Microsoft ended support for Windows 10 on 14 October 2025. The computers still switch on and the applications still open, so it is easy to assume nothing has changed. What has changed is that Windows 10 no longer receives free security updates, and every month that passes adds to the list of known, unpatched weaknesses an attacker can use.

Why it matters

Most successful attacks on small and mid-sized organisations do not rely on anything clever. They rely on known vulnerabilities that were never patched. An unsupported operating system turns that from an occasional lapse into a permanent condition. It can also affect your cyber insurance, your clients’ vendor questionnaires, and your obligations to protect personal data under the PDPA.

Your three options

• Upgrade to Windows 11. Machines that meet Microsoft’s hardware requirements (including TPM 2.0 and a supported processor) can usually be upgraded in place, with files and applications retained.
• Replace older hardware. Many machines bought before 2018 do not qualify for Windows 11. Replacing them is often the better investment, because newer business laptops are faster, more secure and cheaper to support.
• Buy time with Extended Security Updates (ESU). Microsoft offers paid security updates for Windows 10 for up to three years, ending in October 2028. The price doubles each year, so ESU works best as a short bridge for specific machines, not as a long-term plan.

A sensible approach

1. Take stock. List every Windows device, its age, and whether it meets the Windows 11 requirements.
2. Check your applications. Confirm that line-of-business software, printers and peripherals are supported on Windows 11.
3. Plan in waves. Upgrade compatible machines first, schedule replacements for the rest, and keep ESU only for the few that genuinely cannot move yet.
4. Protect in the meantime. Keep endpoint protection current, limit administrator rights, and make sure backups are working and tested.

Handled as a planned project, the move to Windows 11 causes very little disruption. Handled as an emergency after an incident, it is far more costly.

Let’s discuss your IT. If you would like our IT support team to look at your own environment, arrange a consultation and we will be in touch within one business day.