Another significant change is on the horizon in the world of digital technology: Microsoft will end support for Windows 10 on 14 October 2025. This milestone affects all Windows users, whether they are individuals or businesses. As an IT service provider, our company is helping its clients with the transition, but we’d also like to share a few thoughts on the subject with you, our readers, so that you don’t feel completely lost. Here are a few:
What does the end of support for Windows 10 mean?
Perhaps most importantly, Microsoft will no longer provide any bug fixes or security updates for the OS after the deadline. The final version will be 22H2, as detailed in You can read it here too.
No technical support will be available for any problems that may arise. Although perhaps this won’t hold anyone back.
Systems that are not updated become more vulnerable to security threats due to the lack of updates. Although this may not pose an immediate threat to your company, the security risk to your infrastructure gradually increases over time. This can pose an increased risk to colleagues working from home or at off-site locations without adequate perimeter security solutions.
Upgrade options for Windows 11
1. Updating existing assets:
The simplest way here is to Microsoft PC Health Check You open an application to check for compatibility.
If your hardware meets the OS requirements (the TPM chip will be the key factor here, due to encryption), you can upgrade to Windows 11 using Windows Update, Windows Autopatch or Microsoft Intune.
2. Purchasing new Windows 11 Pro devices:
We know, we know, it doesn’t sound like a clever or cost-effective solution, but unfortunately this may well turn out to be the most viable option for certain machines.
If some of your equipment does not meet the requirements, it is worth considering purchasing new machines, perhaps with Windows 11 pre-installed. In larger environments – although it may sound strange – this can be a much more cost-effective solution than looking for alternatives.
(We often tend to compare apples with apples here, but it is important to take into account the financial implications of the risks, labour costs and downtime associated with alternative solutions.)
3. Moving to the cloud with Windows 365:
For certain clients, migrating to Windows 365 – Microsoft’s Cloud PC solution – may be an option. It is important to note here that the Windows 365 subscribers will receive Windows 10 Extended Security Updates free of charge.
4. Extended Security Update (ESU) programme:
The annual subscription option could also be a good alternative (Extended Security Updates programme for Windows 10), which allows us to extend this for a further three years for our existing Windows 10 clients.
With this subscription, we can continue to use the service for up to three years, and critical and important security updates will continue to be available.
Why should you upgrade to Windows 11?
We could list some such lofty lines here, such as …
- Advanced security features, including built-in encryption and data protection.
- A modern user interface with AI support (e.g. Copilot in Windows).
- Better performance and efficiency.
- Support for new features and applications.
… But in reality, the most important benefits in an enterprise infrastructure will be software compatibility and security. Everything else is just the icing on the cake.
How do we help our clients?
Our company provides comprehensive support to its clients in their transition to Windows 11:
- Compatibility checks and advice on hardware upgrades.
- Data backup and system updates.
- Ensuring software compatibility.
- User training on how to use the new system.
Don’t leave your preparations until the last minute either!
If you still have any questions, it might be worth checking out the FAQs on this topic listed on Microsoft’s official website at this address.
And if you feel you’re getting lost in the world of IT, please don’t hesitate to get in touch so that we can help ensure your IT infrastructure runs smoothly.
