Microsoft has officially confirmed that Windows 10 will reach end of support on 14 October 2025, after which it will no longer receive security patches, feature updates, or technical assistance.
For many individuals and businesses still relying on Windows 10, this is not merely a “nice-to-upgrade” — it is a deadline with serious consequences.
What Does “End of Support” Actually Mean?
Once October 14, 2025 arrives:
- PCs running Windows 10 will no longer receive security fixes or vulnerability patches.
Intrust IT - Microsoft will cease technical support and feature updates for Windows 10.
- Existing applications (such as Microsoft 365 / Office apps) may lose support or become less stable on Windows 10 over time.
- While your PC might still “work,” it becomes significantly more vulnerable to new security threats, exploits, malware, and system instability.
In short: running Windows 10 after support ends is akin to driving a car long after the brakes no longer function reliably.
Microsoft does offer Extended Security Updates (ESU) for certain cases — for consumers, one extra year; for businesses, up to three years — but that is a stopgap, not a long-term solution.
The Risks of Sticking with Windows 10 (or Delaying Too Long)
🔒 Security & Cyberattacks
Without updates, every new vulnerability discovered becomes a door hackers can exploit. Unsupported systems are prime targets for ransomware, data breaches, and malware campaigns.
⚖ Regulatory / Compliance Exposure
If your organisation deals with sensitive data, financial records, healthcare information, or other regulated materials, running unsupported software can break compliance rules (GDPR, PCI DSS, etc.). Non-compliance can lead to fines, legal exposure, and loss of trust.
🛠 Software & Vendor Support Wanes
As developers and vendors update their software, they will gradually drop support for older OS versions. You may find that key business apps, antivirus software, or drivers no longer work reliably on Windows 10.
💸 Rising Maintenance & Incident Costs
When things break, there’s no official support — so you may end up paying more for third-party “broken fix” work. A security breach or system failure is often far more expensive to recover from than a proactive upgrade.
📉 Reputation & Business Continuity Risk
If your systems are compromised or go offline, customers and clients may lose confidence. In the worst case, you could face operational downtime, data loss, and reputational damage.
What It Means for Businesses in Particular
Businesses using Windows 10 are in an especially vulnerable position:
- They typically have many devices, some aging hardware, and complex configurations — which means the upgrade effort can be nontrivial.
- They often store or transmit sensitive data, so security loss is not theoretical but critical.
- Vendor contracts or audit obligations may require “supported software” — running an unsupported OS could jeopardise those.
- There is a limited window to plan, test, and execute the migration. Delaying means rushing — and rushed migrations cause downtime, data loss or user disruption.
- For devices that cannot meet Windows 11 hardware requirements (TPM 2.0, specific CPU generations, etc.), there may be a need to replace hardware, which carries capital cost.
In short: for businesses, this is a strategic IT deadline, not just a “desktop refresh.”
What Should You & Your Business Do Now?
- Audit your devices — check which machines are still running Windows 10, and whether they meet the hardware requirements for Windows 11.
- Prioritise high-risk systems — servers, devices with access to sensitive data, remote access endpoints, administrative systems.
- Test compatibility — ensure applications, drivers, and peripherals work on Windows 11 in a lab environment before mass rollout.
- Plan your migration window — schedule upgrades during low-impact periods, train staff, and have a fallback plan.
- Budget for needed hardware refreshes — some machines may be too old to upgrade and will need replacing.
- Consider ESU as a transitional measure — but do not rely on it forever.
- Set a cut-over deadline well ahead of October 14, 2025 — ideally months before — to give buffer time for hiccups.
The clock is real, and the risks of inaction are not hypothetical. Upgrading to Windows 11 (or replacing machines) isn’t just about staying modern — it’s about protecting your systems, data, reputation, and bottom line.
Need a helping hand?
Look Creative specialises in planning, executing, and managing OS migrations. We can audit your fleet, test compatibility, schedule rollouts, and make your transition to Windows 11 smooth and worry-free. Give us a call — let’s get your machines secured before October 2025.