As of October 14, 2025, Microsoft officially ended support for Windows 10, marking the close of an era for one of the company’s most widely used operating systems. This wasn’t just another update cycle; it was a turning point that requires your immediate attention.

If your business is still running Windows 10, its systems are now unsecured and vulnerable to new threats. You must take action to protect your data.

What Windows 10 End of Support Means

By ending Windows 10 support, Microsoft officially stopped releasing updates to the operating system. This includes security patches, bug fixes, and technical support for all editions of Windows 10, including Home, Pro, and Enterprise.

This means that any newly discovered security vulnerabilities will go unpatched, leaving your devices exposed to hackers, malware, and data breaches. At this point, running Windows 10, even if it appears to be working smoothly, is a potential weak link in your company’s network.

Microsoft did not provide any exceptions or extensions to the Microsoft support deadline. Every PC running Windows 10 requires manual action to avoid security risks, which means upgrading to Windows 11 or enrolling in Microsoft’s Extended Security Updates (ESU) program.

The Extended Security Updates (ESU) Program

The Extended Security Updates program is a lifeline for users who were unable to upgrade to Windows 11 before the deadline. It allows you to continue receiving critical patches for up to three additional years. Commercial customers in the ESU program can receive updates through October 2028, and consumers have until October 2026 to upgrade.

Enrollment in the fee-based ESU program is voluntary, and it’s not a permanent solution; it provides businesses with breathing room to plan and execute their transition to Windows 11 without rushing.

The Push Toward Windows 11 Upgrade

The most future-proof option for dealing with the Windows 10 end-of-support deadline is to upgrade to Windows 11. The upgrade represents a significant leap forward from Windows 10, featuring a refreshed design, enhanced productivity tools, and improved security features.

However, for some companies, hardware and operating system compatibility were stumbling blocks to a successful upgrade. Many older PCs don’t meet Windows 11’s minimum system requirements. It’s possible to install Windows 11 on PCs that don’t have the Trusted Platform Module (TPM) chip, which protects the system at the hardware level; however, the upgrade may not be successful without this technology.

As a result, some organizations are seizing this opportunity to modernize their devices and invest in newer, more efficient hardware. Others are switching to different operating systems, such as Linux or ChromeOS.

Keeping Your Business Secure Remains the Top Priority

The Windows 10 end-of-life event highlights a simple truth: It’s dangerous for your business to continue using an unsupported operating system. Without regular security patches, systems become easy targets for attackers looking to exploit known vulnerabilities.

If you have not yet taken action to protect your network through Microsoft’s Extended Security Updates, a complete Windows 11 upgrade, or operating system change, take steps now to ensure your data and operations remain protected after the Windows 10 end-of-support transition.

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