How to Keep Legacy Windows Business Applications Running in the Cloud
A practical decision guide for businesses that still depend on older Windows software. Learn how to assess compatibility, licensing, databases, remote access, migration risk, and whether a cloud Windows server is the right next step.
Read article7 Signs You've Outgrown Your Office Server (And What to Do Next)
See the warning signs that your small business has outgrown its office server and learn when a Windows VPS, local refresh, SaaS, or hybrid setup makes sense.
Read articleAzure Virtual Desktop Alternative: Raff Windows VPS/RDP for Small Businesses
Learn when Raff Windows VPS/RDP is a simpler Azure Virtual Desktop alternative for small businesses that need remote users, Windows apps, shared files, backups, and office server migration.
Read articleWindows VPS for Insurance Agencies: Remote Access, Client Files, Apps, and Backups
Learn when a Windows VPS makes sense for insurance agencies that need remote access, client files, agency apps, shared folders, backups, security, permissions, and office server migration.
Read articleWindows VPS for Real Estate Offices: Remote Access, Documents, Apps, and Shared Files
Learn when a Windows VPS makes sense for real estate offices that need remote access, transaction documents, shared folders, office apps, backups, security, permissions, and branch access.
Read articleWindows VPS vs Dedicated Server: Which Is Better for Small Businesses?
Compare Windows VPS and dedicated servers for small businesses. Learn which option fits Remote Desktop, business apps, file servers, backups, migration, pricing, support, and growth.
Read articleWindows VPS for Remote Employees: Secure Access, Apps, Files, and Backups
Learn when a Windows VPS makes sense for remote employees who need secure access to Windows apps, shared files, Remote Desktop, backups, and a central cloud Windows Server.
Read articleWindows VPS Pricing Explained
Learn what affects Windows VPS pricing for small businesses, including CPU, RAM, storage, Windows licensing, RDS users, backups, support, migration, and total monthly cost.
Read articleRemote Desktop Server on a Windows VPS: Business Access, Security, and Pricing
Learn when a remote desktop server makes sense for business users, including RDP, RDS, RD Gateway, security, licensing, sizing, backups, pricing, and Windows VPS planning.
Read articleWindows VPS for Law Firms: Remote Access, Case Files, Legal Apps, and Backups
Learn when a Windows VPS makes sense for law firms that need remote access, case files, legal software, shared folders, backups, security, permissions, and cloud Windows Server hosting.
Read articleWindows VPS Hosting for Small Businesses
Learn when a Windows VPS makes sense for small businesses that need Remote Desktop access, Windows apps, shared files, backups, migration, and predictable cloud infrastructure.
Read articleWindows VPS for Accounting Firms: Remote Access, Apps, Files, and Backups
Learn when a Windows VPS makes sense for accounting firms that need remote access, QuickBooks, Sage, tax software, client files, backups, security, and cloud Windows Server hosting.
Read articleLocal Office Server to Cloud Windows VPS Migration
Plan a local office server to cloud Windows VPS migration for small businesses, including apps, files, users, RDP/RDS, backups, testing, cutover, and rollback.
Read articleFile Server Migration to Windows VPS
Plan a file server migration to Windows VPS, including shared folders, SMB access, NTFS permissions, mapped drives, backups, testing, cutover, and rollback.
Read articleSQL Server Migration to Windows VPS
Plan a SQL Server migration to Windows VPS, including backup/restore, recovery model, logins, SQL Agent jobs, connection strings, app testing, cutover, and rollback.
Read articleActive Directory Replication Topology for 2-DC Setups
Design a clean 2-DC Active Directory topology for Windows Server VPS deployments, including single-site defaults, multi-site replication, FSMO placement, and health checks.
Read articleMicrosoft 365 Apps with Shared Computer Activation
Learn how to install Microsoft 365 Apps on a Windows VPS for multiple RDS users using Shared Computer Activation, eligible Microsoft 365 licensing, ODT configuration, and activation troubleshooting.
Read articleAlways On Availability Groups on Two Windows VPSes
Learn how to plan and set up SQL Server Always On availability groups on Windows Server VPS infrastructure, including WSFC, SQL editions, replicas, listener, quorum, seeding, failover tests, backups, and common mistakes.
Read articlePromote a Windows VPS to an Active Directory Domain Controller
Promote a fresh Windows VPS to the first Active Directory domain controller in a new forest, then verify AD DS, DNS, Netlogon, SYSVOL, and basic users.
Read articleMetaTrader VPS Setup for 24/7 EA Trading (Windows)
Learn how to set up MetaTrader 4 or MetaTrader 5 on a Windows Server VPS, keep EAs running, avoid RDP sign-out mistakes, secure access, test logs, and choose the right VPS size.
