Windows 10 is end of life, here's what your business should do now

If your business still runs Windows 10, here's the uncomfortable truth: it's already end of life. Microsoft stopped supporting Windows 10 on October 14, 2025, no more free security patches, bug fixes, or technical support. Every month that passes on an unpatched operating system, your risk goes up. Here's what that actually means for a Utah business, and how to plan the move without the scramble.

What "end of support" really means

It doesn't mean your computers stop working. It means they stop getting security updates. When a new vulnerability is discovered, and they're discovered constantly, Windows 11 gets patched and Windows 10 does not. Attackers know this, and unsupported systems become prime targets for ransomware. On top of that, software vendors gradually drop support for Windows 10, so your business apps and hardware drivers slowly stop working too.

The Extended Security Updates (ESU) "bridge"

Microsoft offers a paid lifeline called Extended Security Updates to keep receiving critical patches while you transition. For businesses, ESU is purchased through volume licensing at roughly $61 per device for the first year, and the price doubles every year after, for a maximum of three years. It's also cumulative: if you wait and buy year two, you pay for year one too.

The compliance and insurance angle

This is where it gets serious for regulated businesses. Running an unsupported operating system can put you out of compliance with HIPAA, PCI DSS, and the FTC Safeguards Rule, and it can fail the security attestations your cyber insurance carrier now requires. An unpatched OS is exactly the kind of gap that leads to a denied claim or a failed audit.

Your real options

• Upgrade eligible PCs to Windows 11. If your hardware meets the requirements (a supported CPU and TPM 2.0), the upgrade is free and usually smooth.
• Replace incompatible hardware. Older machines that can't run Windows 11 should be budgeted for replacement, and it's worth ordering before the year-end rush, when demand and prices climb.
• Buy time with ESU only for the specific machines you genuinely can't move yet, while you plan the rest.

How to plan a smooth migration

The businesses that handle this well don't do it in a panic. They:

• Inventory every device and check which are Windows 11-compatible.
• Budget and order replacement hardware early to avoid shortages.
• Back up all data before touching anything.
• Roll out in phases, department by department, to keep everyone working.
• Standardize the new setup so future support is simpler.

Done right, most of your team barely notices, they sit down to a familiar-feeling, faster, more secure machine.

The bottom line

Windows 10 isn't going to bite you tomorrow, but the risk compounds quietly until the day it doesn't. The smart move is to assess where you stand now, while you still have time to do it calmly and on budget. If you'd like a device-by-device compatibility check and a migration plan sized to your business, that's exactly what our free assessment covers.