Microsoft is saying goodbye to Windows 10. It’s officially reaching the end of its life, after a decade on 14th October 2025. But what does that mean and what happens when we say Windows 10 is reaching end of life?
If you have any Windows 10 machines in your business, you need to be aware of this and you will need to make a decision as to what you want to do. October 2025 might feel like a long way away at the moment but there’s no reason to put off making a decision. In fact, doing so now will reduce costs and minimise potential disruption.
End of Life
First off: What does it actually mean when we say that Windows 10 reaches end of life?
Microsoft works under a lifecycle policy for its operating systems, a roadmap that dictates the lifespan of each version from birth to retirement.
When that happens, the operating system doesn’t simply stop working. It remains functional but is left vulnerable without the safety of any regular updates. This means there are support and security implications.
What does that mean for your business? Well, you have four options to choose from:
Option #1: Do nothing.
It can be tempting to do nothing, especially if you think it might require downtime or disruption. It’s much simpler to stick with what you know, even if it’s past its expiration date. It’s also easy to kick it down the road and add it to a list to do at a later date.
But here’s the thing: When Microsoft says they’re pulling the plug on support for Windows 10, that means there will be no further support for Windows 10.
What does it mean when an operating system like Windows 10 becomes unsupported?
The main issue is security. Without regular updates, your operating system becomes vulnerable to cyber attacks. Cyber criminals are aware of end of life dates too and will leverage unpatched vulnerabilities in Windows 10 once free security updates end.
For any business this can’t be acceptable. Think of all the sensitive data that passes through your computer. That includes customer information, financial data and trade secrets.
Unsupported software is like leaving the front door wide open and hanging up a sign that says, “Come on in”.
Breaches can cost a business a lot. Not only does it result in a lot of stress and then the expense of recovering from it. There is also the risk of long-term damage to your reputation and the trust you’ve spent years building.
There are some other alternatives though.
Option #2: Choose to Upgrade to Windows 11
This is the most obvious choice. If you’ve been considering the upgrade, now is the perfect time before Windows 10 reaches end of life.
Before you upgrade though, you need to be aware of the system requirements as Windows 11 has its own set of specs. This means it’s important to make sure your devices are up to the job. A compatibility checker is your friend here, or we can help you.
If your device meets the specs then you’re ready to upgrade. If not, jump to Option #3.
What is new with Windows 11?
As expected there have been some improvements and new features made since Windows 10. It has been designed with productising and organisation at its core with the main goal in mind of Making your life easier.
You can arrange your windows exactly how you like them through things called Snap Layouts and Snap Groups.
You can customise your dashboard so you can stay up to date with news, weather, and your favourite apps.
Copilot is also there to help you with scheduling and summarising your meetings to highlight the key points to you.
Extra security has also been introduced and much smoother functionality.
As mentioned earlier on, change can seem daunting but the move can be made with minimal disruption or frustration with some planning.
Option #3: Invest in new devices
You may have checked your devices against the new Windows 11 spec and realised your current devices aren’t compatible.
Investing in new devices can feel like a big expense. However if you haven’t upgraded your devices for some time, it’s something that you’ll need to do sooner rather than later anyway.
It’s not about buying new hardware; you’re buying peace of mind, improved performance, and better security features.
New devices on top of a new operating system might sound like even more disruption however working with an IT provider can help you with planning. With their expert guidance, you can minimise the impact and ensure a smooth transition for your entire team.
They will also be able to help you work out exactly what you’re looking at in terms of cost. There might even be devices that are salvageable or repurposed to help offset the cost.
Option #4: Pay for security updates (and extend Windows 10)
If you’re frozen with the decision or have decided that you want to stick with good old Windows 10 for a bit longer, how can you keep your business protected?
After Windows 10 reaches end of life, Microsoft won’t be offering any FREE support after 15th October 2025.
They will however continue developing PAID FOR security updates for Windows 10.
This is called the Extended Security Updates (ESUs) program. It’s like a lifeline for businesses that aren’t ready to say goodbye to Windows 10 yet.
The cost of this subscription doubles year on year so you could end up spending hundreds and hundreds of pounds per device.
If you’re determined to stick with Windows 10, you’ll also need to be comfortable paying the bill to ensure your business security. There are other options out there.
Let’s talk
If you’re unsure which option is right for your business, we can help. This is what we help businesses do every day.
We can talk about how your business works, give you our bespoke recommendations, and support you with implementing whatever you choose in the least disruptive way possible.
The benefits of our Managed Services offering is that we know our client’s businesses inside out. This allows us to bring solutions to them before they even know it’s something for them to worry about. If you’re interested in having an IT provider who looks out for you and your business. get in touch.
