WAL Win 11 Seats x 5
Comparison: Windows 11 Per-Seat + File Server vs. Windows Server 2025 with RDS
System Comparison Table
| Aspect | Windows 11 + Per-Seat Licences + File Server | Windows Server 2025 + RDS + Centralised App |
|---|---|---|
| Licensing | ✅ Simple and legal with per-seat licences | ✅ Legal if RDS CALs are purchased for each user |
| Installation | Installed locally on each user’s PC | Installed once on server, accessed by all users |
| User Experience | Software runs natively, fast | Users work via RDP — minor lag possible |
| Simultaneous use | Depends on app’s support for shared data | Full, concurrent use — each user has isolated session |
| Remote access (e.g. Tailscale) | Only file server is shared; app must be local | Entire system accessible remotely with one login |
| IT Complexity | Lower — simpler setup, less to maintain | Higher — server must be maintained, secured, backed up |
| Security | Medium — relies on each PC’s patch level | Higher — single point to secure and audit |
| Hardware cost | Multiple powerful PCs needed | One powerful server can reduce endpoint hardware needs |
| Backup management | Shared files must be backed up; users responsible for app | Server backups protect all data and app state together |
| Multi-user file access | Risk of conflict if app isn’t designed for concurrent access | No risk — app runs separately per user session |
| Software updates | Each PC must be updated separately | Update once, everyone benefits |
| Support burden | Distributed — users may break things individually | Centralised — easier to support a single environment |
| Audit trail & access logs | Hard to track across devices | Central logging of sessions, activities, login times |
| Scaling | Easy to add users, but app install needed each time | Easy to scale if server is powerful enough |
| Single point of failure | Less risk — failure of one PC affects only one user | More risk — server failure affects all users |
Risk Assessment Summary
| Risk Type | Windows 11 + File Server | Windows Server 2025 RDS |
|---|---|---|
| Licensing risk | ✅ Low | ✅ Low if licensed properly |
| Data loss risk | ⚠️ Medium (local PCs may not be backed up) | ✅ Low (centralised backups possible) |
| User error risk | ⚠️ Higher (5 separate environments to maintain) | ✅ Lower (admin controls full system) |
| Security risk | ⚠️ Medium (5 devices to secure) | ✅ Lower (single hardened environment) |
| Update drift | ⚠️ Likely (PCs updated at different times) | ✅ Consistent |
| Remote access reliability | ⚠️ App must support remote file access | ✅ Full RDP access anywhere |
| Scaling/expansion risk | ✅ Easy (if app supports it) | ⚠️ Depends on server capacity |
Summary Recommendations
| Situation | Best Choice |
|---|---|
| You need 5 independent users, each on their own PC, and the app works well over a file server | Stick with Windows 11 + per-seat licences |
| You want to centralise control, simplify support, improve audit/security, or support larger teams | Move to Windows Server 2025 + RDS |
| You want seamless remote access for everyone | Windows Server 2025 + Tailscale |
| Your app struggles with file conflicts or shared file access | Windows Server 2025 (single install) |