>Hello all,
>
>For small businesses that are currently running Windows Server for a domain controller (for validating user logins on a network) and also for basic file sharing or running an application is there an alternative for the centralized User Security it offers without a Windows Server? As a lot of file sharing and also applications are moving to the cloud, I find myself left with a Server that is just being used to maintain user logins.
>
>So, if I want to get rid of my Windows Server (because essentially I don't need it), what can I do to handle the logins for computer accounts? Should I just remove the computers from the domain and let the individual computers maintain their own logins or is there an alternative for this? Any suggestions are welcome.

If you want to retain centralized control of user accounts, you still need a domain controller computer. If you're looking to get rid of the computer altogether, you'll lose all shared/centrally managed functions. In that case yes, you should first remove the workstations from the domain, then accounts get managed on individual computers.

If your current server is actually Small Business Server, you may find it is doing a lot of other stuff like centralized antivirus update management and reporting, centralized Windows/Microsoft update of itself and workstations via WSUS, print queues etc.

While not recommended, in very small environments you could consider using the server as a workstation as well. Or, it could be set up as a host for remote sessions - again, not recommended for a domain controller but possible for small environments.