Read articleInstall SQL Server 2025 on a Windows Server VPS (Standard Developer, 2026 Guide)
End-to-end install guide for SQL Server 2025 Standard Developer on a Windows Server VPS. Covers winget setup, Custom wizard, tempdb, firewall, and post-install CU application.
Read articleERP on Windows VPS: Hosting, Sizing, and Migration
Learn when ERP hosting on a Windows VPS makes sense, how to size the server, and what to plan before migrating users, databases, backups, and RDP access.
Read articleAzure VM Alternative: Raff Windows VPS for Cost, Simplicity, and Fit
Compare Azure Windows VMs and Raff Windows VPS for SMB workloads, including cost structure, egress, licensing, support, migration, and practical fit.
Read articleWindows Server 2019 vs 2022 vs 2025: Which Version to Choose in 2026
Server 2022 mainstream support ends October 2026, so Server 2025 is the better choice for new deployments. The exceptions — when 2022 or even 2019 still win.
Read articleWindows Server Migration Checklist for Small Businesses
Use this Windows Server migration checklist to plan apps, files, users, RDP/RDS, SQL Server, Active Directory, backups, testing, cutover, and rollback. Category: migration
Read articleHow to Connect to a Windows VPS via RDP
Step-by-step guide to connecting to a Windows VPS with Remote Desktop, including Windows, macOS, Linux, mobile clients, password reset, certificate warnings, and RDP troubleshooting.
Read articleWindows VPS for Multi-Location Small Businesses
Learn when a Windows VPS makes sense for multi-location small businesses, including remote access, shared apps, files, backups, RDS, and security.
Read articleWindows VPS for MSP Client Environments
Learn how MSPs can use Windows VPS environments for client apps, Remote Desktop, backups, security, documentation, and repeatable deployments.
Read articleWindows VPS for ERP and Inventory Software
Learn when a Windows VPS makes sense for ERP and inventory software, including remote users, database planning, backups, sizing, security, and RDS access.
Read articleWindows VPS as a Cloud File Server: What Small Businesses Should Know
Learn when a Windows VPS can work as a cloud file server for small businesses, including SMB access, Remote Desktop, backups, security, storage, and migration planning.
Read articleWindows VPS for Tax Software: What Small Firms Should Know
Learn when a Windows VPS makes sense for tax software, including remote access, seasonal users, backups, security, sizing, and RDS planning.
Read articleWindows VPS for Microsoft Access and Legacy Apps
Learn when a Windows VPS makes sense for Microsoft Access databases and legacy Windows apps, including RDP, RDS, backups, sizing, and risks.
Read articleWindows VPS Backup Strategy for Small Businesses
Plan a Windows VPS backup strategy for small business workloads with snapshots, backups, restore tests, app-aware recovery, and off-server copies.
Read articleRemote Desktop Gateway vs Direct RDP on a Windows VPS
Compare RD Gateway vs direct RDP on a Windows VPS for safer remote access, SMB users, RDS planning, firewall exposure, and security tradeoffs.
Read articleCloud Windows Server vs Local Office Server: SMB Guide
Compare cloud Windows Server vs local office server setups for SMBs: cost, remote access, backups, security, hardware, and business app hosting.
Read articleWindows VPS Sizing for Remote Users: 1, 3, 5, 10 Users
Size a Windows VPS for 1, 3, 5, or 10 remote users with practical CPU, RAM, storage, RDS, backup, and performance guidance.
Read articleWindows VPS for Business Software: What SMBs Should Know
Learn when a Windows VPS fits business software, accounting tools, SQL Server, IIS apps, RDP access, backups, security, and SMB operations.
Read articleWindows VPS for Remote Desktop: What SMBs Should Know
Learn when a Windows VPS makes sense for Remote Desktop, how to choose admin RDP vs RDS, and what to plan for sizing, security, licensing, and performance.
Read articleHost Sage 50, 100, and 300 on a Windows VPS
Set up Sage 50, Sage 100, or Sage 300 on a Windows VPS for remote accounting teams. Covers sizing, RDS access, backups, and common pitfalls.
Read articleActive Directory Group Policy Setup from Scratch
Learn how to set up Active Directory Group Policy from scratch, create and link your first GPO, test safely on one OU, verify policy application, and avoid common production mistakes.
Read articleFree SSL on IIS with Let's Encrypt and win-acme
Install a free Let's Encrypt certificate on IIS with win-acme, bind it to your site, and verify automatic renewal on a Raff Windows VPS in 45 minutes.
