Microsoft has officially announced that it will stop providing support for Windows 10 on October 14, 2025. Keep reading to learn what this means for your business and what you should be doing now to prepare for this significant change.
What Does End of Support Mean?
End of support means that as of October 14, 2025, Windows 10 users will no longer receive the following:
- Security Updates and Patches. This is a significant concern, as it will leave users (and organizations) vulnerable to new cybersecurity threats.
- Bug Fixes. All software — including products as old, established, and popular as Windows 10 — have bugs. Microsoft will no longer allocate resources to resolve these bugs if/when they are identified.
- Feature Updates. Users will no longer receive feature updates that improve things like security and efficiency.
- Technical Support. Once support ends, users will no longer be able to access Microsoft’s customer service or technical assistance to deal with Windows 10-related issues.
Start Preparing Now
It is vital for organizations that use Windows 10 to be proactive and start preparing now, rather than waiting until the last minute (or perhaps beyond that) to take action. As noted above, the biggest concern is that security updates and patches will no longer be provided. And make no mistake: Hackers are eagerly waiting for the deadline so they can spring into action and exploit millions of insecure devices and networks around the world.
Transitioning to Windows 11
Affected organizations should start transitioning to Windows 11. This effort covers multiple phases, including:
- Assess the existing IT environment. This will help determine which devices and systems are running Windows 10 and, just as importantly, which need hardware upgrades or replacements to meet Windows 11’s system requirements.
- Create a step-by-step migration plan. Many organizations will find this task simpler by breaking down their plan by device type of department/unit (e.g., sales, accounting, shipping, etc.). It is important for the plan to have realistic timelines and for everyone affected to be informed and involved.
- Review cybersecurity measures and protocols. This will ensure that critical systems remain safe during and after the migration. It may be necessary or advisable to upgrade antivirus software, firewalls, and other security tools so they will work with Windows 11.
- Evaluate the current cloud strategy. Windows 11 has been designed to integrate better with Microsoft 365 and cloud services. As such, it is a good idea to evaluate the organization’s cloud strategy and discover if cloud tools can enhance collaboration and scalability.
- Train employees to adopt Windows 11. Frankly, the general consensus on Windows 11 right now isn’t all that positive (as evidenced here, here, and especially here). However, this has no impact on the end of support deadline, which is happening in October regardless of whether affected users are excited or infuriated. As such, it’s important for both productivity and security (not to mention overall morale and happiness in the organization!) to train employees so they have as much clarity and confidence moving ahead. Remember to be patient. Change is difficult and can be frightening to many employees, especially those who have been using Windows 10 for many years.
The SRSS Technology Advantage
Is your organization ready for the end of Windows 10 support? Contact SRSS Technology today for expert advice on how to plan your transition to Windows 11. We will make your road ahead clear, safe, and stress-free.
