Infrastructure
Still Running Windows 10? Your Options After End of Support
Windows 10 reached end of support on October 14, 2025. If some of your PCs still run it, here are your options: Extended Security Updates as a short bridge, upgrading eligible PCs to Windows 11, or replacing the ones that cannot upgrade.
Windows 10 served businesses well for a decade, but its time has run out. Windows 10 reached end of support on October 14, 2025. Since then, Microsoft no longer provides security updates, quality fixes, new features, or technical support for it, unless a device is enrolled in the paid Extended Security Updates (ESU) program.
The computers still turn on and still run your software. That is exactly why the risk is easy to miss. If some of your PCs are still on Windows 10, you have three realistic options: pay for Extended Security Updates as a short bridge, upgrade eligible PCs to Windows 11, or replace the ones that cannot upgrade.
Why Waiting Is Risky.
Security Concerns. Without security updates, newly discovered vulnerabilities in Windows 10 stay open. Attackers actively look for unpatched systems, and a single unprotected PC can be the way into the rest of your network. If your business falls under the FTC Safeguards Rule, HIPAA, or a cyber insurance policy that asks about supported operating systems, running unsupported Windows can also create compliance and coverage problems.
Software Compatibility. Software vendors are steadily dropping support for Windows 10. New versions of business applications, security tools, and drivers may not install or may not be supported, which leads to lost productivity and harder troubleshooting.
Option 1: Extended Security Updates as a Bridge.
Microsoft sells Windows 10 ESU to businesses for Windows 10 Pro, Enterprise, and Education PCs running version 22H2. ESU provides critical and important security updates only. It does not include new features or general technical support.
For commercial customers, coverage is sold by the year, for a maximum of three years. Year 1 started at $61 per device and ends on October 13, 2026. Year 2 runs from October 14, 2026 through October 12, 2027, and the price doubles each year. ESUs are cumulative, so a business that enrolls in Year 2 must also pay for Year 1. Windows 10 devices used to connect to Windows 365 Cloud PCs, and Windows 10 virtual machines in Azure Virtual Desktop, are entitled to ESU at no additional cost. The separate consumer ESU program for home users ends on October 13, 2026.
ESU is a temporary bridge, not a plan. Use it to buy time for PCs that genuinely cannot be upgraded or replaced yet, and set a date to retire each one.
Option 2: Upgrade Eligible PCs to Windows 11.
If a PC meets the Windows 11 hardware requirements, upgrading is usually the fastest and least expensive path. Here are the basics. A compatible 64-bit processor with at least 1 GHz clock speed and two or more cores. Four GB of RAM or more. Sixty-four GB of storage or more. UEFI firmware with Secure Boot capability. TPM version 2.0. DirectX 12 compatible graphics with a WDDM 2.0 driver.
Use Microsoft's PC Health Check app to see whether a PC qualifies. In a managed business environment, tools such as Microsoft Intune can report eligibility across your whole fleet and roll out the upgrade in stages.
Better Security. Windows 11 requires TPM 2.0 and Secure Boot, which support protections such as BitLocker encryption and Windows Hello sign-in.
Improved Multitasking. Snap Layouts and Snap Groups make it easy to organize open windows and switch between tasks. Virtual Desktops let you keep separate workspaces for different projects or roles.
Familiar Interface. The centered Start menu and simplified taskbar take a few days to get used to, but most employees adjust quickly.
Option 3: Replace PCs That Cannot Upgrade.
Many older PCs do not meet the Windows 11 requirements, usually because of the processor or TPM. For those machines, replacement is the durable fix. A planned replacement is also a chance to modernize.
Better Performance. Newer PCs come with faster processors, more memory, and solid-state storage, which shortens boot times and keeps everyday applications responsive.
AI-Ready Hardware. Some newer business PCs, sold as Copilot+ PCs, include a neural processing unit (NPU) that runs certain AI features directly on the device. Whether those features matter depends on how your team works, so treat them as a bonus rather than the reason to buy.
Energy Efficiency. Modern PCs typically use less power than the machines they replace, which helps your electricity bill.
How to Get Started.
Take Inventory. List every PC still running Windows 10, which version it runs, and whether it meets the Windows 11 requirements.
Decide Per Device. Upgrade the PCs that qualify, budget replacements for the ones that do not, and enroll only the remaining stragglers in ESU with a firm retirement date.
Back Up Your Data. Before any upgrade or replacement, back up business data and confirm the backup can be restored.
Roll Out in Stages. Upgrade one department at a time. This reduces disruption and spreads out the cost.
Seek Professional Help. If you are unsure where to start, the technology experts at Cyber One Solutions can help you inventory your PCs, plan upgrades and replacements, and set up Extended Security Updates for devices that need more time.
Get Help Moving Off Windows 10.
Windows 10 is no longer supported, and every month on an unpatched PC adds risk. If some of your machines are still running it, contact Cyber One Solutions today to talk through the right mix of upgrades, replacements, and Extended Security Updates for your business.