SMB Protocol Explained

Transitioning from NTLM to Kerberos is not just a best practice, it’s an essential step in building a secure authentication infrastructure. CVE-2025-24054 is the latest example of why this shift cannot be delayed.

While CIFS and SMB are often viewed as synonymous, there are significant technical and practical differences between them. SMB outclasses CIFS in every key area, especially when it comes to performance and security.

These security enhancements are critical to protect sensitive data, prevent attacks, and ensure compliance with modern standards. We are committed to the latest security initiatives, ensuring robust protection and seamless integration.

The introduction of alternative ports for SMB is a crucial step in Microsoft’s Secure Future Initiative, offering administrators more control over network security and access management.

With SMB over QUIC client access control, administrators can enforce stricter security policies while maintaining seamless remote file access.

This guide provides a comprehensive walkthrough for configuring and testing SMB over QUIC, enabling secure and seamless file access across untrusted networks on all editions of Windows Server 2025.

With the release of Windows Server 2025, SMB over QUIC is now available in Datacenter and Standard editions, in addition to Azure Edition. This expansion provides enterprises with a secure, VPN-less alternative for remote file access.

If your systems still rely on SMB1 / CIFS and Remote Mailslots, now is the time to upgrade. Ensure that your applications and vendors are using modern, secure alternatives to protect against threats and maintain a robust, reliable network infrastructure.

By following this guide, you can successfully configure and test SMB over QUIC on Windows Server 2022 Azure Edition, providing secure and reliable file access over untrusted networks.