Read articleConfigure TempDB for MSSQL Performance on a Windows VPS
Eliminate TempDB allocation contention with multiple equal-sized data files. Min(8, vCPU) files, fixed autogrowth, optional separate disk.
Read articleMSSQL Standard vs Enterprise — When to Pay More
Compare SQL Server Standard and Enterprise for Windows VPS workloads, including SQL Server 2025 limits, licensing, high availability, and when Enterprise is worth paying for.
Read articleIIS Application Pool Tuning for Production on Windows Server
Tune IIS application pools for production on a Windows VPS: idle timeout, AlwaysRunning, No Managed Code, recycling, identity, and memory limits.
Read articleMSSQL Memory Tuning on a Windows VPS: Set Max Server Memory Safely
Learn how to set SQL Server max server memory on a Windows VPS, reserve RAM for Windows, and verify the setting with sqlcmd.
Read articleMSSQL Backup Strategy on a Windows VPS: Full, Differential, and Log Backups
Back up SQL Server on a Windows VPS with a practical strategy for full, differential, and log backups, off-server copies, retention, and restore testing.
Read articleConfigure Windows Firewall on a Windows VPS
Check Windows Firewall profiles, inspect RDP rules, create a safe test inbound rule, and clean it up on a Raff Windows Server VPS.
Read articleRDP Performance Tuning for Smooth Remote Desktop
Tune Remote Desktop on a Windows VPS by checking RDP connectivity, AVC 444 policy, visual effects, client settings, and server CPU/RAM usage.
Read articleHow to Migrate Windows Server 2016 to 2025: Side-by-Side AD DS, File Shares, and SQL Guide
Move from Windows Server 2016 before support ends. Plan a side-by-side migration to Windows Server 2025 on Raff for AD, files, SQL, apps, and cutover.
Read articleWindows Update Strategy on Production Servers
Update Windows Server safely on a production VPS: snapshot first, patch on a controlled schedule, scan with PowerShell, and verify reboot state.
Read articleMulti-User RDP: 2 Admin Sessions vs RDS Session Host
Decide when built-in 2-admin-session RDP is enough, when RDS Session Host is required, and how CAL licensing affects your Windows VPS workload.
Read articleHow to Set Up SMB over QUIC on Windows Server 2025 with a Let's Encrypt Certificate (No VPN Needed)
Windows Server 2025 brings SMB over QUIC to Standard and Datacenter editions, not just Azure Edition. We walk through the full setup: File Server role, free Let's Encrypt certificate via win-acme, SMB binding, and a Windows 11 client connection. Tested live on a Raff Server in Virginia.
Read articleHow to Host ASP.NET Core 10 on IIS — Windows Server Guide (2026)
Deploy an ASP.NET Core 10 app on IIS using a Windows Server VPS. This guide covers IIS, the .NET 10 Hosting Bundle, app pool setup, deployment, firewall rules, and common errors — tested end-to-end on Raff.
Read articleSQL Server 2025 Security Hardening on a Windows Server VPS (2026 MSP Guide)
Step-by-step SQL Server 2025 hardening on a Windows Server VPS: disable sa, least-privilege app logins, SQL Server Audit, TCP/IP enable, firewall scoping, and Let's Encrypt cert replacement. End-to-end MSP guide tested on Raff.
Read articleWindows Server Hardening Checklist: Secure Your VPS Before Production
Harden a Windows Server VPS before production with practical checks for accounts, RDP, firewall rules, Defender, audit logging, updates, and services.
Read articleWindows Server Licensing on Raff: Evaluation, SPLA, and BYOL Explained
Three license paths for Windows Server on a Raff Cloud Server: the 180-day evaluation, SPLA monthly via Raff, or BYOL with Software Assurance. Plus RDS CALs, M365 Apps SCA, and per-core minimums — cited to Microsoft Learn.
Read articleRDS CAL Licensing on Windows Server: Per-User vs Per-Device, BYOL vs SPLA
2 admin RDP sessions are free; multi-user RDP needs an RDS CAL per user or device. How to pick per-user vs per-device, and when to use BYOL vs SPLA in 2026.
Read article25 PowerShell Commands Every Windows VPS Admin Needs
25 copy-paste PowerShell commands for daily Windows VPS admin: services, processes, files, networking, users, disk, remote management, and Windows Updates.
Read articleSelf-Host QuickBooks Desktop Multi-User on a Windows Server VPS (2026 Guide)
Learn how to run QuickBooks Desktop in multi-user mode on a Windows Server VPS, including Windows Server version choice, Database Server Manager, folder scans, RDS users, permissions, backups, and troubleshooting.
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