Windows 10 has been a tried and true operating system for years now, but it’s rapidly approaching end of life. There have been good reasons why some businesses have been slow to upgrade to its successor, Windows 11. But whatever those reasons look like for you, if you’re still running Windows 10 at your business, now is the time to change. If not, your business will soon be at greater and greater risk.
What’s Happening With Windows 10
Microsoft has been warning users for years that Windows 10 would reach end of support, and the company has even extended this deadline a few times. But the deadline is here, for real this time, no exceptions.
On October 14, 2025, Microsoft is officially done with Windows 10. That means no more security updates, no more bug fixes, nothing: the version of Windows 10 you have on October 14 is the last one you’re going to get.
What that means is that after October 14, businesses really are on their own:
- Devastating security hole gets discovered? Tough.
- Problem you can’t fix without Microsoft Support? You’re on your own.
- Bug keeps crashing your OS? Good luck fixing it yourself.
The Obvious Solution: Upgrade to Windows 11
Microsoft is ending support for Windows 10 because it believes it has a better option for you: Windows 11. It costs time and money to keep developing and supporting two entirely separate operating systems, and Microsoft has given users years to upgrade. Now it’s essentially saying “we’re done with Windows 10, and if you don’t upgrade, that’s on you.”
So, for most businesses, the way forward is relatively simple in theory: just upgrade all systems to Windows 11 and enjoy current security protections as well as a raft of new features, like all the Microsoft Copilot tools.
In most cases, at the individual PC level, upgrading isn’t difficult. But of course, rolling out upgrades across an entire business can get a little more tricky.
Why Some Businesses Haven’t Upgraded Yet
Cost is the biggest factor here. Windows 11 licenses aren’t necessarily cost prohibitive, but other related expenses may seem to be.
For example, some older computers can’t fully run Windows 11. That’s a problem, because it means your choice is 1) upgrade all your hardware or 2) put yourself at risk.
Here again, Microsoft is betting most businesses have already ditched any computers old enough that they can’t run Windows 11. But that isn’t the case for everyone.
You may also have some legacy issues. Maybe your business relies on a single piece of software that isn’t being updated anymore, and that won’t run (or run well) on Windows 11. Upgrading your OS means reworking entire business workflows, which is expensive and resource-intensive.
If you’re really, really stuck with an issue like this, there is one remaining workaround — we’ll circle back in a minute.
Whatever the Reason, Now Is the Time
Until now, the hurdles or expenses involved with upgrading may have seemed prohibitive — no one wants to upgrade their entire fleet of PCs or reinvent their workflows to avoid legacy software problems.
But starting in October 2025, the risk calculus changes.
At that point, the cost or downside of not upgrading will be more significant than the challenges you may face upgrading. You’ll be leaving yourself vulnerable to cyberattacks and threats of all kinds, and you won’t get help if you have a significant problem.
There is one exception: Extended Security Updates. These are expensive, not free, and they also come with an expiration date (likely one more year, until October 2026). If you absolutely can’t upgrade, then paying for these might make sense while you formulate a plan for how to upgrade within a year.
For everyone else, now’s the time. And we can help you through it. Reach out to our team anytime.