System Center Roadmap

by
Wes Miller

by
Wes Miller

Wes Miller analyzes and writes about Microsoft’s security, identity management, and systems management technologies. Before joining Directions on Microsoft, Wes... more

The System Center software suite supports numerous on-premises and cloud server management and monitoring tasks. Some roles can also be used with clients. 

Product: System Center Product

Licensing: System Center Licensing

Near-Term Plans (2025-2026)

System Center 2025

System Center 2025, the latest version of the server and client management suite, reached general availability in Nov. 2024, alongside Windows Server 2025. The suite delivers support for Microsoft’s latest server hosting platforms (Windows Server 2025 and Azure Stack HCI 23H2) and management support for Windows Server 2025 and recent versions of Linux. 

It includes a handful of security enhancements but also provides five years of Mainstream support and five years of Extended support. A 10% price hike for a suite with such little value should lead customers to limit their investment going forward, as Microsoft is clearly limiting its investment in System Center.

Update rollups for System Center are not released on a fixed cadence, but customers should expect that they must apply these updates within 12 to 18 months of release for continuation of support. Releases of System Center and update rollups apply to all System Center components.