helps you invigorate existing applications and create new,
cloud-native applications. Windows Server 2016 can do both.

Windows Server helps you to secure and modernize existing enterprise server apps with little or no
code changes; package existing apps in containers to realize the benefit of a more agile DevOps model; and then deploy either on-premises, to any cloud, or in a hybrid model. Developers can create
cloud-ready, business-changing apps and services, whether on-premises or in any cloud, using technologies such as containers and the lightweight Nano Server installation option.

Windows Server 2016 can help you modernize your apps and innovate faster with a cloud-ready
application platform.

First, you can secure the fabric to protect virtual machines (VMs) and enhance existing apps immediately with Windows Server 2016, by taking advantage of enhanced security and management
features in the fabric. For example, you can use shielded VMs to help secure your critical applications to run only on trusted fabrics. You can limit administrator access to specific tasks by using Just Enough Administration (JEA) and specific time limits with Just-in-Time (JIT) administration.

Second, you can containerize existing apps and move your traditional applications into a modern DevOps environment with little or no code changes. You can gain benefits such as consistency across
development, test, and production by using the same tooling, which facilitates rapid deployments,
continuous integration, and continuous delivery, all with better security. You can use containers to
gain control and consistency by enabling apps that you can deploy on-premises, to any cloud, or in a
hybrid architecture across clouds. For an additional layer of isolation, you can deploy your app in a
Hyper-V Container, which packages the same container image in a Hyper-V Container, which uses the hypervisor to provide an additional level of isolation.

Third, you can build cloud-native and hybrid apps. Windows Server 2016 is suited to Agile methods
for building cloud-native applications with microservices architectures. With Nano Server’s
deployment model, you can build offline customized operating system (OS) images highly optimized
for your application, providing a fast-booting, tiny OS that achieves higher density while exposing a
reduced attack surface.

Microsoft wants you to create your best app, whether it’s written by using the Microsoft .Net Framework or open-source frameworks such as .Net Core and Node.JS. Using proven Microsoft Azure Service Fabric technology along with Windows Server 2016, you can build always-on, scalable, and distributed applications and run them in Azure, on-premises, or in a hybrid environment. You can combine the benefits of containers with Nano Server, Service Fabric, and the proven Windows Server platform to achieve business agility with cloud apps.

Ultimately, the choice will depend on each customer’s needs and the application being developed, but
Windows Server 2016 offers multiple options with which you can move forward into a cloud-ready
infrastructure with minimal investment.