The end is almost here. In October 2025, a little over a year from now, Microsoft will officially end support for its popular Windows 10 operating system. Your PC will still work. However, after 10/14/25, Microsoft will no longer provide the following free services:
- Security updates
- Feature updates
- Technical support
Why Is This Important for Business Leaders?
Sure, you can choose to ignore this information. You can also wait and see if Microsoft extends the deadline. However, continuing to run Windows 10 after support ends poses the following problems:
- Security Risks: Without regular updates, your computer will become more vulnerable to viruses, malware and hackers. This could put your business data at risk, which is why upgrading to a newer version of Windows is crucial.
- Software Compatibility: Many software programs are updated regularly to work with the latest operating systems. After Windows 10 reaches its end of life, some of your favorite programs might not work as smoothly or could stop working altogether.
- Compliance Issues: If your business deals with sensitive information or follows strict regulations, using an outdated operating system could lead to compliance issues. It’s important to stay current to avoid potential fines or legal problems.
Your Options for Windows 10 End of Support
If you’re still running Windows 10 computers in your organization, you have a few options to choose from between now and next October. The recommended course of action is to upgrade to Windows 11 before the deadline. However, not every PC out there is going to be compatible with the Windows 11 operating system requirements. If you’re one of those unlucky few, you can:
- Ignore the deadline and face the risks mentioned above;
- Buy new hardware, which we recommend for anything >5 years old;
- Abandon Microsoft and move to a different operating system like Linux. Just remember, you get what you pay for, a “free” operating system may cost you in terms of support and management time);
- Choose to pay Microsoft for security updates. A 3-year subscription for the Extended Security Updates (ESU) program will be available. However, it will reportedly cost your business more than $400 over the 3-year cycle.
Planning Ahead
Don’t wait to act until the deadline hits. No one wants to face a surprise hardware bill mid-year in your budget cycle. On the other hand, you also don’t want to open your organization up to security and compliance risks.
Your IT provider should be proactively working with you now to determine which options make the most sense for your business. A Microsoft solutions partner like Invario can help you seamlessly upgrade to Windows 11, without disruptions or downtime. We’re already working with current customers to identify machines that aren’t compatible and develop a remediation plan.
If you need help navigating the Windows 10 end of support lifecycle, please reach out. Get in touch with our team to schedule a FREE 10-Minute Discovery Call. During this quick conversation, we’ll be able to map out the next steps to take to start transitioning to Windows 11 efficiently. To schedule, call us at 703-528-0101 or click here.